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The league stage of the 2019 edition of Pro Kabaddi League is over as the kabaddi universe now knows that Dabang Delhi K.C., Bengal Warriors, U.P. Yoddha, U Mumba, Haryana Steelers, and Bengaluru Bulls are the top six teams of the season. One of these six franchises will now win the PKL trophy on the 19th of October at the EKA Arena in Ahmedabad.
The major reason why the other teams could not be so successful as the top six teams is that the defensive unit of these franchises played exceptionally well in the tournament. While it is important to have raiders like Pardeep Narwal and Rahul Chaudhari in the team, it does not serve any purpose if they do not have the back of the defenders.
Hence, this indicates that the defenders are of utmost importance in the sport of kabaddi for the sole reason that they help in consolidating the lead achieved by the raiders. On that note, let us have a look at the top 5 defenders of Pro Kabaddi 2019 before the playoffs -
#5 Surjeet Singh, Puneri Paltan - 63 tackle points
Matches - 21, Tackle Points - 63, Average Tackle Points/Match - 3, High 5s - 7
The only player from the Puneri Paltan side to have over 50 tackle points in Pro Kabaddi League 2019 is skipper Surjeet Singh, who ensured that he leads his team's defensive unit by example. The right cover defender missed one match this season but in his 21 appearances for the Pune-based franchise, he took a total of 63 tackle points at an average of 3 tackle points per match.
He scored 5 or more tackle points on seven occasions while the former Bengal Warriors captain also executed seven Super Tackles this season. Unfortunately, Surjeet Singh will not feature in the playoffs as Puneri Paltan have been eliminated from the tournament.
#4 Nitesh Kumar, U.P. Yoddha - 70 tackle points
Matches - 22, Tackle Points - 70, Average Tackle Points - 3.18, High 5s - 5
The captain of U.P. Yoddha, Nitesh Kumar played at the right corner position in the defence of his team. Though Kumar could not perform well in the initial matches, he started troubling the raiders in the second half of the tournament.
His consistent performances in the latter half of PKL 2019 ensured that he occupies the fourth spot on the 'Most Tackle Points' list on culmination of the league phase. His average of 3.18 tackle points per match proves his worth and his 5 High 5s showcase his consistency. If U.P. Yoddha want to win the title, he needs to lead from the front in the playoffs.
#3 Sumit, U.P. Yoddha - 72 tackle points
Matches - 21, Tackle Points - 72, Average Tackle Points/Match - 3.43, High 5s - 6
The most impressive debutant of this edition of Pro Kabaddi League is U.P. Yoddha's left corner defender, Sumit. The youngster has formed a lethal combination with the skipper, Nitesh Kumar as they have decimated each and every raiding unit in PKL 2019.
Their success has been one of the key reasons behind U.P. Yoddha's third-place finish on the points table. With 6 High 5s in 21 fixtures, Sumit proved himself as a match-winner for U.P. Yoddha while his 2 Super Tackles indicate how dangerous he can be in a Super Tackle situation.
#2 Sandeep Dhull, Jaipur Pink Panthers - 73 tackle points
Matches - 22, Tackle Points - 73, Average Tackle Points/Match - 3.32, High 5s - 5
Jaipur Pink Panthers had dominated the proceedings in the first half of PKL 2019. However, Deepak Niwas Hooda's men lost momentum as the season progressed. Their defensive unit committed a lot of unsuccessful tackles in the second half which ultimately led to their exit from the tournament.
But, in the first few matches, Sandeep Dhull had impressed one and all with his performances at the left corner position. In the 22 matches Dhull played this year, he scalped 73 tackle points at a fantastic average of 3.32. He was the only defender from the Jaipur Pink Panthers to feature in the top 15 defenders, which shows that he did not receive much support from the other defenders of his team.
#1 Fazel Atrachali, U Mumba - 78 tackle points
Matches - 22, Tackle Points - 78, Average Tackle Points/Match - 3.55, High 5s - 4
The Iranian left corner defender, Fazel Atrachali emerged as the most consistent defender of this season as he managed to score tackle points at an average of 3.55 per match in PKL 2019. His tackle strike rate of 60.93% is one of the best this season for a regular defender and given that his team will play in the playoffs, expect Atrachali to easily surpass the milestone of 80 tackle points in this edition.
An interesting fact to note here is that three of the top 5 defenders are the captains of their respective sides. This shows that these players did not crumble under the pressure of captaincy but emerged as a better individual player in PKL 2019.
