The first leg of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi Season 3 saw the Vizag crowd thoroughly entertained, with 4 days of continuous, enthralling action. The home team, Telugu Titans, finished the leg with 2 wins and 2 losses, but ended up as table-toppers, with 11 points. Bengaluru Bulls, Bengal Warriors and Patna Pirates left the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium with a 100% win record.
There were some players, however, who stole the show with splendid individual performances.
We pick the best ones that could be a part of the ‘Team of the Vizag leg’.
Kashiling Adake – Dabang Delhi
Although Dabang Delhi lost both the matches they played, the 23-year-old was the bright spot for his side, with a cumulative 20 points in two matches. Kashi scored 8 points in his first match vs Bengaluru Bulls, while he amassed 12 in a high-scoring loss vs the home team, Telugu Titans. The Eagles would rely heavily on the high-flying raider’s prowess as they look to make a quick comeback this season.
Jasvir Singh – Jaipur Pink Panthers
The smiling assassin, as Jasvir is fondly called, lived up to his name in the first two matches, as he was a thorn in the side for his team's opponents. Jasvir, with 6 points, helped Jaipur Pink Panthers beat defending champions, U Mumba. He was the lone fighter for his team in a narrow 28-29 loss suffered vs Patna Pirates, as he gathered 11 points out of his team's total.
Pardeep Narwal – Patna Pirates
Patna Pirates' stalwart, Pardeep Narwal put up an all-round effort to hunt down Jaipur Pink Panthers. With 9 raid points and 2 defense points, the 18-year-old performed admirably well, beyond his tender age, to find a spot in the team of the tournament so far. Impressed by his performances in training, the coach picked him in the playing 7 and he repaid his boss' faith and how! Pardeep is surely one to look out for in the future.
Manjeet Chhillar – Puneri Paltan
Last season's MVP has continued his stellar form into this season. However, he was unable to prevent his new team, Puneri Paltan, from suffering a defeat against the home team. The man from Nizampur scored 4 points in defence and 3 in attack, vs the Titans. The 29-year-old also has the added responsibility of captaining the Paltan, as they look to make their first ever semi-final appearance this campaign.
Girish Maruti Ernak – Bengal Warriors
It took 4 days for the crowd to finally see Bengal Warriors in action, and boy, was it worth the wait. Girish Maruti Ernak put up a commanding defensive display at the back, as the Warriors gave the Titans a masterclass in defending. The high-flying duo of Rahul Chaudhari and Sukesh Hegde was blunted down with ease, as Girish amassed 5 tackle points on the final day of the Vizag leg.
Shrikant Tewthia – Bengaluru Bulls
Not much was expected from Bengaluru Bulls after a mass exodus in the off-season. However, the Surjeet Narwal-led side put up a dominant performance against Dabang Delhi, starting their campaign with a bang. The win was largely due to a former Dabang Delhi player, Shrikant Tewthia. The 23-year-old showed his former employers what he is capable of, with a Super 5 against the Eagles. With Dharmaraj Cheralathan gone, the defensive onus falls on his young shoulders.
Rohit Rana – Jaipur Pink Panthers
The masked magician, Rohit Rana, was like a rock at the back for the Pink Panthers vs defending champions U Mumba. Scoring 9 raid points is no mean task, and for a defender to score as many takes a monumental effort. He delivered when his team needed him the most, as he came up with 2 super tackles over the course of the match. With a further point scored in the second match, he has become one of the top-scoring defenders this season, with 10 points in all.
