PKL Auction 2018 Predictions: 5 highest paid all-rounders to watch out for

As the action shifts from the lucrative Indian Premier League to the mega auction of the Pro Kabaddi League on the 30th and 31st of May 2018, the auctions are set to bring to light an exciting mix of youngsters and experienced hands as part of the two-day action slated to take place in Mumbai.

With squads such as the Jaipur Pink Panthers opting for a complete revamp to some teams such as U Mumba, Bengaluru Bulls who have opted to retain just the one player, the two-day auction is sure to spring some surprises with new players coming to the fore and the need for all-rounders in every time rising with each passing season. This time around, with a plethora of all-rounders such as Manjeet Chhillar, Deepak Niwas Hooda amongst others set to feature in the auction, here are five all-rounders who could fetch a huge sum of money.

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#5 Vijay

Vijay (r) attempts an ankle hold on Kashiling Adake

One of the previous season's biggest positives was Vijay's contribution in both the raiding department and defence unit aided Patna Pirates' title victory. Playing his debut season under Pardeep Narwal, Vijay made his presence felt amongst superstars with some mature raiding and tough tackling to make the job easier for his team.

In the 19 games he played, Vijay amassed a total of 64 points which included 27 raid points and 37 tackle points. In a scenario where playing under the shadow of the likes of Pardeep Narwal and Monu Goyat is extremely tough, Vijay's raiding prowess earned him heaps of praise from the team management.

The 21-year old's ability to support the defenders also played a big role in Patna's success and with team's looking to build a strong core, Vijay's addition could prove to be a massive bonus to any side.

#4 Nitin Rawal

Nitin Rawal in action against Dabang Delhi KC

Having come into the squad at the expense of veteran Manjeet Chhillar who was nursing an injury in the middle of the season, Nitin Rawal excelled for the Pink Panthers with a good combination of astute raiding and cunning tackles.

Standing in the left corner for the Panthers, Rawal accumulated a total of 20 tackle points from 21 matches and while he played second fiddle for skipper Manjeet when the captain was on the mat, Rawal's ability to turn at pace aided his raiding which earned him special praise for a Super-raid, a 5-point raid against Dabang Delhi KC.

Playing his first season, Rawal picked up 65 raid points from 21 matches apart from his 20 tackle points and given his skill to pick points at ease, Rawal can expect to earn some big bucks from the auction.

#3 Rajesh Narwal

Rajesh Narwal (R) has been a huge force in the history of the PKL

Highly experienced and more of a raider than a defender, Rajesh Narwal's proficient raiding coupled with his fearless tackling has earned him the tag as one of the best defenders in the league's history.

Having represented the Jaipur Pink Panthers previously ahead of joining the U.P Yoddha for the previous season, the 28-year old has buckets of experience under his belt and can be depended on to amass raid points and tackle points at will.

While he did not enjoy the best of seasons in the previous edition, the Haryana-born all-rounder has some great numbers to his credit and with a total of 377 points from 76 matches, Rajesh Narwal can be backed to earn a fat contract from the auctions.

#2 Manjeet Chhillar

Manjeet Chhillar in action

Easily one of the best all-rounders in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League, Manjeet Chhillar's efficiency in defending and swiftness while raiding has proven to be a major cog in the wheel for his opposition. Having donned the role of the captain for the Bengaluru Bulls, Puneri Paltan and the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the past, Chhillar's experience can come in very handy for the teams in the fray.

While an unfortunate injury kept him out of action for an extended period of time last season, Chhillar still remained a rock in the defence unit for the Panthers and collected 47 tackle points from 15 matches to add to his 196 tackle points from the previous seasons.

From the 74 matches Chhillar has featured in the last five editions of the league, the veteran has picked a gigantic total of 455 points and given the 32-year old's experience in the league, Chhillar can easily be bought for a massive sum of money.

#1 Deepak Niwas Hooda

Deepak Hooda's captaincy skill can come to good use

Primarily a raider who has also transformed into a more than just an able defender, Deepak Hooda is one of the most sought-after players in the league. Having played under the shadow of skipper Manjeet Chhillar at the Paltan, Hooda was retained by the Paltan ahead of the fifth season and was also given the captain's role.

In the fifth season, Hooda performed exceedingly well, collecting a total of 172 raid points from 24 matches to finish seventh on the raid points chart. In addition to this, the lanky all-rounder also picked 14 tackle points which contributed highly to the success of the Paltan.

Given the 24-year old's ability to pick points at a fast pace and keep his side in the game at all times, Deepak Hooda's absence from the retention list could prove to be a major undoing for the Puneri Paltan that could translate into a break-the-bank to procure the services of Hooda move from other teams.