Star Sports Pro Kabaddi: India 7 vs World 7

The Indian men’s kabaddi team has been the one to beat on the international circuit for a while now. They have won seven consecutive gold medals, with the first gold coming at the 1990 Asian Games and the latest at the 2014 Asian Games.The introduction of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi has given the players a much-needed platform to showcase their skills to the world. A lot of foreign stars from the world of kabaddi are also taking part in the tournament. The league is thus a stage not only for the youngsters to train under the experienced players, but also for the foreign players to earn a good reputation outside their home country.Now, if we ever have a match between the Indian players participating in the Pro Kabaddi and the foreign players taken by each team, this is what the contest will look like. It would be an interesting set-up, to say the least!

#1 Ajay Thakur vs Meraj Sheykh

Meraj Sheykh (L) and Ajay Thakur

The Indian team's star raider Ajay Thakur plays for Puneri Paltan in the third edition of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, and he has the ability to turn games on their head. Despite being ill in the first season of the unique league, this Indian international boasts a phenomenal record in the league with a total of 224 points.

On the other hand, Meraj Sheykh is the second-most expensive player in the tournament. The Irani, who was bought by Telugu Titans for an astonishing Rs. 20.8 lakh in the 2015 auction, plays for the Iran national kabaddi team as a raider. The 27-year-old has the ability to get raid points through various techniques, but his favourite way of earning a point is through a back kick on the opponent.

#2 Jeeva Kumar vs Hadi Oshtorak

Hadi Oshtorak (L) and Jeeva Kumar

Jeeva Kumar is U Mumba’s star defender and the main pillar in their defence line. His ankle holds can be very difficult to get away from as he uses his ferocious power to hold on to the raider and rarely lets go. The 35-year-old uses his vast experience in the game to good effect, and is a role model for all the youngsters who aspire to become good defenders.

Hadi Oshtorak is another Iran international who has been bought by Telugu Titans in this year's auction for a record price of 21.1 lakh. He plays as a defender (right cover) for his national team and for his new franchise. He often blocks the raider by going across, and he uses his raw power to tackle the opposition down. He is still very young and if he continues in the same vein, he can etch his name on the fabric of kabaddi history.

#3 Anup Kumar vs Jang Kun Lee

Jang Kun Lee (L) and Anup Kumar

Anup Kumar, the most prolific raider of Pro Kabaddi, plays for U Mumba. He has earned the most points in the league so far with 275 points to his name and was rightly named the MVP in the first season. The 32-year-old raider has a habit of earning bonus points for his team and if needed, he can play as a defender too and help his team to get out of tough situations. In 2012, he was awarded the Arjuna Award by the Ministry or Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.

Jang Kun Lee proved his might in the first edition of the league and emerged as one of the best foreign players on show. Though Bengal Warriors’ campaign was marred with inconsistencies, Kun Lee made his existence on the field felt. His skills as a raider coupled with his amazing technique in tagging opponents helped him make his mark in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. The 23-year-old gathered a over 50 points for his team with his fleet-footed technique, and has become a crowd favourite too.

#4 Manjeet Chhillar vs Seong Ryeol Kim

Seong Ryeol Kim (L) and Manjeet Chhillar

Manjeet Chhillar is the captain of the Pune franchise of the League. He is an all-rounder in the true sense of the term; he is equally adept at both defence and attack. Having racked up 75 raid and 53 defence points, Chhillar was the best all-rounder in the first season of Pro Kabaddi. The 29-year-old Indian international is built like a bull and if needed can deputise for the team’s main raiders without any drop in quality.

Seong Ryeol Kim was another foreign player who made his presence felt in the first season of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. He is a defender by trade who plays for Dabang Delhi and the South Korean national team. Due to his impressive performance in the first season, he has become one of the star attractions to look out for in the second season of the league.

#5 Rajaguru Subramanian vs Takamitsu Kono

Takamitsu Kono (L) and Rajaguru Subramanian

Nicknamed as ‘The great Wall of China’ by his teammates, Rajaguru Subramanian is a defender who doesn’t let many raiders get past him. He plays for the Delhi franchise – Dabang Delhi – in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. He was also part of the Indian team that won gold at the 2005 Junior Asian Championship. The 28-year-old defender plays without fear and that quality inflicts a kind of mental block in the opposition raiders’ minds.

The Japanese are known for their presence of mind and hard work. The same qualities are thoroughly ingrained in this Japanese International whose work ethic is an inspiration for aspiring players everywhere. Takamitsu Kono got both tackle and raid points in a crunch tie against Puneri Paltan in the first season to emerge as a certified star for his team. He didn’t get many chances in the first season, but given his hard work and impressive skills, it won’t be a surprise if he gets a lot more playing time in the upcoming season.

#6 Navneet Gautam vs Dong Ju Hong

Dong Ju Hong (L) and Navneet Gautam

Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Navneet Gautam is the star defender of the Indian national side. He was part of the team that won gold at the Asian games in 2010 and 2006 and also the 2007 and 2004 World Cups. It goes without saying that he is an integral part of the team’s defence structure. Gautam was presented with the Arjuna Award in 2007 by the Indian Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. He has total of 22 points in his Pro Kabaddi career.

Another South Korean International in the Dabang Delhi’s ranks is Dong Ju hong. He wasn’t given too many chances in the first season of the Pro Kabaddi, and was seen warming the bench most of the time. But due to Dabang Delhi’s poor results, he was given a chance against Puneri Paltan, where he did not disappoint; he made a successful raid which turned the match on its head.

#7 Rakesh Kumar vs Masayuki Shimokawa

Masayuki Shimokawa (L) and Rakesh Kumar

Rakesh Kumar is the current captain of the Indian national kabaddi team and has led his team to gold at the Asian Games in 2006 and 2010. He was also the part of the Indian team when they clinched gold at the 2007 and 2004 World Cups. He was the most expensive player bought in the season 1 auction of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi at a price of Rs. 12.8 lakh, shelled out by the Patna franchise. He plays as a raider and in August 2011, was conferred with the Arjuna Award for his contribution to the sport of kabaddi.

Masayuki Shimokawa has had quite a journey – from working in the sea food business to getting himself selected in Japan’s kabaddi team. He has become Japan’s hero in the process due to his hard work and discipline. Due to his presence in the Pro Kabaddi, Star Sports got a large viewership from the Far East country. He can surely be a part of U Mumba’s run towards the title, which they narrowly missed out on last time.

#8 Conclusion

India has been a powerhouse in the sport and despite the world forming an all-star team, it will be a massive ask for them to challenge the Indians, let alone win.

We think Anup Kumar, with his guile and agility, will emerge as the top raider, while Navneet Gautam will guide the team at the back. With Ajay Thakur’s ability to raid and Manjeet Chhillar helping out on both fronts, India should run out comfortable winners.

Our prediction: India 38-32 Rest of the World