God of Kabaddi: Top 10 Players Ruling the Pro Kabaddi League in India!

Kabaddi is rooted in Ancient India and is said to be over 4000 years old. While the game spread across the Indian subcontinent for many decades, Kabaddi has only recently found recognition in the West or globally. 

Every year, 50+ nations unite and compete in various international and domestic leagues. Although this game has millions of players worldwide, a few have created a different impact. Let us go through an analysis to find out who is the God of Kabaddi.

Who is the Ultimate King of Kabaddi: Ranking Greatest of All Time!

Before delving into this illustrious list of the best players, you need to know the selection criteria used to select and rank them!

• Firstly, all the players are assessed on the basis of their skills and proficiency with respect to their specific position—for example, if a player is a raider, their success rate is considered.
• After that, it is important for them to be consistent in their achievements across various match formats and tournaments, including international and domestic events.
• Lastly, a closer look at the analytical data, which includes information on points, the number of successful raids, the number of times they tackled or the tackled rate, etc. determines the player’s selection.

Based on the mentioned analysis, here is the list of top players that fulfil the criteria:

Let’s talk about each great player of Kabaddi. 

Top 10 Pro Kabaddi League Champs!

Since 2014, the Pro Kabaddi League has been thrilling audiences with its electrifying blend of athleticism and strategy. It has had ten seasons, yet seven winners have claimed the coveted title: that is how competitive it is.

While the Patna Pirates have won three championships, the Jaipur Pink Panthers have won two. Teams like U Mumba, Bengaluru Bulls, Bengal Warriors, Dabang Delhi K.C., and, not to forget, the current champions, Puneri Paltan, have carved their names on the coveted PKL trophy.

Every champion’s journey has been extraordinary, with many stellar performances seen by raiders and defenders. An ardent fan of the Pro Kabaddi League keenly throngs to the next season for the announcement of which team will clinch it and appear on the prestigious champion list.

1. Pardeep Narwal: God of Pro Kabaddi League: Dubki King

Regarding Kabaddi, Pardeep Narwal is the boss (Dubki King) in national and professional leagues. He has led India to three Olympic gold medals. He holds the all-time scoring record in the league (which includes his first 1,000 raid points) and most consecutive “Super 10” seasons.

2. Anup Kumar: Star Raider

Anup Kumar is a former professional player who coaches the Puneri Paltan team. He made his international debut in 2006 and impressively won the nation’s gold the following season.

Anup won gold medals for team India in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, one in the South Asian Games 2016 and one in the Kabaddi World the same year, along with various domestic titles. He’s known as the evergreen raider of the Indian Kabaddi team! He has also won the PKL trophy.

3. Fazel Atrachali: Left Corner Protector

The next player on our list of great Kabaddi players is Iranian defender Fazel Atrachali, aka “Sultan.” He is one of the most prominent players in the Pro Kabaddi League! Sultan is the national team captain of Iran- who won the 2018 Asian Games.

Atrachali’s journey in the PKL has been instrumental. He’s been a key player in helping U Mumba become the runner-up in the league’s first season. Fazel Atrachali holds the record for the most successful tackles in PKL history—a whopping 458.

4. Rahul Chaudhari: Young God of National India Team

Rahul Chaudhari is another amazing, powerful, prolific player born with pure skills. He made his PKL debut with Telugu Titans and left everyone in awe! This young blood then played for Tamil Thalaivas, followed by Jaipur Pink Panthers, who have delivered match-winning performances in every game.

In case you didn’t already know, Rahul was the first player to score 500, 700, and 800 raid points in PKL’s history.

Related Read: Pro Kabaddi Betting Tips: Ultimate 10-Step Guide to Success

5. Deepak Niwas Hooda: Best All-Rounder

In any sport, players with multiple dimensions or all-around talent are precious. In Kabaddi, all-rounders play a very important role. They are entrusted with the great role of balancing many acts and plays. Deepak Niwas Hooda is for sure one of the sportspersons Kabaddi has witnessed.

Whether it’s an international league or a domestic one like PKL, Deepak has always proved to be a reliable member and a true asset to the team. In his last team- Puneri Paltan, his contributions carried the team to the Top 3 of the PKL. These characteristics and achievements put him in the list of God of Kabaddi.

6. Naveen Kumar: One of the Best New-Age Raiders

It’s hard to talk about elite-level young Indian raiders without mentioning Naveen Kumar Goyat! He’s simply one of the best young upcoming talents we have! Born in 2000, he’s celebrated amongst the best sportsmen—international and domestic.

He started his national journey in 2022 with the Asian Games, held in Hangzhou! Later, Naveen happened to score a Super 10 in the finals of the Asian Kabaddi Championships 2023 in Busan and helped the Indian team secure the gold! Moreover, his achievements in the PKL are worth appreciating, as he received the MVP award in season 7.

7. Pawan Sehrawat: The Golden Player

When it comes to Kabaddi, everyone knows Pawan Sehrawat! His unmatchable performance and relevant contributions in the Asian Games and the South Asian Games have always been impeccable—helping India to be rewarded with gold multiple times! Pawa’s story is truly inspiring, as he proved himself an invaluable team player in multiple games.

8. Maninder Singh: Star Kabaddi Player

Let’s cheer for yet another star player of the Indian Professional Kabaddi game- Maninder Singh! He’s one of the best raiders in India, who has also played & won in the Asian Cup 2017! Maninder Singh also wears the captain cap for the “Bengal Warriors” in the PKL! Moreover, he has also showcased exceptional skills in the 2019 PKL, helping the team to bag the trophy.

Also Read: List of PKL Top Raiders in All Season

9. Sandeep Narwal: Seasoned Right Corner

Sandeep is one of the most respected and seasoned players on the Indian Kabaddi team. He has continuously showcased unnerved talent and skills throughout the PKL each year! He also had the second-best number of tackle points in PKL 3. Doubtless, this contributed to Patna Pirates’ victory over U Mumba in the finals. The team Sandeep has been a part of includes Patna Pirates, Telugu Titans, Puneri Paltan, U Mumba, and Dabang Delhi K.C. At the moment, he’s with UP Yoddhas.

10. Ajay Thakur: King of Kabaddi

Last, we have Ajay Thakur, famously called the “Ice Man” or the “King of Kabaddi.” While on the national team, he led India to gold in the 2017 Asian Kabaddi Championship.

He also played a vital role in India’s gold quest at other major events, such as the Asian Games 2014. Anah is also a Padma Shri and Arjuna Awardee! Notable among them are 213 raid points for Tamil Thalaivas and 122 raid points for Bengaluru Bulls.

Conclusion

Kabaddi is an adrenaline-fueled game that provides thrills and excitement. The Pro Kabaddi League has grown tremendously since its inception in 2014. With the participation of top players worldwide, it has become a highly competitive and entertaining tournament for fans to watch.

From Indian players like Rahul Chaudhari and Pardeep Narwal to international stars like Fazel Atrachali and Jang Kun Lee, the league has showcased some of the best kabaddi talents in recent years.

Introducing new teams, rules, and formats has kept the league fresh and exciting each year. It has also helped develop interest in the sport among younger generations and promote Kabaddi globally. Thus, it is difficult to say who is the God of Kabaddi, but these names have created a huge impact on an international level. The best way is to cheer the game and enjoy every moment and every player.