The Pro Kabaddi League Season 5 is all set to get underway and promises to be bigger and better than past editions. The new season has 12 teams, four more than previous ones, and will feature 138 matches spread across a period of three months.
After an auction in May that saw teams spend Rs 47 crore to build their squads for the new season, the teams have now been training together and leadership roles have been assigned to each player. However, there are a few where it is still unclear who will lead the team, with a few weeks left for the first match to take place. Let’s take a look at these teams!
#1 UP Yoddha
The new team from Uttar Pradesh made a huge splash on the first day of the auction after shelling out Rs 93 lakh for star raider Nitin Tomar. Joining him in attack will be former U Mumba man Rishank Devadiga, who was bought for a bargain price.
Also, a key member of the team will be star all-rounder Rajesh Narwal, who won the title with the Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 1. In Jeeva Kumar, they have another former PKL winner and a seasoned veteran in defense. However, the team is yet to announce who will lead the team once the new season starts.
Also read: Pro Kabaddi League 2017, Season 5 : Five raiders who can dethrone Rahul Chaudhari
#2 Dabang Delhi
The Delhi side have never been able to realise their full potential in the PKL and are yet to reach the final of the league in even one season. This time around, they have a good squad in place but they are yet to decide who will take over the captain’s armband.
In Meraj Sheykh, they have a player who can lead by example and has previously led the Telugu Titans for a few games as well as the Delhi side towards the end of the previous season. However, defenders Bajirao Hodage and Nilesh Shinde, who were brought in from the auction, are both contenders for the role with their wealth of experience.
Also read: Pro Kabaddi 2017 Season 5: Kabaddi players and their cricketer equivalents
#3 Haryana Steelers
The JSW Group-owned side will be playing for the first time in the Pro Kabaddi League and have a large number options to draw from when it comes to choosing a captain. Their two corner men, Mohit Chhillar and Surender Nada, are both ideal choices for the role.
They also have a few old heads in their raiding department who can lead the side. Sonu Narwal, Surjeet Singh and Wazir Singh – all are highly experienced and can fit the role of the captain very well. It is fascinating to see who the Steelers will ultimately pick!
Also read: Pro Kabaddi 2017 Season 5: Five teams with the weakest defence
#4 Bengaluru Bulls
The Bengaluru Bulls have put together a formidable lineup after the auction but who will lead the team is still a question that remains unanswered. One of the clear favourites is raider Rohit Kumar, who despite his young age, can lead by example and inspire his team.
If not Rohit, the ‘Hawk’ Ravinder Pahal is another prime candidate, having led the Dabang Delhi team in previous editions. Another choice may be all-rounder Ashish Kumar, who was retained by the Bulls prior to the auction.
Also read: Pro Kabaddi 2017 Season 5: Five teams with the strongest defence
#5 Patna Pirates
The double defending champions, who had stellar captains in the form of Manpreet Singh and Dharmaraj Cheralathan in the previous two editions, have a hard choice to make this time around, with no clear candidate for the role.
Defenders Vishal Mane and Sachin Shingade are possible picks for the armband but both do not have sufficient leadership experience in the league. A surprise choice might be young gun Pardeep Narwal, who despite his young age, can lead by example and inspire his teammates with some of his trademark dubkis.
Also read: Pro Kabaddi 2017 Season 5 : Five players who faded away
