Top 10 best Indian Kabaddi players of all-time ft. Pardeep Narwal

All these players have played an important role in increasing the popularity of Kabaddi.

Kabaddi is one of the oldest and most intense physical sports in the world. The game originated in India and is now played in many countries. India has dominated Kabaddi, and all credit goes to the exceptional players. Many players have made India proud with their excellent games so far.

Pro Kabaddi League has given new life to this game. Due to PKL, many big players have performed well for India at the world level. Here are the top 10 players who have made a tremendous impact in the sport and have helped Team India dominate across decades.

Best Indian Kabaddi players-

10. Mohit Chillar

Mohit Chillar is one of the best defenders India has ever had. Mohit played a key role in leading India to several victories, including the Kabaddi World Cup, Asian Kabaddi Championship 2017, the Dubai Kabaddi Masters 2018, and the 2018 Asian Games.

In his PKL career, Chillar scored 277 tackle points in 109 matches, including 18 High 5s, and 23 super tackles.

9. Sandeep Narwal

Sandeep Narwal was a stellar all-rounder for Team India. He was prodigious in defence and attack and was one of the best all-rounders to have played for India. Narwal received the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2021 for his exceptional contribution to the sport.

He was part of the gold medal-winning teams at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship, and the Dubai Kabaddi Masters in 2018.

In his PKL career, Narwal scored 360 tackle points, including 18 High 5s, and 285 raid points. Moreover, he also played a vital role in making the Patna Pirates and Dabang Delhi champions in seasons 3 and 8, respectively.

8. Manjeet Chillar

Manjeet Chillar is another all-rounder who played a significant role in India’s success for almost a decade. Chillar received the Arjuna Award in 2015. The Arjuna Awardee was part of the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games gold medal-winning squad.

He also featured in the 2014 Asian Indoor Games, 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, and 2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters, where Team India secured gold.

Chillar was also a significant part of the PKL. He won the MVP title in the second season and remained the best all-rounder in the league. Chillar scored 220 raid points and nearly 400 tackle points in his PKL career.

7. Deepak Niwas Hooda

Deepak Niwas Hooda had a spectacular career as an all-rounder. He was also part of the team when India won the 2016 South Asian Games and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.

Hooda was the captain of the Asian Games bronze medal-winning team. Hooda had a fabulous PKL career, where he scored 1020 raid points and 99 tackle points.

6. Jasvir Singh

Jasvir Singh was a stupendous raider. Singh was part of the 2014 Asian Games and 2016 World Cup-winning squad. Singh received the Arjuna Award in 2017 for his contribution to Kabaddi. The Arjuna awardee also played a significant role for the Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL 1, helping them lift the inaugural trophy.

Singh scored 380 raid points, including 7 super 10s, and was also a handy defender with 32 tackle points, including 7 super tackles.

5. Pawan Sehrawat

Pawan Sehrawat is a phenomenal raider and a curious defender. Famously known as the “Hi-Flyer”, Sehrawat is the current captain of the national team. The Hi-Flyer was honoured with the Arjuna Award in 2023.

The Arjuna awardee led Team India to gold medals in the 2023 Asian Kabaddi Championship and the 2022 Asian Games. Apart from this, he was also a part of the 2019 South Asian Games, where the team won the gold medal.

Sehrawat has a stellar record in the PKL as well. Hi-flyer has 1318 raid points, including 70 Super 10s and 44 Super raids. In addition, he also has 70 tackle points, including 2 High 5s.

4. Pardeep Narwal

“The Dubki King”, Pardeep Narwal, is another legendary raider. Narwal has won four gold medals for India, including the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship, the 2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters, and the 2019 South Asian Games.

Other than that, he was also part of the bronze medal-winning squad in the 3028 Asian Games. He boasts a stunning PKL record, being the only player to surpass 1800 raid points in the PKL, including 88 Super 10s, and has done 82 super raids.

3. Rakesh Kumar

Rakesh Kumar is one of the most decorated Indian Kabaddi players. Kumar had a long career and witnessed many big moments with the National Kabaddi side. He was a fabulous all-rounder and was awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award in 2011.

The former Indian captain was part of the 2006, 2010, and 2014 Asian Games squad, which clinched gold medals. Apart from this, he also has two World Cup gold medals.

Kumar was the most expensive player in the inaugural edition of the PKL. In his PKL career, Kumar scored 186 raid points and 74 tackle points.

2. Ajay Thakur

Ajay Thakur was an exceptional raider who gave some of the most memorable performances in his career. Thakur was honoured with the Arjuna Award and Padma Shri in 2019. He played a massive role in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup victory.

Apart from this, Thakur was also part of the gold-winning squad in the 2014 Asian Games, 2018 Dubai Kabaddi Masters, and 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championships.

Thakur had a brilliant PKL career. He scored 794 raid points, including 29 Super 10s, and has executed 23 super raids. Currently, he is the head coach of the Puneri Paltan in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12.

1. Anup Kumar

Anup Kumar is one of the greatest players of the sport. He had a long list of accomplishments. Kumar was part of the gold medal-winning squad in the 2006 South Asian Games, the 2008 Asian Beach Games, the 2009 Asian Indoor Games, the 2010 Asian Games, the 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, the 2014 Asian Games, the 2016 South Asian Games, and the 2016 World Cup.

He received the Arjuna Award in 2012 for his enormous contribution to the sport. Anup retired from professional Kabaddi in 2018. In his PKL career, he scored 527 raid points, including 13 Super 10s, and executed 17 super raids. Apart from this, Kumar also had 69 tackle points under his belt.

The Arjuna awardee also lifted the PKL trophy in Season 2 with U Mumba, to add another badge of honour to his career.

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