Pro Kabaddi League Season 5: Five player battles to watch out for in the Sonepat leg

It has taken four seasons but Pro Kabaddi League has finally reached the heartland of Indian Kabaddi as we move into the Sonepat leg of the tournament.

With more than half of season five having finished, teams are now preparing to make their push for a playoff spot as they aim to win the league. The Bengal Warriors moved to the top of the standings in Zone B after a successful home leg while Gujarat Fortunegiants continue to do well, reigning at the top in Zone A.

Debutants Haryana Steelers would be looking to make the most of the home advantage and throw down the gauntlet to their opponents as they play six times in the next few days and would have targeted maximum points from their matches.

We take a look at the five player battles that will be most exciting to watch in the Sonepat leg:

#1 Mohit Chhillar (Haryana Steelers) vs Pardeep Narwal (Patna Pirates)

The first match of the Sonepat leg will see two teams with identical records face each other, with hosts Haryana taking on defending champions Patna Pirates.

The Steelers have established their identity as one of the strongest defensive outfits in the league and will rely on their strengths to stop the Pirates.

Mohit Chhillar has been an important member of their defence and the right corner will give his all to ensure his team can stop Pardeep Narwal. With 21 points from nine matches, Chhillar has steadily grown into the season and improved his performances.

Narwal has the highest points among raiders in the league, having scored 115 points in nine matches, an average of almost 13 per encounter.

This battle will go a long way in determining which team wins this encounter.

#2 Fazel Atrachali (Gujarat Fortunegiants) vs Nitin Tomar (U.P. Yoddha)

The team from Gujarat have dominated proceedings in Zone A, having scored 43 points so far, and have won the most number of matches in the league at this stage, seven.

On the other hand, U.P. Yoddha have kept a steady pace and have accumulated 33 points from their 12 matches. Both teams are primed for a deep run in the tournament and the Yoddha would be looking to close the gap.

Gujarat's Iranian powerhouse, Fazel Atrachali, has been a key cog in their wheel, as his athletic and flamboyant defensive play has helped the team defeat their opponents convincingly. With 28 points, the man who plays left corner will have his task cut out when he faces Nitin Tomar, who is the Yoddha's leading raider with 75 points from 12 matches.

Tomar's raiding has laid the platform for his team's strong performances so far and he would be focused on continuing in the same vein.

#3 Pardeep Narwal (Patna Pirates) vs Surinder Singh (U Mumba)

Hands down the best raider in season five of the Pro Kabaddi League, Pardeep Narwal has been the most important player in Patna Pirates' history and has not let his performances dip despite his stardom.

Known as the "Dupki King" for his distinctive, adventurous style of scoring points, Pardeep has been accruing points for fun, with 115 so far in nine matches.

The man from Sonepat would be keen to impress in his hometown and will have to overcome the challenge offered by U Mumba's Surinder Singh.

Surinder has himself had an impressive season as the right cover for the Mumbai outfit, scoring 33 points in 12 matches. He has been a solid presence in defence and will have to bring his best to prevent Patna from running away with the match.

#4 Rohit Kumar (Bengaluru Bulls) vs Girish Ernak (Puneri Paltan)

The Bengaluru Bulls are having a season to forget but take nothing away from their star raider, Rohit Kumar, who has excelled despite the team's struggles.

Rohit has scored 95 points in the 11 matches he has played and has given his all on the mat for the team from Bengaluru. However, the team has let him down and as a result, they have won only three matches all season.

The Puneri Paltan have played only eight matches so far, the least of all teams, and have performed decently, with 33 points. They would be focused on adding another win to their record and will approach the match with complete confidence.

Stopping Kumar would be the first step to achieving that and Girish Maruti Ernak will be imperative to the Pune outfit's chances of doing that. Having scored 23 points, Ernak has proven that he is no muck and his battle with Rohit will determine which way the result goes.

#5 Rahul Chaudhari (Telugu Titans) vs Surjeet Singh (Bengal Warriors)

The Telugu Titans have battled through what has been another season full of disappointing performances and have been very dependent on Rahul Chaudhari to deliver the goods.

Chaudhari has had a good season, scoring 94 points in his 13 matches, but the team's lack of support for Rahul in attack has been their Achilles heel. He will have to be at his best if they are to pull off an upset over the Bengal Warriors.

The team from Kolkata have scored the most points in the league, 45, and have all the makings of a complete outfit. They will rely on captain Surjeet Singh to keep Rahul Chaudhari quiet.

Surjeet, who plays Right Cover, is the highest-scoring defender in season five and has 39 points to his name. His partnership with Ran Singh has been impressive and another good outing for him will see his team continuing their good run of form.