Star Sports Pro Kabaddi: 5 players who performed brilliantly after changing teams

Stability is one of the key factors for a sportsman to reach the next level in the game. But every now and then, it is change that proves to be the trigger point in an athletes career. Some sportsmen are at their best playing in one team throughout their career, while some others need a fresh challenge from time to time to stay motivated and energized.The pre-season activity ahead of the current edition of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi created waves due to some big names opting to switch allegiances. Players like Manjeet Chhillar, Rakesh Kumar, Wazir Singh and others chose to move away from the teams they played in during the first two seasons.Heres a look at five players in particular who have really benefited from a change of teams and are now ruling the roost in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi Season 3:

#1 Pardeep Narwal - From Bengaluru Bulls to Patna Pirates

Pardeep Narwal

Quite possibly the biggest revelation of the third season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, Pardeep Narwal has been sending chills down the spines of opposition defenders this month. He currently leads the leaderboards for most number of raid points, with 75, and has the second most successful raids with 56. His corresponding numbers with Bengaluru Bulls in Season 2 were 9 and 7 respectively; that is quite a big turnaround.

Despite being just 19 years old, a fearless Pardeep has taken to Patna Pirates like a duck takes to water. The man from Sonipat has surprised everyone with his performances this season and is now the first name on coach Sanjiv Kumar Baliyan's team sheet. The move to Patna Pirates has served as a springboard for this youngster's career.

#2 Girish Maruti Ernak - From Patna Pirates to Bengal Warriors

Girish Maruti Ernak

Not many would consider moving from a team that played in the semis to one that finished 6th a wise one. But Girish Maruti Ernak chose the road less travelled and is now reaping the benefits of his boldness.

The strong defender from Mumbai moved from the Patna Pirates to the Bengal Warriors despite having a decent Season 2. His move proved to be a catalyst for his rise to the next level; playing with the likes of Nilesh Shinde in the Warriors’ line-up, Ernak has already surpassed his tackles’ tally of last season. With 33 successful tackles to his name this year, a tally bettered only by Manjeet Chhillar, Ernak is proving to be one of the best defenders in the league, if not the best.

#3 Jasmer Singh Gulia - From Dabang Delhi to Puneri Paltan

Jasmer Singh Gulia

Jasmer Singh Gulia had a fantastic first season with Dabang Delhi, making 37 successful tackles and finishing fourth in the tackles per match category. But the experienced defender had a forgettable second season where he played just three games and made just two successful tackles.

Gulia jumped ship to Puneri Paltan for Season 3, and he hasn’t looked back since. The switch has enabled Jasmer to once again establish himself as one of the finest defenders in the game. Fifth on the leaderboard this season with 27 successful tackles, Gulia and his side are gathering momentum at the perfect time. If the Puneri Paltan go on to win the league, this 32-year-old would have had a major say in their journey.

#4 Surjeet Narwal - From Dabang Delhi to Bengaluru Bulls

Surjeet Narwal dons the red of Bengaluru Bulls for the third season

The shining light in an otherwise dark third season for his team, raider Surjeet Narwal has given the Bengaluru Bulls fans something to cheer about. With 40 raid points Surjeet has led the attack of last season's finalists admirably, but a lack of quality support means his side’s chances of making the semi-finals look bleak.

Despite missing the second season due to injury, Surjeet has managed to re-invent himself as one of the top raiders in the league. Getting the chance to work under Randhir Singh and being given the responsibility of captaining a young team have helped make the 25-year-old an even better player.

#5 Dharmaraj Cheralathan - From Bengaluru Bulls to Telugu Titans

Dharmaraj Cheralathan

Changing teams at the age of 40 is no easy task given kabaddi’s demands on the body and the lack of acclimatisation time. But that is exactly what Dharmaraj Cheralathan did and he has duly delivered for the Telugu Titans this season.

Using his experience at crunch stages, Cheralathan has given the Titans’ defence plenty of solidity and bite. He currently sits in the 6th position in number of successful tackles category, and his rate of 2.5 successful tackles per match is not bad either.

A part of the mass exodus from last season’s finalists, Cheralathan has ensured that Bengaluru Bulls' loss is Telugu Titans' gain; he has proven to be worth every penny the Titans shelled out for his services.