Pro Kabaddi League Season 6: Predicting Bengaluru Bulls' starting 7 for the initial matches

Based in Bengaluru, the Bengaluru Bulls are one of the most well-known franchises in Pro Kabaddi history. The team owned by WL League Pvt. Ltd., Bengaluru Bulls was the semi-finalists of the inaugural season and the finalists of Pro Kabaddi Season 2.

Bengaluru Bulls has a winning percentage of 40.24% where they have 33 wins in 82 matches. Led by Manjeet Chhillar in the first two seasons, Bengaluru Bulls comprised of experienced players namely Ajay Thakur, Rajesh Mondal, and Dharmaraj Cherelathan.

Ever since the 3rd season, Bengaluru Bulls have never made it to the playoffs with them adopting the strategy of keeping young players in the squad. An interesting stat reads that after Rohit Kumar joined Bengaluru Bulls in Season 4, he has scored 31.55% of the team's total points. Rohit Kumar till now has carried the team on his shoulders without any support from the raiding and defensive unit.

In Season 5 where the duo of Rohit Kumar and Ajay Kumar were expected to slay the opposition defence, only Rohit Kumar prevailed and became the second best raider of the season (219 raid points in 22 matches). In the raiding unit, nobody scored more than 90+ raid points, Ajay could only score 89 raid points.

The defence kept the Bulls intact in the tournament with Ravinder Pahal, Kuldeep Singh, and debutant Mahender Singh. However, the right cover was a bit of a problematic position for the team. Ashish Sangwan who was Bulls' retention in Season 5 failed miserably and couldn't contribute to the team at all.

Rohit's heroics led the team to stay in contention at the very end. However, a match against UP Yoddha where they won with a lesser point difference knocked the Bulls' out of the playoffs (38-32).

Ahead of the season 6 auctions, only Rohit Kumar was the elite retention for the team. Harish Naik, Amit Sheoran and Sumit Singh were the NYP retentions.

For Season 6, Bengaluru Bulls have managed to add 20 players to their squad. Their elite pick, Rohit Kumar was the highest paid player with ₹89.1 lakhs. With BC Ramesh and Randhir Singh to lead the coaching department, here's the predicted playing 7 for the Bengaluru Bulls in the initial matches of Pro Kabaddi Season 6!

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Right Corner: Nitesh BR

Nitesh BR (Top row 2nd from left to right)

Nitesh BR represented Karnataka in the Senior Nationals 2017-18 and formed a great partnership with Jawahar Vivek K. A young right corner defender, Nitesh BR went to the Bengaluru Bulls for ₹8 lakhs.

The right corner is known for some good dives from the corner position and is known to assist the other defenders pretty well. Karnataka highly relied on this two corner duo en route to semi-finals in the Nationals and the finals in the Federation Cup.

Since Raju Lal Chaudhary hasn't contributed enough for his national side in Kabaddi Masters and Asiad 2018, this new corner duo will be expected to be a part of the Bulls' starting 7.

Right In: Pawan Sherawat

Pawan Sherawat was a part of Gujarat Fortune Giants in Season 5.

The team management surprised everybody during Season 6 auctions when Pawan Sherawat got picked by the Bulls at an enormous price of ₹52.8 lakhs. He had already represented the Bulls back in Season 3.

Pawan is yet to leave an impression in Pro Kabaddi as he only has 65 raid points in 32 matches. Hailing from Delhi, Pawan Sherawat can escape pretty well and execute running hand touches. Pawan couldn't contribute enough when he was a part of Fortune grants last season.

Bulls bought Pawan considering his ability to perform well in the do or die raids. The right in has 43.08% of his raid points in the do or die situations (28 DoD points). Pawan has a huge responsibility up to his shoulders with his enormous price tag.

Right Cover: Jasmer Singh Gulia

Jasmer Gulia with an attempt of a back hold.

Jasmer Gulia is returning to the Pro Kabaddi after Season 4 where he last played for the Titans, Paltans and Dabang Delhi K.C. He is one of the most-experienced defenders of Pro Kabaddi and had dominated the scene back then.

A defensive all-rounder with 105 tackle points in 46 matches, Jasmer averages 2.28 tackle points per game. He is a versatile player who can play at both right cover and right corner position.

Jasmer loves to show his strength and is a blocking specialist who pushes the raiders out of the court. He could be a primary consideration since Ashish Sangwan hasn't lived up to the Bulls' confidence over him.

Center: Kashiling Adake

Kashiling Adake is the 5th best in terms of raid points in Pro Kabaddi history.

The best raider of Pro Kabaddi Season 2, Kashiling Adake carried the Dabang Delhi K.C.'s raiding unit as a sensation back then. Kashiling Adake, Maharashtra's wonder kid developed a reputation of becoming the lead as well as the do or die raider for his team.

Having played 72 matches, Kashiling Adake has 494 raid points in his tally. He has an average of 6.86 raid points with 14 Super 10s. A lanky raider, Kashiling Adake loves taking bonus points. He also loves running hand touches on the covers and corners.

Kashiling Adake will play support to Rohit Kumar as Bengaluru has the lowest points in terms of average raid points in Pro Kabaddi.

Left Cover: Mahender Singh

Mahender Singh scored 10 tackle points in a match versus UP Yoddha last season.

Mahender Singh was the best-left cover defender of Season 5 where he bulldozed his opponents with his diving holds. Mahender Singh is a Services player having the capability to execute all manoeuvres as a cover defender.

Having debuted in Season 5, Mahender Singh scored 57 tackle points in 22 matches. He has the 3rd best record of most tackle points in a game, that came versus the UP Yoddha (10 tackle points in 12 attempts).

Hailing from Tikar, Himachal Pradesh, Mahender Singh has immense experience in the game and has arsenal moves like the dives and dashes. He'll play as the primary defender for the Bulls in the upcoming season.

Left In: Rohit Kumar

Rohit Kumar has the 2nd best average raid points in Pro Kabaddi history.

The MVP of Pro Kabaddi Season 3, Rohit Kumar has been an outstanding raider who arouses tons of excitement for enthusiast Kabaddi fans. A lot of people don't know, Rohit Kumar was a part of U Mumba in Season 1 but couldn't play as Services board didn't allow its players to play Pro Kabaddi.

Rohit Kumar has 414 raid points in just 48 matches at the 2nd best average of 8.81 after Pardeep Narwal. Rohit has scored 31.55% of Bengaluru Bulls' total points since Season 4.

A raider who is a master of modern raiding techniques, Rohit Kumar has improvisation in all of them whether it be a hand touch or an escape. He was a key to Patna Pirates' winning run in Season 3.

With Kashiling Adake in his support, Rohit Kumar will be looking to lead his team for the first time in playoffs.

Left Corner: Jawahar Vivek K

Jawahar Vivek never got a chance to play in U Mumba Season 1 due to team's dominant players.

A former U Mumba player back in Season 1, Jawahar Vivek K never got an opportunity in the starting 7. Overshadowed by big names, this year Jawahar Vivek could be the star defender for the Bengaluru Bulls.

As far as his gameplay goes, Jawahar Vivek is a frontal block specialist. His performances were the best during the Nationals when he tackled big match raiders like Pardeep Narwal and Rakesh Narwal with his muscular blocks.

The corner duo of Karnataka has much to show as surprises get expected to come as Pro Kabaddi is getting nearer.