'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
" />
Gujarat Fortunegiants – one of 4 new teams – in Season 5 of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) announced themselves to the rest of the world at The Arena in Ahmedabad. With a win, a draw and a loss in their opening three encounters away from home, Sukesh Hegde’s team finally found their rhythm at home as they romped to 5 wins and a draw to end their home leg unbeaten.
When the fixtures list was announced back in June, not many would have expected to see the newly formed franchise from Gujarat to be in the knockout spots, let alone at the top of the table. However, 3 weeks in, Manpreet Singh and his team have done the unexpected as they sit atop Zone A with 6 wins and 2 draws in their 9 matches.
Their swift rise to the top can be attributed to the sensational performances by the players, who defied expectations and showed their calibre when it mattered most.
Let’s rank the top 5 players from Gujarat Fortunegiants that have made the team a force to be reckoned with:
#5 Mahendra Singh Rajput
The former Bengal Warriors raider has adapted quickly to his new team. Burdened with expectation of carrying the raiding department for the Warriors, Rajput is relishing his role at Gujarat and it has shown in his performances.
Although he’s only played 5 matches for his team, Mahendra Singh Rajput has managed to score 19 raid points and a solitary tackle point. The 27-year-old has a respectable raid success rate of 40% with his new team and provided ample support to his main raiders.
While one could say Rajput didn’t have a fixed role with the Warriors, they can’t make the same claim thanks to his exploits with the Fortunegiants. The lanky raider has become a reliable asset for the team thanks to his consistent performances off the bench. Manpreet Singh often turns to him when he needs the course of the game to change, and Rajput, more often than not, delivers, as he exemplified in a splendid super raid late in the game to earn Gujarat a draw against his former team.
#4 Sukesh Hegde
Many eyebrows were raised when Sukesh Hegde was handed the captain’s armband for the season. However, the Mangalorean has put those doubts to rest, and how! Apart from enabling his team to perform to the best of their ability, the former Telugu Titans raider has racked up points at will.
With 33 raid points, Sukesh Hegde is, statistically, the 7th best player in Season 5 of the PKL. He was at his best against Dabang Delhi in the team’s 5th match of the season where he scored 7 points to help his side register a 29-25 win.
The man who cost Gujarat Rs. 31.50 lakhs hasn’t been immune to criticism, however, with his empty raids providing constant fodder to the untrained eye. In reality, however, these raids help set the tone of the match, which prove pivotal to the result of the team. All one needs to do is take a look at how Indian Kabaddi captain Anup Kumar slows down the game to understand Sukesh’s tactics, which helps him stay on the mat for long and help the youngsters play their natural game.
#3 Fazel Atrachali
The Iranian has been a rock at left corner for the Fortunegiants so far in Season 5. With 17 tackle points in 9 matches, Fazel has continued where he left off in Season 4. Apart from his defensive capabilities, the Iranian brings with him a winning mentality, having won the Pro Kabaddi twice – Season 2 with U Mumba and Season 4 with Patna Pirates.
If there was any pressure on Fazel due to the Iranian being Gujarat’s priority pick, he hasn’t shown it at all. On the contrary, he has thrived under pressure and shown his range of defensive skills from ankle and thigh holds to body blocks, along with acting as a mentor for the young players in the team.
#2 Abozar Mighani
Season 2 winners U Mumba were at the wrong end of Abozar’s aggression as he completed a high 5 in the opening match of the Ahmedabad leg. U Mumba’s raiders were nullified time and again as the Iranian inspired his team to a 39-21 victory.
The chemistry between the two Iranian corners has been a joy to watch for every kabaddi fan as it almost seems like they are telepathic. When Abozar goes in for a tackle, Fazel is not far behind in providing support to his teammate, while the opposite also holds true. The two are key if Gujarat hope to make their maiden voyage in the PKL a memorable one, and it looks like the Iranians are relishing the challenge.
#1 Sachin
In 9 matches, Sachin has scored 60 points with 54 of those coming in raids. His favourite moment of his debut season would definitely be scoring his maiden ‘Super 10’ when he notched up 11 points vs Telugu Titans. In a relatively low-scoring encounter, Sachin trumped the top scorer in the history of the league, Rahul Chaudhari, and helped his team win the match 29-19 on the penultimate day of the Ahmedabad leg.
What has, probably, surprised even coach Manpreet Singh has been the 18-year-old’s strength. While ensuring his raids send an opposition to the bench, Sachin hasn’t neglected his defensive duties by pulling off some spectacular tackles as well. With a super tackle and 4 more tackle points to his name, the youngster’s defensive contribution has been pivotal. With the Iranian duo marking opposite corners and Sachin ready to pounce from a more central position, opposition raiders are extremely wary when they venture into Gujarat’s half.
All, not just the aforementioned 5, of the Gujarat Fortunegiants players will have a spring in their step for the away matches thanks to a stellar home leg, where they ended unbeaten, and the rest of the league will have to be alert when Manpreet Singh’s men come marching to their homes.
