Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: 5 Haryana Steelers players to watch out for

JSW Sport knows its game when it comes to investing in Indian sports and it came as no surprise when they picked the Haryana franchise for the fifth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League.

And unlike the UP Yoddhas, every move they've made before the beginning of the tournament, from picking Ranbir Khokar as Head Coach to building a team around the defence of Surender Nada and Mohit Chhillar, reeks of the confidence that one would expect an average Haryanvi to exude.

By picking the hub of Kabaddi, the franchise has added two strings to one bow. Picking Haryana ensures the franchise will get the best out of the grass-root scouting because of the massive levels of talent there. Moreover, to have the biggest names from Haryana plying their trade in front of their home crowds would mean having them at their double best.

If all this is not enough to earmark them as one of the contenders in their first season at Pro Kabaddi League, the squad boasts of enough names who would look to stamp their authority on the tournament, this time in Haryana colours. Here are the 5 Steelers who promise to steal the show in the fifth edition of the tournament.

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#1 Mohit Chhillar

As was the case with several names who shone in the first few seasons and were then bought by a new franchise in the fourth, Chillar also failed to replicate his form with Bengaluru Bulls in the fourth season.

But even then Chhillar performed admirably well than his peers and had a good World Cup to wrap up 2016.

In 2017, with a fresh set of faces around him and with a crowd chanting his name, Chhillar could galvanise the whole Haryana unit to perform a notch higher. Time and again, he has shown what he is capable of on the mat and a squad high on aggression and confidence would need the calm of Chhillar to really fulfil their potential as a team in the league.

#2 Khomsan Thongkham

The Thailand captain impressed one and all with his performances in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup

Only a handful of foreign recruits have been able to carve out a name for themselves in the league in the four editions held till now. Thailand's Khomsan Thongkham could very well be the next addition to that list. Captaining Thailand in the World Cup, Thongkham sparkled on the mat and booked his entry ticket to the cash rich Pro Kabaddi League.

It will be interesting to see how are Thongkham's services are utilised by the Steelers’ management as the history of the tournament suggests that coaches have been more conservative in their use of foreigners in the league.

#3 Surjeet Singh

Overshadowed by Pardeep Narwal in the last season, Surjeet Singh would like to take centre-stage for Haryana

Credit must be given to Pardeep Narwal for setting the fourth season of Pro Kabaddi League on fire in such a way that it's difficult to look beyond him when one tries to zero in on reasons for Patna Pirates' stellar success last season. But if one is able to survive the Narwal mania, one would come across the name Surjeet Singh too.

Surjeet has worn many colours throughout the history of the league.

That, however, takes nothing away from the man's ability to perpetrate quick destructive raids on the opposition, something he demonstrated amazingly well in tandem with Pardeep Narwal for Patna Pirates in the last season.

With their defence taken care of by some of the stalwarts of Pro Kabaddi, the Steelers will look up to Surjeet to take responsibility of the offence and in his stint with Patna, the 27-year-old showed what all he can deliver if the management shows faith in him.

#4 Surender Nada

Surender Nada would like to regain his touch that made U Mumba’s defence impregnable

With Mohit Chhillar manning the right corner, Surender Nada will like to bring back his old form in a more familiar position at the left corner of defence. The franchise must be credited with understanding something that took four editions for some of the teams to grasp - in pro kabaddi, more often than not it's defence that wins teams games.

Hence, the decision to build a team revolving around Nada, who has proved himself to be one of the best in the business over the last four seasons, must be hailed. Nada's experience along with that of Chhillar will be vital to the team's chances in the fifth season of Pro Kabaddi League.

#5 David Mosambayi

After his exploits in the World Cup, It won’t be a surprise to see Mosambayi in the first team for Steelers

Just like Thailand's Thongkam, Kenya's Mosambayi also took the World Cup route to Pro Kabaddi league. With a raiding department that looks a little weak on paper with just Surjeet Singh being the major name, Mosambayi must be licking his lips in anticipation as his services might be needed by the Steelers.

And if his World Cup exploits are any indication of his abilities, there is no reason he should be sitting out of the team when they play their first game against U Mumba.