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The Pro Kabaddi League season 5 has finally come to a close with Patna Pirates becoming the first team to win a hat-trick of titles. They comfortably beat Gujarat Fortunegiants 55-38 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium, here in Chennai. This season witnessed a total o a humongous 138 matches, spread over the entire length and breadth of the country. 12 teams were vying for the coveted title, which was ultimately bagged by the defending champions. This edition threw up plenty of promising youngsters into the limelight, which once again underlined the enormous potential at disposal. Let us take a look at some good performances from the final.
#5 Jaideep
This promising youngster once again proved his credentials as one of the finds of the season. He was like a rock in the Patna backline, effecting great ankle holds and winning crucial tackle points. He scored 5 tackle points in all, which were decisive in making the opponents rethink their strategy. He finished the season with 71 tackle points, including 66 successful tackles. The stocky defender stood up during crunch times and refused to buckle under pressure. This quality is sure to hold him in good stead for the rest of his career.
#4 Sachin Tanwar
Sachin Tanwar was the lone bright spot in an otherwise underwhelming performance from the eventual runners-up. He kept the Patna defence in check with swift raids and agility. He scored 11 raid points in all, including 4 bonus points. He had a pretty successful season, aggregating 173 points in total. He emerged a striking force for the new franchise, which included the likes of experienced campaigners like Sukesh Hegde and Rajesh Narwal. If groomed well, he could be a match-winner in his own right.
#3 Monu Goyat
Monu Goyat came into his own when it mattered the most, as he pulled his team out of trouble during the early exchanges. He scored crucial raid points keeping the Patna pirates alive in the first half. He scored 9 raid points, including 3 bonus points helping the other star raider, Pardeep Narwal to recover from his early slump in form. Monu was brilliant throughout the season, scoring 202 points in total, with 191 raid points to his name. Though he was always overshadowed by the brilliance of Pardeep Narwal, he successfully performed the duty of the second raider with aplomb.
#2 Vijay
The mercurial all-rounder was once again in the thick of things, as he executed timely tackles and won important raid points. His experience in do or die raids were instrumental in Patna gaining upper hand during the second half. Vijay scored 7 points in the match, including 3 tackle points and 4 raid points. Vijay was shifted around, as he performed the roles of an attacking raider and a containing defender alternatively. He ended the tournament with a creditable 64 points. He was brilliant throughout and is definitely a future prospect.
#1 Pardeep Narwal
If Patna Pirates have won this season, the main credit should be given to Pardeep Narwal. He was like an unstoppable train throughout the entire tournament, and the final was no different. He scored a whopping 19 points, including 15 raid points and 4 bonus points. His tournament tally stood at 369 points, including an incredible 19 super 10s. His exploits fetched him the Most Valuable Player award for the second successive time. He delivered telling performances day in and day out, grinding the opponents down easily. This 20-year-old is already a legend and with experience at the highest level, he could be one of the all-time greats!
