The fifth season of the Pro Kabaddi League is all set to get under way in the month of July and will feature 12 teams this time around, who will contest over 130 matches spread across a time period in excess of three months. This will make the league the biggest of its kind in the country, surpassing the likes of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in the process.
On Monday, over 350 players are all set to go under the hammer as the teams will look to build their squads for the upcoming seasons. Eight existing teams have been allowed to retain one player each and for the Telugu Titans, the pick has been raider Rahul Chaudhuri.
Chaudhuri is often referred to as the poster boy of Indian kabaddi and for good reason too. Over the course of the four seasons, he has been the best raider and has amassed the most number of raid points.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, he spoke about the upcoming season, his expectations from it and his kabaddi idol. Here are a few excerpts!
Hi, Rahul! How is the preparation for the next season going? What are your expectations from it?
All of us are practicing very hard every day and honing our skills as season five begins. We are eagerly waiting for its start. For the auctions, I hope we can build a strong team and get the best players. The Telugu Titans have never won the league so far and this season, I am hoping we can change that.
What do you think of the new 131 youngsters who will be up for auction? Have you had a chance to look at them?
I feel it is a great opportunity for these young players to showcase their skills. This is the biggest opportunity any player can ever get and I hope they do well and make the most of it. We worked for so many years and then got our chance to become famous. These players will be on national television so early and it will be a really special moment for them.
Yes, I was there in Panvel at the camp and saw the kids in action. They are all very aggressive and technically strong. We have our eyes on a few of them and we will look to buy them in the auction.
Who is your favourite player in the current senior set up?
There are many players I look up to and it is hard to pick out one. But if I have to, it will be Ajay Thakur. He has been playing for India even before I stepped on the kabaddi mat for the first time. I really enjoyed watching him play and still do. He has been a huge influence on my career and is probably the reason why I decided to become a raider.
What are your thoughts on the retention picks by the teams?
Personally, I am glad that the Telugu Titans chose to retain me and I hope to repay their faith. It is every team’s choice who they wish to retain. Each team's situation and thought process are different, so it is hard to make a comment about it.
Also read: Pro Kabaddi League Season 5: Star raider Rohit Kumar all set to return in auction
