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The third season of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi kicked off in grand style in Vizag last month, and more than half-way through, it has already thrown up some thrilling encounters. Predictions have turned haywire and there have some been some truly unexpected results; this is a league where any team can beat any other.The pre-season saw a lot of transfer activity as some top players switched teams seeking either a new adventure, a greater challenge or a return to their home team. There were some teams who went from rags to riches while some went the other way.Let's take a look at all the transfer activity and rank the teams based on the success of their transfers:
#1 Puneri Paltan - 9/10
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In – 15
Out - 15
Puneri Paltan's new signings have settled into the team seamlessly and taken the team to great heights. Having finished at the bottom in the first two seasons, the Paltan sit pretty in 2nd spot, ahead of 3rd placed Bengal Warriors on score difference. With 3 matches to play, the Pune outfit is in the driver's seat to make the semi-final this season.
Captain Manjeet Chhillar, with 46 tackles, is the league's best defender statistically, while he also features among the best raiders for his new team. The newly signed trio of Manjeet, Ajay Thakur and Deepak Niwas Hooda are Pune's top three raiders, which shows the impact the new signings have had on the team. At the back, new members Jasmer Singh Gulia and Surjeet have been rock-solid with 33 successful tackles each.
The Pune faithful saw their squad completely overhauled with 15 outgoings and as many new signings. However, the new inductees have settled in well and coach Ashok Shinde is now reaping the benefits of a stellar transfer window.
#2 Patna Pirates - 8/10
In – 15
Out - 11
The Patna Pirates did well to reach the semi-finals last season, but they were found wanting in the knock-out stages and had to settle for the fourth spot. In the transfer market ahead of the third season, the Pirates had to give up skipper Rakesh Kumar and raider Ravi Dalal. But by signing Manpreet Singh, a born leader, in addition to raider Rajesh Mondal and the young Pardeep Narwal, they more than made up for the losses.
The 19-year-old Pardeep has been a revelation so far this season with 82 raid points, the second most in the tournament. Rohit Kumar has not taken a lot of time to adjust to his new team either and is, statistically, the best raider in the league in his debut season with 88 points. Rajesh Mondal has established himself as a do-or-die raid specialist and is a great option off the bench for the Pirates.
Rakesh Kumar is not having the best time with U Mumba and it could be said it was a wise decision by the Pirates to let the experienced all-rounder go. However, they would be ruing the loss of Girish Maruti Ernak, who has taken his performances to another level after his departure.
#3 Bengal Warriors - 8/10
In – 9
Out - 11
One could be forgiven for thinking that the Bengal Warriors were a lightweight team after their disappointing campaigns in the first two seasons. However, in the third edition, the Warriors have surprised everyone by winning 8 out of their 12 matches, currently sitting in 3rd spot, level on points with 2nd placed Puneri Paltan. Despite not overhauling the team, they managed to fine tune the squad in the transfer window to great effect.
Bengal Warriors invested smartly, signing players who were likely to have an immediate impact on the team. Girish Maruti Ernak has terrorised the raiders by conjuring up 33 successful tackles (third highest) this season.
New signing Nitin Tomar is the Warriors' best raider this season, having scored 65 points already despite a stop-start campaign due to injuries. Two other inductees ahead of the third season, Nitin More and Shrikant Jadhav, have also helped the Warriors this season by establishing themselves as regulars in the starting 7.
#4 Telugu Titans - 6/10
In – 9
Out - 9
Last season's semi-finalists came into the new season with as many as nine changes to the squad. The Telugu Titans did sign some good players in Dharmaraj Cheralathan, Wasim Sajjad, Vikas Kale and Kalimuthu Balamahendran, but they lost a fair bit too.
Sandeep, Deepak Niwas Hooda, Rajaguru Subramaniam and Hadi Oshtorak played a big part in the Titans’ march to the third place last season and their departure had left a void in their squad.
That said, Cheralathan has been a rock at the back for the Titans this season. The 40-year-old has used his experience well and helped himself to 6th spot in the best defenders list with 28 successful tackles. Other new defenders in the Titans' squad, Vikas Kale and Manoj Kumar, have assisted Cheralathan well this season.
The Titans didn't have to invest in raiders due to the presence of Rahul Chaudhari and Sukesh Hegde. With the aforementioned defending trio coming in, the Titans have a balanced squad as they look to make the finals this term.
#5 U Mumba - 5/10
In – 3
Out - 4
The defending champions U Mumba kept the majority of their squad and barely made any changes to the winning combination from last season. However, they managed to make one major addition in the form of former India and Patna Pirates captain Rakesh Kumar.
But Rakesh has struggled a bit for the reigning champions, and hasn't yet established himself as the team's second-choice raider after Anup Kumar. His defending and captaincy helped when the defending champions had lost four players due to the South Asian Games, but the major contributions have come from the players that coach Bhaskaran Edachery managed to retain.
U Mumba had little activity in the transfer window, and them losing the title this season is a real possibility due to the pre-season transfers of the other teams.
#6 Jaipur Pink Panthers - 4/10
In – 4
Out - 8
The Season 1 champions had a disappointing title defence as they failed to reach the semifinals last season. Ahead of the third season, the Pink Panthers didn't really add a great deal to their squad, and they also didn't allow their very best players to leave.
Jasvir Singh, Rajesh Narwal and Sonu Narwal continue flying the flag for the team, but the failure to add fresh blood has cost them dear as they lie outside the top 4 yet again with no chance of making the knockout stage.
Jagdeesha KK has been seen on the mat on a few occasions, but they have largely been fielding the players that they retained. Prashant Chavan's loss has hurt the Pink Panthers as his experience would have helped the team keep a tight ship at the back.
The transfer window could well be considered non-existent for the Pink Panthers.
#7 Dabang Delhi - 4/10
In – 15
Out - 13
Despite a couple of disappointing seasons, the Dabang Delhi management did well to retain Ravinder Pahal and Kashiling Adake. The addition of Wazir Singh was possibly the biggest signing among the incoming players, while the likes of Rajaguru Subramanian, Seong Ryeol Kim and Pravin Niwale definitely improved the Dabang Delhi squad.
Luck was definitely not on the Eagles' side though as star duo Wazir and Niwale, both signed from Puneri Paltan, suffered injuries. Another major signing, in the form of Rajaguru failed to get going and the new signings' failure to gel with the team can be clearly seen if one takes a quick glance at the table, where Delhi are lying at the bottom spot.
This year's transfer window has so far failed to revive the team's fortunes, and it qualifies as a dud for the Eagles.
#8 Bengaluru Bulls - 2/10
In – 13
Out - 13
It is difficult to comprehend the large scale changes that the Bengaluru Bulls have made to their squad. They underwent a complete overhaul, but everyone except the Bulls seem to have benefited from that. Skipper Manjeet Chhillar, top raider Ajay Thakur, defender Somvir Shekhar and the experienced Dharmaraj Cheralathan were all allowed to leave the team, with no one of the same stature coming in.
Captain and new signing Surjeet Narwal has been their star so far with 40 points while Amit Rathi contributed with 30 before injury forced him out. All rounder Shrikant Tewthia, who has scored 20 raid points and delivered 10 successful tackles, has been decent too.
However, the departed Manjeet, Ajay, Pardeep, Rajesh Mondal and Cheralathan have played really well for their new teams, constantly reminding the Bulls of what they have lost. There has scarcely been a greater fall from season to season in the Pro Kabaddi than that of the Bulls this year, and it is all down to their unwise choices in the transfer window before Season 3.
