Youth offers promise but experience offers clarity. A sense of freedom comes with being young but experience opens an athletes outlook towards the game. The debate of youth vs experience is a century old conundrum which has no definite answers. The cliched adage of “a balance of both” is the safest answer that anyone can offer. But what happens when you adopt this concept to its limits? What happens to a side comprised of only young individuals when they take on a side made up of 7 men in their late 30’s? Let’s find out.
The elderly 7
Anup Kumar
A man upon whom, U Mumba have rested their expectations from day one. Five seasons in, the Anup Kumar is still here, keeping it simple and doing what he does best – outthinking opponents. Season after season, the Indian skipper has watched new, younger, athletic raiders shine under his guidance. He’d have probably picked up a few tricks from them too. But the 34-year-old continues to be the cornerstone of not only his team but the sport at large.
Jasvir Singh
The city of Panipat, where this raider was born, has witnessed three historic battles. Jasvir, however, is the city’s biggest warrior on the mat. Till date, when he approaches the opposition baulk line with his smug face, even the best defenders sometimes don’t have answers to his exploits. The 34-year-old was season 4’s 5th best raider and keeps on delivering when it has mattered the most.
Rakesh Kumar
“When I started playing in my early days, Rakesh was already a very good player. I was normal back then, but he always already damn good.”. It’s not every day you hear Anup Kumar speaking about his teammate in this manner. Wiley old fox, Rakesh Kumar is one player who has the ability to get under a player’s skin without saying much. His empty raids aren’t empty, he times them to perfection, during situations when an impatient opposition itches to take him down. 35-years-old and he’s shown no signs of slowing down.
Dharmaraj Cheralathan
The oldest player who will take to the mat this season, Dharmaraj Cheralathan isn’t spoken about in the same breath as his other experienced colleagues. But he couldn’t care less. In terms of captaincy and decision-making skills, it wouldn’t be outlandish to compare him to Anup Kumar. Easily one of the biggest players in the league, not many can out muscle the 42-year-old.
Manjeet Chhillar
Unlike the others, Manjeet hasn’t yet entered his late 30’s but in terms of experience, he’s up there with the very best. An Asian Games gold medal, A World Cup trophy, an Arjuna Award from the President of India, the all-rounder has reached the pinnacle of his career. Yet, his hunger for the game hasn’t diminished one bit. On his day, Manjeet is one of the, if not the best defender in the league.
Nilesh Shinde
The most underrated player on this list is also the most detached player on this list. Time and again, Nilesh Shinde displays amazing composure in crucial situations. There have been times when his teammates haven’t aided him but his game never suffers in the process. His detached approach towards the game ensures he doesn’t obsess on the outcome and helps him focus at all times.
Jeeva Kumar
Who’d have thought the tank – Jeeva Kumar was once an Assistant Manager at State Bank of Mysore. The customers there should be thankful they weren’t at the receiving end of his vintage hard hitting tackles. At 37 years of age, Kumar finally has a chance to lead a side this time around. It would be interesting to watch him operate as a captain and defender.
Young 7
Rahul Chaudhari
Five Seasons and more than 400 points later, one still can’t pinpoint what Rahul Chaudhari will do when he steps up to raid. An unpredictable and versatile raider, it’s hard to imagine that despite his massive success, Rahul is still only 24-years-old. One can only imagine the kind of damage he could possibly inflict when he turns 27.
Pardeep Narwal
The Queen of United Kingdom, Elizabeth 2, paid a visit to India in 1997. The year Pardeep Narwal was born. There was no way for her to know about Pardeep back then. Fast-forward 20 years later, sports channels in the U.K have begun to telecast Narwal’s dubkis and mind-boggling raids. If there’s one raider who can dethrone Rahul Chaudhari, it’s Narwal.
Mohit Chhillar
If Pro Kabaddi is a journey, Mohit Chhillar has travelled quite a lot. From U Mumba to Bengaluru Bulls and now at Haryana Steelers, the 24-year-old hasn’t had the privilege of being part of a stable team since U Mumba. The third best defender from Season 4 continues to show that he’s no one-trick pony. The best right corner in the world right now will be desperate to land a title.
Deepak Niwas Hooda
A former teacher at a private school, Deepak Hooda now schools’ defenders on the mat every time he steps up to raid. His rise to the top has been meteoric and the everybody is taking note. Which is why he was handed captaincy responsibilities this season at Puneri Paltan. At 23-years-old, Hooda is still in the early stages of his career but he carries himself like a veteran.
Amit Hooda
A player who was under the radar till season 2, Amit Hooda has shown the world, one doesn’t need to be big to be a kabaddi defender. The youngest of the lot, Hooda is just 19-years-old and was the best defender in season 4, successfully executing a massive 47 tackles. A sound reader of the game, an India call-up isn’t far away for this young gun.
Fazel Atrachali
Who would have thought? An Iranian player has established himself as the most menacing defender in the league. There have hardly been occasions when Anup Kumar has been outfoxed on the mat. At the recent Kabaddi World Cup, Atrachali had the measure of the Indian legend, displaying poise to keep him in check. When Fazel dives in for the tackle, there’s no way out.
Rohit Kumar
The Bengaluru Bulls managed just five wins out of fourteen games last season. It’s hard to fathom how Rohit Kumar ended up as the fourth best raider in the league. An uncanny ability to pick up points on the trot separates him from the rest. There are times when defenders know what exactly he’s going to do, stopping him is another challenge altogether.
Verdict
Among the top five raiders last season, four of them- Rahul, Pardeep, Deepak and Rohit occupy the first four positions. The only veteran on the list is Jasvir Singh. It’s safe to say at this point, the young raiders have the better of the experienced ones.
Similarly, among the top five defenders last season – Fazel, Amit Hooda, Mohit Chhillar, Manjeet and Sachin Shingade – Manjeet is the only one who has touched the 30-year old mark. On an individual level, the younger lot are head and shoulders above their peers. Their quality and athleticism will prove to be a challenge far too daunting for the experienced campaigners.
FT – Elderly Seven 23 – 35 Young Guns
