The Pro Kabaddi League has seen some of the best defenders in the world. From chain tackles to ankle holds, the defenders are the spice of this sport. A good defender can single-handedly win you a tournament. One can never ignore the dynamic duo of Surinder Nada and Mohit Chillar at both corners. Nor can one ignore the waist grab of Girish Ernak! So, here’s a quick round-up of the top 5 defenders in the Pro Kabaddi League of all-time: –
Surjeet Singh: –
Surjeet is one of the best defenders the league has ever seen. He has played for various teams including U Mumba, Bengal Warriors, and Tamil Thalaivas. He was also the captain of the Puneri Paltan. In his total of 94 games, he has amassed 278 tackle points. This has come along with 18 super tackles and 27 occasions of scoring 5+ points in a game. Surjeet is on the leaderboard in terms of scoring 5+ points in a game.
Sandeep Narwal: –
Sandeep Narwal has reigned supreme in the PKL from the first season itself. With the combination of strength and agility, Sandeep took the league away by the storm. In 125 games featuring him, he has scored 325 points. He is the player to score the most super tackles. His block and ankle hold is difficult to get away from. His attacking and raiding abilities provide the other dimension and make him a complete player. Sandeep has played for Patna Pirates, U Mumba, and Telugu Titans.
Fazel Atrachali: –
Bringing the Iranian flavor to the Indian League is Fazel Atrachali. Fazel and his ankle hold are dreaded by many raiders. He has scored a total of 317 points in the 103 games played. He has scored a bit less as compared to Narwhal but his average is way ahead of him. Fazel alongside Abozar forms a deadly combo for Iran. Atrachali has played for Gujarat, Patna, and U Mumba. He was also the captain of U Mumba for a few games. With 20 Super Tackles and 21, High Fives Fazel is a big threat to the opposition.
Ravinder Pahal: –
Ravinder “Wall” Pahal! Pahal took the league by storm in the first season itself. He along with Nilesh Shinde were difficult to deal with. The chains he formed are super strong. Ravi has achieved a total of 326 points in 112 games. With 19 Super Tackles and 23 matches claiming 5+ points, he has been unstoppable. His diving thigh hold is unmatched.
Manjeet Chillar: –
Manjeet grabbed the attention from the 1st season onwards winning the “Best Defender” in that very season. He has represented Bengaluru Bulls for most of the seasons. With 339 tackle points from 108 matches, Manjeet is second to none. His raiding skills add a forte to his arsenal!