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One of the most vital components of the kabaddi team is their ability to defend and keep the raiders from running away with easy points.Though the raiders play a major role in scoring the points for the team, it is the defense unit which helps the team in building a lead and ultimately, winning the match on most occasions.
In the past editions of the league, most teams have prospered with a proper defense unit in place. A star-studded team such as Telugu Titans has never reached a PKL final, only due to their poor defensive show in the past. However, the team management seems to have done its homework and the Titans will wear a strong defensive unit this season.
As we build up for the seventh season, here is a list of the best defender from each of the ten teams in the Pro Kabaddi League season seven.
Bengal Warriors - Jeeva Kumar
Veteran defender Jeeva Kumar will don the Bengal Warriors jersey for the first time in his career in the upcoming season. Jeeva Kumar was bought at a price of ₹31 lakhs in the auction and with a lot of experience from the league, he will hold the key.
Kumar has played 93 matches in his career and has picked 195 tackle points which he also has five 'High-5s' and has been a part of 21 super tackles. While Kumar will be the main defender, he will be ably assisted by Iranian defense lynchpin Mohammad Nabibaksh and young Rinku Narwal in the Warriors' team.
Bengaluru Bulls - Mahender Singh
Bengaluru Bulls' top defender last season, Mahender Singh has been a part of the Bengaluru Bulls ever since season five but enjoyed his best performance last season when he went on to pick 63 points in the defense last year and played a major role in the title victory of Bengaluru Bulls.
The young lad has played 46 matches in the PKL where he has picked 120 tackle points at an average of 2.47 tackle points per match. His tackle strike rate of 51.06% makes him the most dangerous defender of the Bengaluru Bulls franchise.
Dabang Delhi KC - Ravinder Pahal
'The Hawk' Ravinder Pahal will once again turn up for the Dabang Delhi franchise in the Pro Kabaddi League. Pahal was the top defender for Dabang Delhi in the second season of the league when he went on to pick 60 tackle points from 14 matches.
After representing the Puneri Paltan and Bengaluru Bulls, Pahal returned to the Dabang Delhi last season and had a top season yet again, as he went on to pick 59 points from 22 matches.
With a lot of experience - 263 tackle points from 89 matches - Pahal is the second-most successful defender in PKL history and will yet again be a key factor in the right corner.
Gujarat Fortunegiants - Sunil Kumar
The skipper of the Ahmedabad-based franchise, Gujarat Fortunegiants, Sunil Kumar is also the best defender of his team. Kumar's alliance with Parvesh Bhainswal is one of the most effective combinations of the league and will yet again be in focus this season.
Kumar has played 50 matches in the PKL, where he has picked 133 defense points. He has five High 5s to his name and he will look to add some more in the upcoming season of PKL.
Haryana Steelers - Dharmaraj Cheralathan
One of the most senior players in the Pro Kabaddi League, Dharmaraj Cheralathan has the experience of playing for many kabaddi teams in the league. He kicked off his journey as a part of Bengaluru Bulls in season two before he moved to Telugu Titans in season three.
He joined the Patna Pirates next and then played for Puneri Paltan and U Mumba in the succeeding seasons. From six seasons thus far, Cheralathan has 216 points from 99 matches at an average of 2.18 points per game.
This year, he will turn up for Haryana Steelers and the Sonipat fans will hope the 'ankle hhold' specialist brings his vast experience to the core.
Jaipur Pink Panthers - Amit Hooda
An ankle hold specialist who has made a massive impression from the right corner, Amit Hooda will make his return to his season four franchise, the Jaipur Pink Panthers this year after representing the Tamil Thalaivas in the previous season.
In his season for the Pink Panthers, Hooda picked 51 tackle points in 16 games, which included three High 5s and with Hooda consistently making a mark with some fearless defending, Jaipur will need his expertise to strike it big along with Sandeep Dhull and Sunil Sidhgavali.
Patna Pirates - Surender Nada
Surender Nada will make his return to the league after a year's break when he dons the Patna Pirates jersey in season seven. The left corner defender has picked 19 High 5s in his career from just 71 matches and has picked up 222 points.
Nada has an average of 2.9 tackle points per match and with a top-flight raider in Pardeep Narwal to take care of the raiding duties, Nada could be banked to lead the defensive unit with his firm ankle holds.
Puneri Paltan - PO Surjeet Singh
The former captain of Bengal Warriors, Surjeet Singh will play for the Puneri Paltan in season seven after he was picked up at a price of ₹56 lakhs in the auctions. The right cover defender will have the support of Girish Maruti Ernak and Jadhav Balasaheb Shahaji in the Puneri Paltan defense.
Surjeet has an immense PKL experience with 215 tackle points from 73 matches and will need to bring out his best, in partnership with Girish Maruti Ernak in order to see Pune go great heights in this tournament.
Tamil Thalaivas - Manjeet Chhillar
Veteran all-rounder Manjeet Chhillar has essayed his role as the glue of the team in the history of the league and will yet again hold the aces for the Tamil Thalaivas for the upcoming season.
Chhillar has an average of 3.1 tackle points per game in the Pro Kabaddi League and has also picked up 21 'High-5s' in 93 matches. One of the most experienced players in the league, Manjeet's participation since the inaugural season has seen him amass 302 points from 93 matches, making him the leading defender in the league.
With the Thalaivas forming a strong team ahead of season seven, Chhillar will undoubtedly start the season as one of the defenders to watch out for.
Telugu Titans - Vishal Bhardwaj
Young left corner Vishal Bhardwaj has quickly become one of the top defenders in the Pro Kabaddi League with his impressive performances for Telugu Titans. Vishal has played 41 PKL matches, where he has picked 137 tackle points at an average of 3.04 tackle points per match.
He has been successful in executing 12 super tackles, along with registering 10 'High-5s' in the league. Bhardwaj will play his fourth consecutive season for the Titans this year.
U Mumba- Fazel Atrachali
Fazel Atrachali has been the best overseas defender of the Pro Kabaddi League. Atrachali has played 79 PKL matches in six seasons from which he has picked 235 tackle points at an average of 2.78. With a powerful dash and ankle hold, Atrachali makes for a perfect left corner defender.
In season six, he picked 83 points and led his team to the play-offs but they could not reach the final. This year, the Iranian will have Sandeep Narwal to form a potent combination with that could be a winning combination as well.
UP Yoddha - Nitesh Kumar
Nitesh Kumar became the first defender in PKL history to register a total of 100 tackle points in a single season when he did so while playing for UP Yoddha in the right corner. In the 44 matches that he has played in his PKL career, Kumar has picked 147 tackle points at an average of 3.13.
If UP Yoddha wants to reach the play-offs for the third consecutive season, then Nitesh needs to repeat his season six performance and perform his best for the team, that could well happen with the form Kumar has enjoyed in the recent past.
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