Five kabaddi players that were surprise probables for Asian Games

It was shocking to see the selection of the following players.

There were several notable names in the probables list for the Asian Games 2022 in kabaddi. The individuals that performed well in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season eight were sought more highly. Those who delivered a good performance in recent times were considered. Having said that, some players made the fray solely due to their reputation.  These players have a big reputation and possess experience in the field of kabaddi. Hence, they made the probables list. 

However, some players that also made the list were surprise inclusions, to say the least. Despite delivering lukewarm performances, these individuals made the list for the prestigious Asian Games 2022. Let’s take a look at the five players that were surprise probables in the team for the Asian Games:

Vikash Kandola

Vikash Kandola plays as a raider for the PKL side, Haryana Steelers. He made the probables list too despite not being at his best in the past season. He scored 180 points in 22 matches, placing him in the top-10 raiders of the competition. 

However, the raider did struggle for consistency. The team for the Asian Games also has players like Pardeep Narwal, Pawan Sehrawat and Naveen Kumar among others. All these players were better and someone like Surender Gill could have made the cut over Kandola.

Pankaj Mohite

Pankaj Mohite played for Puneri Paltan in the PKL. He was good but not great in the past season. Playing seven matches, Pankaj scored 23 points only. Making the list of probables was unexpected. Younger players like Abhishek Singh or Ajith Kumar may be more deserving considering overall performance.

Sunil Kumar

The skipper of Gujarat Giants, Sunil Kumar also made the cut. He was average during the PKL season eight and getting a place in the probables list was rather surprising. He managed 38 points in 23 matches and placed 28th in terms of scoring most tackle points. Sombir or Rinku delivered better performances than Kumar but unlike him, did not make the cut.

Mahendra Singh

Mahendra Singh was part of the Bengaluru Bulls in PKL season eight. He also made the list of probables, which came as a huge surprise to many. The player scored 39 points in 20 matches for his team. He was average at best during the last term and there were several more deserving options that should have made the list. 

Shubham Shinde

Shubham Shinde was part of the Patna Pirates during the eighth season of the PKL. He was able to manage 17 points in 19 fixtures. The right corner defender was short on average time spent on the mat too and making the list of probables was surprising. There were plenty of defenders that delivered better performance and should have made the cut ahead.

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