PKL: Top 10 best all-rounders in Pro Kabaddi League history

The PKL has seen sensational all-rounders who have performed remarkably.

Kabaddi is a unique game that involves finesse and raw power. The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has been a great introduction to the Indian sporting landscape. On one side there are Raiders with their swift moves and agility trying to get their fingertips on one of their opposition players and move toward the midline. Meanwhile, defenders will be desperate to catch or push them off the court.

It is an exciting game because the team’s momentum can change in a matter of seconds. Therefore, teams look for players with multiple skills to stand out and contribute. The all-rounders are a gift to any team as they add the balance of the team. Although they are rare, the Pro Kabaddi League has seen them all in the last decade.

Also Read: Top 10 foreign players in the history of Pro Kabaddi League

On that note, Let’s take a look at the top 10 best all-rounders in Pro Kabaddi League history.

10. Meraj Sheykh

Meraj Sheykh was one of the first few overseas players to feature in the league. He made his debut for Telugu Titans in season two and became the first overseas player to captain a PKL side. But the all-rounder found his true self when he moved to Dabang Delhi in season four. He played four seasons for Delhi scoring 194 Raid Points and 24 Tackle Points. As he was the skipper, he focused on staying on the mat to control the game and an impressive 78% not out percentage reflects the same.

9. Rajesh Narwal

Fans who have seen the inaugural edition of PKL will remember Rajesh Narwal’s heroics. Playing for Jaipur Pink Panthers, the all-rounder played a crucial role in the semis top-scoring with eight points and in the finals with six points.

On the day of the final, when the likes of Rohit Rana, Prashant Chavan, and Ran Singh failed as a defender, Rajesh stepped up. He played four seasons for the men in Pink scoring 266 Raid Points and 73 Tackle Points. He then played for four teams in the next four seasons without much success. Fans would love to see him back in PKL.

Also Read: PKL: Five best overseas raiders of all-time

8. Rakesh Narwal

Rakesh Narwal has always been a fascinating name in the world of Indian Kabaddi. With his long hair and all-around antics, he used to lead the attack against arch-rivals Pakistan. In the inaugural edition of PKL, he earned the highest bid with Patna Pirates getting him on board.

He played for two seasons scoring 102 Raid points and 14 tackle points with injury ruling him out for most of the part for season two. For the next two seasons, he featured for U Mumba focusing more on defense scoring 44 tackle points. The legend took over the coaching reins after his playing days.

7. Nitin Rawal

PKL 11 saw Nitin Rawal reveal his full capabilities as a defender for Bengaluru Bulls as he was one of the top defenders of the season scoring 74 tackle points. While he had only two Raid points this season, he started his PKL career primarily as a Raider for Jaipur Pink Panthers in season five scoring 65 Raid Points.

Over the next three seasons, he was used as a Raider for Jaipur scoring 68 Raid points and 38 Tackle Points. While Haryana Steelers unleashed the sleeping defensive demon in Season nine, it was on full display for Bengaluru in the last season.

6. Vijay Malik

PKL is all about finding the right talent and backing him to the tilt. The story of Coach Krishna Kumar Hooda and Vijay Malik the all-rounder is one to be said. Making his debut for Patna Pirates, Vijay scored 27 Raid points and 37 Tackle points, helping his side win the final.

He was used more as a Raider in the next season. Realizing his potential, Coach Hooda roped him into the Dabang Delhi team for season seven. He not only helped them make the finals for the first time but also produced his best in season eight to take Delhi to their maiden title. The duo reunited in Telugu Titans’ colours.

Also Read: PKL: List of players who have won MVP award in every season

5. Aslam Inamdar

Aslam Inamdar is one of India’s best all-rounders in the currently. Having played just four seasons of the Pro Kabaddi League, the man from Maharashtra has been able to make a bigger impact on his franchise Puneri Paltan. He came into the ranks through the Yuva Paltan Program as the academy found the diamond has shaped him to shine on the world stage. He made his debut in season eight and with his all-round performance helped them make it to the playoffs after two seasons.

He had a bigger impact the next season as he played a crucial role in them making it to the finals for the first time. He was given the captaincy role the following season and showed that he had a mature head on his shoulders by minimizing his raiding duties to ensure he remained on the mat. Puneri Paltan went on to win the title with Aslam named the Most Valuable Player of the Season. The 25-year-old has many years left and he is very capable of climbing up in this list.

4. Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh

No one has had a bigger impact in PKL than Mohammadreza Shadloui in the league’s history. He has played four seasons of PKL and has qualified for the finals thrice, winning back-to-back championships in the last two seasons with Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers respectively.

He has won the season’s best defender award twice and the most valuable player award once by topping the defenders’ charts in three of those four seasons. He is already in the Top eight of the all-time tackle point list. While these are his defensive accolades, his PKL coach Manpreet Singh invested him as a raider for season 11 and the 24-year-old responded with 57 raid points which helped them closer to the title. PKL will see him break more records in the coming years.

Also Read: PKL: A look at Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh’s journey in Pro Kabaddi League

3. Sandeep Narwal

Fondly called Beast, Sandeep Narwal was one of the characters of PKL who added flair to the league. Making his debut for Patna Pirates in the inaugural season, Sandeep was one of their stars that season. Although the men in green couldn’t make it to the finals, with 92 raid points and 27 tackle points he took the league by storm as he executed Eight Super Raids and Six Super Tackles.

He stayed with Patna for the next two seasons including the title-winning season three. He then moved to five teams in the next six seasons where he was used more as a defender than a Raider. He was one of the most powerful all-rounders and the fans would want to see more of him.

2. Deepak Niwas Hooda

A former India captain, Deepak Niwas Hooda was one of the most sought-after players in the league’s history, thanks to his all-round skills. At 12.6 lakhs, he was the second most expensive player in the inaugural auction, with Telugu Titans obtaining his services. The all-rounder moved to Puneri Paltan where he played a key role.

He went on to captain Puneri Paltan and then the inaugural champions Jaipur Pink Panthers for a few seasons. It was disappointing to see him go unsold in the last two seasons. Despite his absence on the mat, he still is in the top eight of the all-time Raiders list. With age on his side, the 30-year-old will try his bit to make a comeback.

Also Read: PKL: A look at Maninder Singh’s journey in Pro Kabaddi League

1. Manjeet Chillar

Regarded as the greatest player the league has ever seen, Manjeet Chillar had a complete game both as a Raider and as a defender which made him the enforcer on the mat. He was the skipper of Bengaluru Bulls in the first two seasons.

He scored 138 Raid Points and 91 Tackle Points in the first two seasons including the Best Defender Award in the inaugural edition and the Most Valuable Player award in the second essay. He moved to Pune for the next two seasons and captained them to their best-ever finish.

The season five saw Abhishek Bachchan-owned side plunging money to build the side around him. But an injury to him resulted in a tough campaign for them. He moved to Tamil Thalaivas where he guided the team and then took Dabang Delhi to their maiden title in season eight. His double thigh hold is still a trademark and the league hasn’t seen anyone come close to the achievements of Manjeet.

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