Fazel Atrachali
The Iranian may well be the best defender in the world at this point in time. If you were picking a team, picking Fazel Atrachali is a no brainer. There isn’t a more dependable right corner in the league than him. It’s evident when you look at how the opposition sets up their attack when he’s on the mat.
Attempting to get a point off Atrachali is a high risk move which no raider is willing to take. 9/10 times, the attacker comes out second best. A raider who tries a touch on the Iranian, must deploy his entire concentration on a single defender. It puts the raider in an extremely vulnerable situation. He has no idea about the position of the other 6. Atrachali has this innate ability to coerce raiders into making mistakes.
Mohit Chhillar
“The price is something I have no control over and I am happy with whatever I have got”, said the defender. Mohit Chhillar’s price tag this season has made more news than his abilities. Which shouldn’t be the case. Yes, he went for a bargain. Yes, he was right to assume he deserved a better amount. But his skills on the mat don’t lie.
Chhillar has an amazing range of tackles which he puts to impeccable use. Not a one trick pony, his versatility makes him one of the best defenders in the league. His ability to out-think the raider is second to none. As a result, in an attempt to outfox him, raiders end up inflicting damage upon themselves.
There have been times when he hasn’t even had to plunge into a tackle for a point. Such is the respect he commands. Mind you, he’ still only 23.
Manjeet Chhillar
Not one to mince his words, Manjeet strongly feels that a captain of a kabaddi team ought to be an all-rounder. There are good reasons to believe why he might be right. The best all-rounder in the league, very few have managed to replicate his presence as a leader and performer on the mat. His proactive approach is infectious and he makes sure it rubs off on all his teammates.
Last week he told us, “I pray before every match, for the success of my team but most importantly I pray that no player from the opposition and my team gets hurt”. He might come across as a man who shows no mercy on the mat but Manjeet has his priorities right. His approach on the mat – ruthless. His intentions? All for the love of the game.
