Pro Kabaddi League Season 6: Predicting Patna Pirates' starting seven for the initial matches

The franchise based out from Bihar, Patna Pirates is the most successful team of Pro Kabaddi till date with 3-consecutive title wins in Pro Kabaddi Season 3, 4 and 5. The team owned by Rajesh V. Shah Patna Pirates is the only team to appear in the playoffs of all seasons of Pro Kabaddi from the inaugural season itself.

With a winning percentage of 60.88%, the team has won 55 times in 93 matches. Over the 5 seasons of Pro Kabaddi, Patna Pirates changed its captain every single season till the fifth season, yet the team is known to be the toughest to beat.

As far as the previous three titles go, all of them have appeared by the heroics of the super raider named Pardeep Narwal. A stat reads Pardeep Narwal has scored approx. 29.167% of Patna Pirates' total points since Pro Kabaddi Season 3 (when Pardeep Narwal joined Patna Pirates).

In Season 5 where fans proclaimed Patna Pirates being a weaker team with overdependency over Pardeep Narwal, Monu Goyat established himself as a prime raider. This duo went on to score 571 total points in 26 matches and led Patna to be a dominant side.

In the defence, the two new established corners, Jawahar Dagar (right) and Jaideep (left) performed exceedingly well than their experienced cover defence in Vishal Mane and Sachin Shingade. The combined efforts of every department led Patna to win against Gujarat Fortune Giants in the final (55-38) to win their third title.

Ahead of the Season 6 auctions, the team retained Pardeep Narwal, Jaideep, Manish, and Jawahar Dagar and let go of Monu Goyat. Vijay, Arvind Kumar, and Parvin Birwal were the team's NYP retentions.

For Season 6, Patna Pirates signed 18 players in their squad with Pardeep Narwal being the most paid player at ₹60.5 lakhs. As Ram Meher Singh continues to be the head coach once again with the Pirates, here's the predicted playing 7 of Patna Pirates in the initial matches of the tournament.

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Right Corner: Jawahar Dagar

Jawahar Dagar (First from left to right)

One of the keys finds for Patna Pirates, Jawahar Dagar was an exciting mix to the Patna's defence in Season 5.

An all-rounder who loves to defend more often, Jawahar looks to take the opposition out of the court with his running dash from the other end of the corner defence. He shows numerous moves in his arsenal whether it be diving ankle hold or a frontal blick with upper body force.

Jawahar notched up 31 tackle points in 24 matches he played. He'll look to impress his team once again as a permanent right corner defender.

Right In: Deepak Narwal

Deepak Narwal has represented Patna Pirates in Season 2.

Deepak Narwal outshone everybody with his performance for Bengal Warriors last season. Being introduced in the middle of the tournament, Deepak, a right raider had a definite strategy before starting any raid.

He shuffles in a rhythm in his raid and knows how to touch the upper body of the covers. Deepak also loves to use his back kicks on the left corner defence to score a point.

Known for showing consistency on the mat, Deepak has 186 raid points in 47 matches out of which 85 raid points came last season with an average of 5.31 raid points in Season 5.

He'll have a homecoming for Pardeep and Co. and will support Pardeep immensely throughout the season.

Right Cover: Vikas Kale

Vikas Kale (1st from left to right)

Ram Meher Singh admired Vikas Kale in an interview regarding his devotion in the SAI India Camp. Known for his pillar-like blocks and dashes, Vikas Kale played 19 matches with 21 tackle points to his name.

Vikas carries some wrestling background in his arsenal. It will be Vikas's 5th team since he has played for U Mumba, Bengaluru, Telegu and Gujarat in the previous seasons.

Vikas Kale could arrive into the mix for the initial matches. Vikas will have to perform well for the team to book a permanent place. Otherwise, Patna Pirates has the option to use Manish for the latter part of the tournament.

Center: Pardeep Narwal

Till now, Pardeep Narwal has scored 9.92 raid points per match as an average.

If you require a justification to why Pardeep will be in the starting seven, you aren't a Kabaddi fan at all. The inventor of the 'Dubki' has taken Kabaddi's excitement to a whole new level.

He is a super raider who averaged 14.19 raid points with 19 Super 10s in Season 5. 369 raid points in 26 matches, only the numbers speak. Overall, Pardeep has 625 raid points in 64 matches with every raiding skill one needs to know. Dubki, running hand touches, escapes, bonus, jumps, kicks; just to name a few.

Pardeep's 8-pointer raid versus Haryana Steelers is something with which you won't get bored no matter how many times you rewind it. In Season 6, Pardeep might invent a new raiding skill which Kabaddi fans have yet to witness.

Left Cover: Kuldeep Singh

Kuldeep Singh has the joint highest super tackle numbers in Pro Kabaddi (18).

Kuldeep Singh will also have a homecoming when he joins Patna Pirates in the upcoming season. Kuldeep has the joint highest number of super tackles in Pro Kabaddi.

He has the joint highest numbers of 18 super tackles along with Dharmaraj Cherelathan. A master of diving ankle hold, Kuldeep targets the ankles of the raiders thus not allowing them to reach the midline.

He has 113 defence points and 59 raid points in 59 matches. He is the most experienced campaigners that Patna Pirates has. He'll look to aid the defensive line up in the left cover position.

Left In: Tushar Patil

33.91% of Tushar Patil's raid points are in Do-or-die raids.

This young raider has been phenomenal in his recent outing with Maharashtra in the Senior Nationals 2017-18 and Federation Cup.

Tushar Patil is reliable do or die option, not because of his height. If you observe his raiding, Tushar loves to shuffle across the opposition's court with his swift manoeuvre that distracts the defence.

Tushar has 115 raid points in 44 matches where he's a cheerful raider to watch out. It is probable that the team management may consider him as a do or die raider.

Left Corner: Jaideep

Jaideep established himself as he took the charge of Patna's defence in Season 5.

Jaideep was indeed Patna's magic fortune and helped Patna to win their 3rd consecutive title in a row. An impressive debut from the start to a high 5 in the finals, Jaideep has been a phenomenal raider from the Services board.

His grip on the ankles is a bit different to what Surender Nada does but quite exceptional. Jaideep also can execute running blocks from the other end.

Jaideep was the 4th best defender of Season 5 with 71 tackle points in 26 matches at an average of 2.73 tackle points. Jaideep will look to serve Patna's defence with his fantastic defence that is a treat to watch.