Anup Kumar : PKL’s most successful captain
Anup Kumar is one of the successful captains for the Pro Kabaddi League franchise U Mumba. Known as ‘Captain Cool’ Anup never loses his cool with any player on the team. He stays calm irrespective of the situation. His fans have given him the title of ‘MS Dhoni of Kabaddi’. Anup is one of the most experienced players of PKL.
Anup Kumar hails from Palra village in Gurgaon, Haryana. He was playing Kabaddi in his school time where CRPF Kabaddi Team Coach Amar Singh Yadav saw his talent. He joined CRPF as a constable. Due to his hard work and talent, he got selected in the Delhi team. He was later selected for the national camp in 2005. 2006 South Asian Games was the first International Kabaddi Tournament of Anup Kumar in which the Indian Team won Gold.
Anup Kumar is said to be the ‘Bonus Ka Badshah’ for his perfect execution of crucial and Bonus point in the game. He is a perfect example of execution of toe touches. He was the captain of U Mumba since season 1. Under his captaincy, U Mumba was champion of PKL season 2. They were the runners-up in season 1 & 3. Due to auctions, U Mumba’s players were selected by different teams in season 4. So they stood at the 5th position of PKL season 4. The same scenario was repeated in season 5, where U Mumba was in 4th position.
Anup has scored 489 raid points and 57 tackle points in 70 matches. He was the recipient of ‘Most Valuable Player’ award in inaugural PKL season in 2014 where he scored was the highest scorer with 169 points. In season 2 he had 74 raid points from 14 matches whereas managed to score 76 raid points from 13 matches in season 3.
Anup claimed 72 raid points from 14 matches in the 4th edition of the league. While leading younger side U Mumba Anup was successful in scoring 112 raid points from 21 matches. He is the only player to have captained a side in three consecutive Pro Kabaddi finals (Season 1, Season 2 and Season 3).
Anup is two times Asian Games Gold Medalist in 2010 and 2014. Anup led Indian Kabaddi team in 2016 South Asian Games and 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. India won both the tournaments due to his captaincy skills.
Anup Kumar received Arjuna Award by the Government of India for his immense contribution to Kabaddi. Anup will start the Pro Kabaddi campaign with his new team Jaipur Pink Panthers on 10th October 2018. Anup’s current team Jaipur Pink Panthers will be up against his former team U Mumba.
Anup Kumar’s Pro Kabaddi League Performance:
Matches Played – 78
Raid Points – 489 Points
Super 10’s – 13
Super Raids – 15