Just as in football, the forwards are entrusted to score goals, similarly, in Kabaddi, the raiders fight hard to garner points for their respective teams and lead them to victory. In the past six seasons, the raiders have come up with interesting moves to get the better of their opponents.
Ranging from toe-touch to back-kick to ‘dubki’ to scorpions kick, the raiders have been quick and agile over anything else. Here we take a look at the raiders who have garnered the maximum raid points over the years ahead of Pro Kabaddi 2019.
Pardeep Narwal (858 raid points)
Belonging from the state of Haryana, the ‘Dubki King’ made his debut with Bengaluru Bulls before going on to join the Patna Pirates in the third season, where he cemented his place in their frontline for the next five years. Pardeep has scored a humongous total of 865 raid points from just 85 matches in his PKL career.
He was adjudged the league’s ‘Most Valuable Player’ in two consecutive seasons (season four and five). Alongside all this, the raider also holds the record for the most points scored in a single season (369), the highest points in a single game (34) and the most points in a single raid (8). He is one of the most consistent performers in PKL who is growing stronger with every passing day.
Rahul Chaudhari (825 raid points)
The ‘Poster Boy’ of Indian Kabaddi has deservedly earned the title of the ‘Raid Machine’. A part of the Telugu Titans setup since its inception, it’s the first time that he will turn up for another team in PKL - Tamil Thalaivas.
A top-notch raider, he possesses a unique knack of attacking from both sides – right and left, which adds further dimensional to his game. In 100 PKL matches, Chaudhari has scored 825 raid points so far and is giving Pardeep a tough competition in clinching the top spot.
Deepak Niwas Hooda (710 raid points)
The Jaipur Pink Panthers’ charismatic leader has already tasted huge success at the international level when he lifted the Kabaddi World Cup back in 2016. His story in PKL, however, is not that different.
Hooda started his PKL career with Telegu Titans in 2014, then shifted to Puneri Paltans in 2016 before joining the Jaipur bandwagon from season six. In this season, he became the He was the most successful all-rounder as well with 208 points to his name. With his athletic build, Hooda’s ability to snatch crucial points for his team never goes in vain, especially during do-or-die raids. He has garnered a total of 785 points from 103 PKL matches.
Ajay Thakur (732 raid points)
The Indian national Kabaddi team captain remains one of the most effective raiders in the competition. And his ‘never-say-die’ attitude has given us some memorable comebacks over the years. His signature frog jump is his most lethal weapon and a defender’s nightmare.
Having played for Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan before, Thakur was the captain of Tamil Thalaivas since its inception in 2017. In a total of 102 matches played so far in PKL till season six, Thakur has scored 732 raid points that includes 21 super raids and 28 Super 10s.
Rohit Kumar (526 raid points)
The Bengaluru Bulls captain has gradually become an epitome of inspiration for his teammates with his performance on the mat and his leadership qualities in crunch situations. A great raider, his ability to make quick decisions has saved Bengaluru on multiple occasions in the past.
He began his PKL career as a part of the Patna Pirates unit, before becoming a part of the Bulls whom he led to their first-ever PKL title in 2018. In 72 matches over the seasons, Rohit has 526 raid points to his name. He is also the first player ever to score 30 points in a PKL match, a feat he achieved in season five.
Feature image courtesy: Star Sports & PKL
