What would an all-time PKL team made up of foreigners look like?

These players have cemented their legacies in the competition.

The indigenous sport of Kabaddi has seen players from far and wide show their mettle on the mat. The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has had a rich legacy of foreign players cementing their legacies in the hearts of fans across India.

Since 2014, the PKL has broadened its horizons with extensive scouting programs and trials. The Haryana Steelers splurged 65.10 Lakh on untested Iranian Amirhossain Bastami, who led his national side to the inaugural Junior Kabaddi World Championship Title in 2019.

 From Iran in the West to South Korea in the east, this is the all-time PKL team consisting of foreigners.

Right corner: Abozar Mighani (Iran)

A fierce competitor who made a name for himself in his debut season with Gujarat Giants, Abozar began life in the PKL by entering the elusive 50 tackle point club in his very first season. He was sold to the Telugu Titans for 76 Lakhs in season 6. Although he missed his partner in crime Fazel in the other corner, Abozar still posted 56 points and maintained a 26% assist rate. The Titans used an FBM on the Iranian for 75 Lakh, but his minutes and output dipped slightly in season 7. A switch to Bengal Warriors gave Abozar a lifeline back into contention and grabbed onto the opportunity handed, winning 43 tackle points in 22 matches. He will represent UP Yoddha in season 9.

Right in: Jang-Kun Lee (South Korea)

The first overseas player to score 400 raid points deserves a mention in this dream team. Lee made an indelible mark on the Bengal Warriors and was an integral part of the unit. Having mastered judo and taekwondo, Lee brought elements of those martial arts onto the Kabaddi mat, developing a lethal weapon in the scorpion kick.

Over six seasons for the Bengal Warriors as a lethal raiding force, Lee managed 411 raid points and 22 tackle points. He is a keen student of the sport and picks up new variations and skills in his game. He moved to Patna Pirates in season 7, earning 60 points in 16 appearances. This was Lee’s lowest return since season 2. He opted out of season 8 and did not feature in the season 9 auctions.

Right Cover: Farhad Milaghardan (Iran)

A reliable all-rounder for the Telugu Titans, Farhad excelled in the right cover position otherwise dominated by Indians. He debuted in season 5 but hit his stride in seasons 6 and 7. He scored 78 points in total from 22 matches and maintained a not-out percentage of above 80.

Centre: Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh (Iran)

Mohammad Nabibakhsh was sold to the Bengal Warriors in season 7 for 77.75 Lakh, but soon became a mainstay in the seven. Despite carrying the tag of being the most expensive foreign buy of that season, he erased all doubts with a Super 10 on debut. Nabibakhsh is one of the few players to register both a Super 10 and High 5. He captained the Bengal Warriors in the semi-finals and finals in his debut season, showcasing maturity and leadership qualities in abundance to help Bengal lift their first PKL title. Nabibakhsh was a more refined presence in season 8, bringing in new aspects to his raiding game. He will represent Puneri Paltan in season 9, after being sold for 87 Lakh.

Left Cover: Meraj Sheykh (Iran)

Meraj was the first foreign player to captain a side when he took charge of the Telugu Titans in season 2. He was a dashing presence on the mat and became a very prominent all-rounder in no time. He cultivated a unique style of cover defending to add to his raiding mastery. After moving to Dabang Delhi in Season 4, he was named captain and enjoyed the added responsibility, scoring 63 raid and 12 tackle points. He improved his returns the following season, notching up 96 raid points and 8 tackle points. His 104-point total made him the best all-rounder of PKL season 5. In season 6, he continued his prolific raiding exploits and ended with 94 raid points. Injury issues and the pandemic have meant that the Iranian has not returned to the PKL since.

Left in: Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (Iran)

The left corner must play a bit out of position in this line-up. Shadloui enjoyed a barnstorming debut campaign for the Patna Pirates and could seemingly do no wrong in defence. He put up eye-watering numbers, snaring a record-breaking 89 tackle points in a single season. He has made the position his own. Patna retained him for 74.60 Lakhs and Shadloui will hope to continue his displays in Season 9.

Left Corner: Fazel Atrachali (Iran)

The Sultan is the best foreign player in the history of the league. He also led a curve of changing strangleholds nationally, beating India to the 2018 Asian Games gold. His numbers speak for themselves, 342 tackle points from 141 matches at a strike rate of 52 and a whopping 135% average assists success rate is mind-blowing. He has also captained U Mumba and will likely captain Puneri Paltan, who paid Rs 1.38 crore for Fazel.

Substitute:

Right Corner: Hadi Oshorak (Iran)

Two-time champion Hadi is an experienced campaigner and knows his way around the mat. He is a calm head under pressure and can come off the bench to slot in anywhere in the defence.

Raider: Abolfazl Naghsodloumahali

The lanky Iranian scored the second-best haul among foreign raiders in season 5, winning 97 raid points in 19 matches. His reach and bonus point ability can be a boon from the bench.

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