The 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League is all set to get underway in a few weeks. The auction held earlier this year added a lot of intrigue around the composition of the squads, with several franchises making key picks to add serious skill and experience to their lineups. And we are very much eager to see how effectively the auction strategies translate to on-court performance.
Here is a short list of players (both defenders and raiders) who are expected to have a considerable impact on how far their sides can go in the tournament, based on their performance last season and current form.
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Devank Dalal (Bengal Warriorz)
Patna Pirates secured their spot in the final thanks to the strong performance of top raider Devank Dalal, who ended last season with 301 points from 25 games. His consistent performance helped the Patna Pirates reach the final, despite an abysmal start to the season with two heavy defeats. His remarkable performance last season turned heads, making him one of the most sought-after raiders in the PKL auction this June.
Ashu Malik (Dabang Delhi)
Ashu Malik won the top raider prize in the tenth edition and continued his excellent performance last season, earning 262 points in 23 games. Two outstanding seasons like that would motivate any franchise to go to great lengths to keep the player, and that’s precisely what the Dabang Delhi did by exercising the final bid match (FBM) option to retain Ashu.
Arjun Deshwal (Tamil Thalaivas)
Arjun Deshwal, known as the Raid Machine in the Pro Kabaddi League, is among the top raiders you can rely on to come good. His heroics last season may not have been enough to take the Jaipur Pink Panthers all the way, but he finished third among the top raiders with 227 points from 23 games, with 17 of those points scored in one match. The Tamil Thalaivas went all out for him in the auction, picking up the invaluable raider for 1.405 crores.
Mohammadreza Shadloui (Gujarat Giants)
The Iranian import to the Gujarat Giants made headlines in the recent auction, becoming the first player in PKL history to receive at least a two crore bid three times. The 25-year-old, known for his aggressive raids and super tackles, is a true all-rounder and an asset to any team with skills that make him a beast on the mat. Known as Showstopper, the Iranian’s track record in the last few seasons speaks volumes about his excellent defensive skills. He racked up 82 points to finish as the best defender on show for the third time in his PJL career, and he’ll be raring to go and emulate that performance this time around as well.
Ankit Jaglan (Patna Pirates)
With 79 points from 25 games last season, Ankit was not very far off either and was retained by Patna Pirates using their FBM card. His partnership with Deepak Singh makes their defence watertight, and they’ll be aiming to build a strong partnership like they did last year to help the Pirates go all the way.
