Top 5 Defenders of Pro Kabaddi League

Offense and defense are an important part of any sport. In Kabaddi, strong defense is critical aspect for a team to win matches. Even if raiders fail in clinching points defense can earn points. There are some defenders who have proved themselves as the defensive pillar of any team they play for.

Let’s take a look at top 5 defenders of PKL history.

1) Manjeet Chhillar, Tamil Thalaivas 

Manjeet is arguably the best all-rounder and especially best-left cover in the PKL history. He now mostly plays as a defender only. Manjeet is the most successful defender in the PKL history.

In season 1 he scored 51 tackle points from 16 matches for Bengaluru Bulls. He was awarded as the ‘Best Defender’ of the season 1. Playing for Bulls, Manjeet grabbed 40 tackle points from 16 matches in season 2.

Due to his all-round show, he became ‘Most Valuable Player’ of the season. Again in season 3, Manjeet got the award of ‘Best Defender’ where he took 61 points from 15 matches played for Puneri Paltan.

Due to injury in season 4, Manjeet missed some matches for the Puneri team. But got 44 tackle points from 12 matches in that season. Season 5 was not so satisfied for him. He scored only 47 tackle points from 15 matches for Jaipur Pink Panthers.

Manjeet has scored most high 5’s (19) (scoring 5 tackle points in one match). This record is jointly held by him and Surender Nada of Haryana Steelers. He has scored 8 super tackles. Block and Dash are the key moves of Manjeet Chillar. He will be seen playing for Tamil Thalaivas in PKL season 6.

2) Surender Nada, Haryana Steelers

Surender Nada is one of the best defenders of PKL. His stats say it all. In the inaugural season of PKL, he was successful in scoring 51 tackle points from 15 matches. He scored 41 tackle points from 14 matches in season 2.

Season 3 was not great for Nada as he could manage to score only 13 tackle points from 7 matches. In season 4, Nada switched to Bengaluru Bulls and clinched 33 tackle points from 13 matches. He topped the list of most tackle points last season grabbing 80 points in 21 matches.

He has 16 super tackles to his name. He is also tied as the player with the highest 5s (19) in the league along with Manjeet Chhillar of Tamil Thalaivas. Ankle hold is the signature move of Surender Nada. He will be part of the Haryana Steelers.

3) Sandeep Narwal, Puneri Paltan 

Thigh hold and Backhold specialist Sandeep Narwal is the third most successful defenders of the PKL history. He is a defensive all-rounder. He got 27 tackle points from 14 matches in the first edition of PKL.

Patna’s Sandeep was successful in scoring 37 tackle points from 16 matches in season 2. In season 3 Sandeep was the second most tackle points scorer after Puneri Paltan’s Manjeet Chhillar. He got 55 tackle points from 14 matches. Sandeep played Season 4 for Telugu Titans.

He scored 42 points from 16 matches. In season 5, Sandeep moved to Puneri Paltan where he grabbed 52 tackle points from 21 matches. Sandeep has done 16 super tackles and 14 high 5’s. In the upcoming season 6 of PKL, Sandeep will be part of Puneri Paltan’s defense.

4) Mohit Chhillar, Jaipur Pink Panthers

In the inaugural season of PKL, Mohit scored 35 tackle points from 16 matches. Mohit was the immense part of U Mumba’s victory in season 2 as he claimed 42 tackle points from 14 matches.

In season 3, he was successful in getting 43 tackle points from 13 matches. Mohit was brought by Bengaluru Bulls in season 4 where he scored 47 tackle points from 14 matches.

In season 5 he did not perform up to the expectations and could take only 39 tackle points from 20 matches for Haryana Steelers. He also has 17 High 5s and 17 super tackles. Mohit is an expert in blocks, thigh hold and dashes.

Mohit will be donning the Jaipur Pink Panthers jersey in the upcoming season 6 of Pro Kabaddi League.

5) Ravinder Pahal, Dabang Delhi K.C.

With his thigh holds, back holds and blocks Ravinder Pahal is also one of the successful defenders of the PKL. He got 29 tackle points from 9 matches. Ravinder was awarded as ‘Best Defender of the Season’ in season 2 of PKL.

He scored 60 tackle points 14 matches. He attempted an unconventional move ‘Wrist Hold’ in season 2. In season 3 he got 26 tackle points from 11 matches. Ravinder was purchased by Puneri Paltan where he played well by scoring 37 tackle points from 14 matches.

In last season he played for Bengaluru Bulls and was successful in scoring 52 tackle points from 19 matches. He has scored 17 super tackles and 16 high 5’s. In the upcoming season of PKL, Ravinder will play for Dabang Delhi K.C.

Most Tackle Points in PKL History:

243 Points – Manjeet Chhillar – 74 Matches Played

218 Points –  Surender Nada – 70 Matches Played

213 Points – Sandeep Narwal – 83 Matches Played

209 Points – Mohit Chhillar – 77 Matches Played

204 Points – Ravinder Pahal – 67 Matches Played