5 reliable defenders who always save their team from disasters

Kabaddi is a sport which rarely gives the players and the fans the chance to catch their breath during the pulsating forty minutes of action.

Just like the Castrol Activ Actibonds “Cling on” to continuously protect the engine by forming a protective coat around it, it’s the defenders who ensure that the raiders’ efforts are converted into a win by taking down their opponents.

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Here, we take a look at five reliable defenders who protect their team from disaster.

Sandeep Kandola – Telugu Titans

With raiders like Rahul Choudhary and Sukesh Hegde, Telugu Titans’ strategy of all-out attack produced more good results than bad, but there was one man who always was on his guard as the Titans stuck to their gung-ho approach.

Sandeep Kandola, who was well and truly a find of Pro Kabaddi League Season Two, was the defensive saviour for the Titans. Kandola's 55 successful tackles were a big part in helping the Titans bag the third place.

Ravinder Pahal – Dabang Delhi

The Dabang Delhi skipper was one of the best defenders in the league despite Dabang Delhi’s early exit. Pahal is hands down the best tackler in the league, and had 53 successful tackles last season, and has accumulated 93 points so far, a great tally for a defender.

Pahal's defensive exploits often came handy when their raiders had an off day as he continued to get tackle points as Delhi's tally in matches ticked along. Despite some defensive reinforcements, Dabang Delhi will heavily rely on Pahal to produce the goods.

Dharmaraj Cheralathan – Telugu Titans

The new Telugu Titans skipper Dharmaraj Cheralathan is a defensive stalwart. Cheralathan was a sensation in the strong Bengaluru Bulls defence last season that almost took them to the title.

Having signed for the Telugu Titans, Cheralathan is the perfect man to guide the young Titans side and also add immense strength to their defensive capabilities. Over 50 successful tackles last season shows how age is just a number for the forty one year old.

Surender Nada – U Mumba

U Mumba based their Championship win on their defensive strength last season. Surender Nada had yet another brilliant season and was their anchor.

His match winning performance in the semi-final against the Patna Pirates truly showcased how much he was important to U Mumba when he racked up ten tackle points to win the game.

Manjeet Chhillar – Puneri Paltan

The most valuable player in PKL season two led Bengaluru Bulls' charge to the final where he very nearly won them the title. Chillar is an aggressive defender and pounces on raiders the moment they enter his range.

Often the man for the big occasion Chillar produced his magic in the semi-final win over the Telugu Titans when the Bulls pipped them for a berth in the finals.