PKL 9: Top five defenders sold in auction

These players fetched big money at the auction and will be eager to perform big in the season.

While raiders rake in the big points, defenders work as a unit and are a huge factor in the success of franchises. From stalwarts like Navneet Gautam in Season 1 to rising stars such as Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, defenders have been pivotal in the good performances of teams throughout the course of a complete season of the Pro Kabaddi League. The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 9 auctions saw some defensive stars go under the hammer, earning big salaries. Here are the top five defenders sold in the auction:

5. Parvesh Bhainswal – Rs 62 lakhs (Telugu Titans)

A high-profile left cover defender, Parvesh Bhainswal had a telepathic connection with Sunil Kumar in the Gujarat Giants’ seven. He finished as the second-best defender in Season 6.

The Giants used an FBM on him for ₹75 lakhs the following season, but now he's a part of the star-studded Telugu Titans unit. The Titans bought him at PKL 9 auction. The combination of Surjeet Singh and Parvesh Bhainswal could lift the Titans from their wooden spoon finish last season.

4. Ravi Kumar – Rs 64 lakhs (Dabang Delhi)

A solid and reliable left cover defender, Ravi Kumar has represented Bengal Warriors, Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers in the past. His specialty has been the super tackle, which he has executed in key moments before.

Equally comfortable as a right cover, Ravi’s versatility played a big part in him getting a substantial price tag in PKL 9 auction from the list of Category C defenders.

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3. Amirhossein Bastami - Rs 65.10 lakhs (Haryana Steelers)

The biggest surprise of the PKL 9 auction’s second day was Iranian Amirhossein Bastami going to the Steelers for ₹65.10 lakhs from a base price of ₹10 lakhs. A four-way bidding war between UP Yoddha, Dabang Delhi, the Steelers and Gujarat Giants was eventually sealed in favour of the Haryana Steelers.

Bastami led Iran to the inaugural Junior Kabaddi World Championships title in 2019 in an impressive unbeaten run. He will undoubtedly play a bigger part in Season 9 and will look to take inspiration from his compatriot Shadloui Chiyaneh’s rapid introduction.

2. Sunil Kumar – Rs 90 lakhs (Jaipur Pink Panthers)

Ever since making his PKL debut in Pro Kabaddi League Season 4, Sunil Kumar has been a vital cog in the Gujarat Giants' defence. Partnering with his cousin Parvesh Bhainswal in the covers, the two decimated raiding units and humbled the biggest of names with their chemistry. Sunil’s thigh holds have become his trademark.

He captained the Giants to consecutive finals and won gold for India during the 2019 South Asian Games. Now a part of the Pink Panthers, Sunil could be a candidate for the captaincy. Although the combination of Parvesh and Sunil will be missed, it will be interesting to see how they get along in the new setup.

1. Fazel Atrachali – Rs 1.38 crore (Puneri Paltan)

The ‘Sultan’ of defence Fazel Atrachali became the first player to breach the ₹1 crore-mark in the PKL season 9 auction. Following a bidding war between Telugu Titans and Dabang Delhi, Puneri Paltan swooped in to sign the former U Mumba captain. He broke his own record to become the most expensive foreign player once again.

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