Back in 2014, ten raiders in total managed to score 100 or more points each in the league’s first season. Fast forward to Season 4, only three players managed to do that. It speaks volumes about how the game and league has transformed as a whole.
Teams now wish to shore up their respective defences, realising that only a solid foundation will hold them in good stead as games come in thick and fast. Time and again we’ve seen that an ultra-attacking approach only delivers short term gains. In the long run, a team with great defenders always has a better chance at winning more matches on the trot.
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On that note, let’s look at five teams this season who have the strongest defence.
#1 Dabang Delhi
The side from the capital has to put behind them, a torrid few seasons and will enter season 5 as the team with the strongest defence. Wily old fox, Nilesh Shinde will lead Delhi’s backend and will be raring to make a mark after his former side, the Bengal Warriors ended season 4 at the bottom of the table.
With more than a century of tackle points to his name, Shinde has loads of experience which will aid the team well. In Bajirao Hodage, Delhi have another stellar defender who hasn’t yet realised his true potential. He’ll be adamant to change that this season. And with Iranian, Meraj Sheykh in the team, Delhi have a tested trio who are misers on the mat.
#2 Patna Pirates
The Pirates will head into this season with a mammoth task at their hands. Having won the previous two editions, a hat-trick of trophies is something that most would consider impossible. But Patna have the right ammunition to pursue greatness. In Sachin Shingade, the Pirates have season 4’s fifth best defender (44 tackle points).
In what was a forgettable season for Delhi last time, Shingade was the only player who shined bright. With his aggressive yet nuanced approach, he got the better of some of the best raiders in the league. His captain this season, Vishal Mane is another world class defender looking to cement his place among the elite.
Mane had a below par season 4, scoring just 31 points. But even the wisest would know that he’s one of the best in the business. Two aggressive and confident defenders will form the backbone of this Patna side.
#3 Puneri Paltan
Two consecutive 3rd place finishes is a testament to Pune’s ambition. But the Maharashtrian outfit will be desperate to move one step ahead this time around. And in Dharamraj Cheralathan, Girish Ernak and Sandeep Narwal, Pune have three diverse defenders which will ensure unpredictability in their game plan.
Dharmaraj will hold together this young and talented side. And whilst Ernak may not hog the limelight nor occupy the headlines, he’s a consistent defender who keeps it simple yet is effective. Then there’s his complete opposite, Sandeep Narwal. Executing an impressive 40 tackles last season, Narwal will act as the spring for the Paltan to ensure they can catapult themselves over attack heavy opposition. A side with three talented defenders is bound to be hard to cut open.
#4 Haryana Steelers
There seems to be no end to this love story. Mohit Chhillar and Surender Nada will once again play side by side. Complete defensive duos are hard to come by but Chhillar and Nada understand each other like no other. It’s almost like they have telepathic powers. If one of them makes that rare error, the other is always around to clean things up. There’s no getting away from two of the best corners in the league. Mohit is the more pro-active defender, keeping the raider on edge.
Nada, on the other hand, is patient and waits for the opposition to make a mistake. Both their approaches are completely different yet it yields great results. With defenders like 21-year-old, Neeraj Kumar making their debut this season, Mohit and Surender will provide Haryana some much-needed experience.
#5 Uttar Pradesh
Possibly the most underrated defence in the league, Uttar Pradesh made some shrewd defensive signings and will make their debut with a solid foundation. Former U Mumba tank, Jeeva Kumar will lead the backline. Under his tutelage, the untested trio of Gurvinder Singh, Hadi Tajik and Santosh B.S will hope to make their mark. Unlike other stellar defenders, they wouldn’t be under constant scrutiny, an ideal environment for them to shine.
Apart from Jeeva, Uttar Pradesh have another experienced campaigner in Rajesh Narwal. The all-rounder will shoulder additional defensive responsivities this season, considering they have Rishank Devadiga and Nitin Tomar in the raiding department.
