The seventh season of Pro Kabaddi is almost on the brink of its culmination, with a riveting final between Dabang Delhi and Bengal Warriors on the cards. Both teams have made it to the finals for the first time in their history and will be aiming to go the distance and win the title.

Over the past six seasons, the final matches have been quite a spectacle to watch with heaps of twist and turns taking centre-stage. So here we bring you the four most enthralling finals in the history of PKL.

Bengaluru Bulls vs Gujarat Fortunegiants (Season 6)

Bengaluru Bulls were the only team in the league with a 500 raid point aggregate in season six but were facing considerable problems in defence. So, when they were lined up against Gujarat Fortunegiants in the final, it was considered to be a battle between Bengaluru’s lethal attacking prowess and Gujarat’s defensive resolve.

Gujarat were leading 16-9 at halftime but a resounding performance by Bengaluru’s young raider Pawan Kumar Sehrawat turned the tides as he ended up scoring 22 points in the match and single-handedly took Bengaluru to their first title in six seasons. It was a blistering spectacle to witness Pawan tear down Gujarat’s defences and secure a well-deserved victory. In a matter of few minutes, Pawan completely changed the fortunes of his team and ended up becoming the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the season.

Patna Pirates vs Gujarat Fortunegiants (Season 5)

Gujarat were on the receiving end in the fifth season as well when unarguably the best raider in the league, Pardeep Narwal decided to take matters in his own hands. Patna were in search of a third consecutive title and it quickly became a one-sided affair when Pardeep started to find his groove.

Gujarat’s defence had been successful in keeping Pardeep quite in the group stages earlier in the season but the final proved to be a completely different story. Pardeep ended the high-pressure match with a mammoth score of 19 points - 15 raid points and 4 bonus points and effectively executed super raids at critical moments to completely erase Manpreet Singh’s men’s confidence. Patna were victorious at the end of full-time and went on to become the first team in the league’s history to complete a hattrick of titles.

Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Patna Pirates (Season 4)

In one of the most closely fought finals in the history of the competition, Jaipur Pink Panthers had Patna Pirates in their grasp for most of the two halves but faltered towards the end. Playing their second PKL final, Jaipur relied on Jasvir Singh to see them through, but a poor defensive show became their ultimate misery. They were unable to handle Pardeep’s speed and his agility proved too strong for them to get hold of.    

Pardeep put up another spectacular show gaining 16 points and led Patna to their second consecutive title win with a 37-29 scoreline. Patna’s then captain, Dharmaraj Cheralathan lifted the Pro Kabaddi trophy and Pardeep became the recipient of another award.

U Mumba vs Bengaluru Bulls (Season 2)

Reaching the final for the second consecutive time, U Mumba stood face-to-face with Bengaluru Bulls in the ultimate match. As expected, the final did go down to the wire. U Mumba’s raider Shabeer Bapu delivered a match-winning performance, picking up 10 total points. He was ably assisted by Vishal Mane in defence. A couple of tricky instances lured Bengaluru to score some quick points, but the cohesive unit of Mumbai’s defence was alert and up to the task.

Mumbai’s captain Anup Kumar stepped in and gained crucial points when the match was tied at 23-23. In the end, it was Anup and Shabeer who kept their cool and ensured that the points were being scored consistently. Eventually, Mumbai ended up outsmarting Bengaluru for the title and lifted the trophy.

Read: Top four decisive performances from past Pro Kabaddi finals

Feature image courtesy: Star Sports & Pro Kabaddi

Another masterful display from Pawan Sehrawat helped Bengaluru Bulls see off U.P. Yoddha in a humdinger to qualify for the semi-finals for the second season running. Standing in their way and the vivo Pro Kabaddi final are the league table-toppers Dabang Delhi K.C., who are looking to make their first-ever appearance in the showpiece final.

If Dabang Delhi K.C. are to win this contest, they will need their defence to turn up and stop the reigning MVP and one man who will be crucial to their cause is Ravinder Pahal.

Head-to-head: Pawan Sehrawat 7-8 Ravinder Pahal

Pawan Sehrawat

Raid Points: 10

Raid Strike Rate: 66.66

Average Raid Points: 2.5

Ravinder Pahal

Tackle Points: 8

Tackle Strike Rate: 53.33

Average Tackle Points: 2

While Bengaluru Bulls had an array of raiding options last season, they have struggled to find the right personnel to get the job done on the mat. Skipper Rohit Kumar has been unable to find any form or consistency all season long, while Sumit and Bunty have raided sporadically with limited results. The culmination of these issues has led to the onus of Bengaluru Bulls’ offence falling solely on the shoulders of Sehrawat. And while the reigning MVP did deliver the goods, it could still only help Bengaluru Bulls win just 50% of their matches during the league stage.

Of Sehrawat’s 17 Super 10s, 10 came in wins, another one in a tie and six in defeats. In matches where the Hi-Flyer failed to get a Super 10, Bengaluru Bulls won just twice in six attempts. The math is pretty obvious. Limiting Sehrawat assures beating Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi K.C.’s Right Corner has had some success in doing so.

Pahal, a master of the Block and the Back Hold, is one of the few defenders who leads their career head-to-head against Sehrawat. Like U.P. Yoddha’s Nitesh Kumar, Pahal has effectively attacked Pawan’s lower body and it has yielded favourable results for the veteran defender. Here is the list of moves that Pahal has successfully used to tackle Sehrawat:

Thigh Hold: 3

Back Hold: 2

Block: 2 

Ankle Hold: 1

Pahal’s tactics are evident in the skills he has used against Sehrawat. He has attempted to take the raider’s mobility, even if only temporarily, to allow support to join in on the tackle and pin Sehrawat down.

Sehrawat, though, has also tricked Pahal a few times with a repertoire of moves. With Pahal aiming for his lower body, the Hi-Flyer has gone airborne and used the Jump to escape a tackle attempt, while he’s also Dubki’d his way through a Block attempt on another occasion. The Hand Touch has also proven to be an effective move against Pahal as well. With Pahal crouched low to find an angle to pounce on his feet, Sehrawat has used his outstretched arms to get a touch point off Pahal thrice in their duels.

While both are not only masters of their art, they are also highly calculative in their approach against a raider or a defender. Given his recent form, the Dabang Delhi K.C. defender will have his work cut out containing the reigning MVP. However, Pahal has shown in the past that he can outsmart and outmanoeuvre Sehrawat and Dabang Delhi K.C. will be hoping that their Right Cover can outfox the league’s leading raid point scorer in semifinal 1 on Wednesday.

Source: Star Sports & PKL

U Mumba will be eager to keep their winning momentum intact after their victory over Haryana Steelers in Eliminator 2 of vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 7. The Season 2 champions will face Bengal Warriors in the second semi-final on the ongoing campaign with both sides vying for a spot in this year’s grand finale. Bengal Warriors have beaten U Mumba in both their previous encounters this season and they will fancy their chances in the semi-final as well.

Head-to-head: Sandeep Narwal 11-10 Maninder Singh

Sandeep Narwal

Tackle Points: 11

Tackle Strike Rate: 52.38%

Average tackle points: 1.57

Maninder Singh

Raid Points: 11

Raid Strike Rate: 52.38%

Average raid points: 1.57

Sandeep Narwal is second on U Mumba’s leaderboard for tackle points with 53 this year and he will have a big role to play if the Season 2 champions are to neutralise Bengal Warriors’ talisman. Sandeep has had mixed fortunes against the Bengal Warriors skipper but is more than capable of stamping his authority against him.

The duo has had 21 duels on the mat through seven seasons and has exactly the same number of points against each other. Having fallen prey to the all-rounder’s brute strength, Maninder will be wary of Sandeep and look to avoid him snapping at the ankles as well as on the escape. Sandeep’s triumphs in duels against Maninder have come in the form of three Thigh Holds and five Blocks in their previous clashes, a testament to the fact that the raider has been outmuscled plenty of times. 

Here is the list of moves Sandeep has successfully used against Maninder –

Block: 5

Thigh Hold: 3

Chain Tackle: 2

Dash: 1

While strength has been the U Mumba all-rounder’s go-to asset, the Escape has been Maninder’s preferred route to a raid point after gaining a touch on Sandeep over the years. The Bengal Warriors skipper knowingly exposes his blindside to Sandeep, giving him the illusion of the possibility of a Block or Dash. Maninder then quickly turns around and escapes Sandeep’s tackle attempt with a touch point. He has scored nine touch points via Escapes against Sandeep with the other two coming via of a bonus and a Hand Touch.

Maninder will not only be looking to win his duel against Sandeep but will also be aiming to find match rhythm after a lengthy layoff on the sidelines. He will back his ability to fluster an easily excitable Sandeep in Wednesday’s clash, as his performance will go a long way in determining if Bengal Warriors make their maiden vivo Pro Kabaddi final.

Source: Star Sports & PKL

The final week of the seventh season of Pro Kabaddi is about to explode with mouth-watering clashes lined up for the fans and critics alike. This season has been one of the most closely fought campaigns in the history of the competition, with new records and young players taking centre stage on multiple occasions. Ranging from toe touch to back kicks, these players have been at the forefront of the game. With their signature moves, they’ve fought off any and all adversity, and gained maximum points for their teams.

These players have played a pivotal role in enhancing their team’s fortunes and building a huge reputation for them in return. Here, we bring you the top five fastest players in Pro Kabaddi history to reach 400 raid points.

Naveen Kumar (41 matches)

Dabang Delhi’s golden boy Naveen Kumar has been nothing short of exemplary this season. Building on his form from the previous season, when he ended up with a total of 172 raid points in 22 encounters, Naveen is on the verge of taking Delhi through for the first time in seven seasons. The Delhi raider has posted 20 Super 10s in the season so far and become the fastest player to 400 raid points, in a match against Puneri Paltans. Given his form, the accolades and praise will keep coming for the youngster.

Siddharth Desai (41 matches)

After an average start to the seventh season, many considered Siddharth Desai as a one season wonder. But the Telugu Titans soon regained form and picked up face, delivering match winning performances one after the other. Given his dip in form, Titans adopted a new strategy of putting two raiders on the mat instead of three, which gave Desai more freedom to strike.  His average raids per match improved and Desai ended up equalling Naveen’s record of fastest to 400 raid points. Although Titans couldn’t make the playoffs, Desai’s resurgence in the latter half of the season was admirable.  

Maninder Singh (46 matches)

Bengal Warriors’ knight in shining armour Maninder Singh has been a force to reckon with in the ongoing season. He lies among the top five raiders in the league and has consistently gathered crucial points for Bengal. Singh became the fastest player to reach 400 raid points in Pro Kabaddi’s history back in season six but was surpassed by young raiders Naveen and Desai in the current season. Taking nothing away from his accomplishment, Singh remains one of the most lethal raiders in the game.

Pardeep Narwal (49 matches)

The face of Pro Kabaddi and a household name, the prominence and genius of Patna Pirates’ Pardeep Narwal was once again witnessed in the fifth season of the competition, when he racked up a whopping 369 raid points, including 19 Super 10’s in the season. He had a total of 256 raid points till the fourth season and reached the 400-raid point mark in the first 11 matches of the fifth season, averaging almost 10-11 raid points during that time. Patna Pirates were crowned champions that season and completed a hat-trick of championships.

Rahul Chaudhari (50 matches)

The poster boy of Pro Kabaddi, Rahul Chaudhari reached the 400-raid point mark back in the fourth season, as part of Telugu Titans. Even though his performances have taken a hit in the seventh season, Chaudhari never failed to make an impression on the mat with his immaculate performances over the years. Tamil Thalaivas bought him from the Titans to strengthen their squad but Chaudhari has failed to deliver with same intensity as he had done in the past.

Feature image courtesy: Star Sports and Pro Kabaddi

The final leg of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season seven is upon us with the Playoffs kick-starting from October 14. The top six teams who will be competing for the coveted trophy in the Playoffs are UP Yoddha, Haryana Steelers, U Mumba, Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi and Bengal Warriors. The last two, however, have made their way directly to the semi-finals as they finished the league stage as the top two teams.

The team performances have improved by leaps and bounds as the season has progressed, with the stalwarts ready to push their limits one more time in the knockouts. If you’re thinking of whom to include in your Moneyball9  fantasy team this week, look no further than this.

PAWAN KUMAR SEHRAWAT

Team: Bengaluru Bulls

This guy needs no introduction as this entire season, the commentators, his teammates and the fans have been raving about his performances. Sehrawat has been the most prolific raider this season and have already surpassed veteran raider Pardeep Narwal’s record of most points in a single PKL match (39 points). Bengaluru Bulls have been riding high on his form, as their star raider has averaged a whopping 14 raids per match this season. When he takes centre-stage in the Playoffs, opposition defenders are sure to be wary of his threat.

SHRIKANT JADHAV

Team: UP Yoddha

The face of UP Yoddha’s attack, Shrikant Jadhav has set the bar high this season with his immaculate performances. His most notable outing of the ongoing campaign came against Puneri Paltan, where his flow proved too much for the opposition defenders to handle. He went on to register 15 raid points in that match. Known for scoring points through his strongest skill – the toe touch, Jadhav has been garnering heaps of praise from his coach as well. When the Playoffs come calling, he is sure to be Yoddha’s trump card.

FAZEL ATRACHALI

Team: U Mumba

The Iranian defender’s strength is known to all. The way he tackled Pardeep Narwal in an encounter against Patna Pirates displayed his innate raw power to handle the toughest of the raiders. The experience that he brings to the mat coupled with his consistency have made U Mumba one of the teams to fear this season. He leads the table for most tackle points this season and is tipped to end the campaign as the best defender. He is definitely a must in your fantasy team.

NAVEEN KUMAR

Team: Dabang Delhi KC

If Dabang Delhi end up winning the league this season, Naveen Kumar should be carried on their shoulders when the team takes the victory lap. The young lad has outclassed the best of the raiders in the league with his magnificent performances, which included picking up 14 consecutive Super 10’s on the trot. Delhi’s coach Krishan Kumar Hooda has been a huge influence on Naveen’s ascent to the top and Delhi looks lethal when he is on the mat, making those raids. So rest assured, you miss him in your fantasy team, you miss a lot of points.

BALDEV SINGH

Team: Bengal Warriors

Baldev Singh has significantly improved from the last season as the sturdy defender has been able to withhold attacks frequently and consistently. Bengal Warriors have enjoyed a successful campaign with him guarding the right corner on the mat. His tackle strike rate has gone up from 38% to 55% in the current season and with the performances that he has been putting in, Bengal’s defence feels more of a threat than usual for opposition raiders. With Fazel on one side, he should definitely be your pick to guard the other corner.

Don’t delay and get started on creating your fantasy team. Head to Moneyball9 for more details.

Feature image courtesy: Star Sports & Pro Kabaddi

Season seven of the Pro Kabaddi League is heading towards its climax as the top six teams from the league stage will now take each other on in the playoffs. Bengal Warriors and Dabang Delhi directly booked their birth in the semi-finals itself, by securing first and second spot in the league table. The other four teams, however, have to play the eliminators to move to the semis. The third-ranked team will play the sixth-ranked team in Eliminator 1 and the fourth-ranked team will face off with the fifth-ranked team in Eliminator 2.

Teams in PKL are heavily dependent on their raiders to score in every game, and with the playoffs starting from 14^th October, all eyes will be on these five raiders who have performed exceptionally well so far.

1. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat

Pawan Sehrawat has been the most prolific player this season, scoring a mammoth total of 309 points so far. Sehrawat broke Pardeep Narwal’s record of most raid points in a PKL match when he scored 39 points against Haryana Steelers.

His speed, agility and ability to jump high has earned him the name of ‘Hi-flyer’ and he carries with him the hopes of Bengaluru Bulls to retain their title from last season. The 23-year-old will be looking forward to getting the most raid points this season, as he is just seven markers behind Patna Pirates’ Pardeep Narwal.

2. Naveen Kumar

One of the finest raiders this season, Naveen Kumar made his PKL debut in 2018, at the age of 18. At season’s end, he became the youngest player to finish as a team’s leading scorer and took Dabang Delhi to their maiden appearance in the playoffs. Having scored 177 points in his debut season, he improved upon his form even further and already has 256 raid points to his name in Season 7.

While Kumar is blessed with explosive speed and quick reflexes, an urge to learn quickly and honing his craft to perfection is the reason behind his success so far.

3. Maninder Singh

Leading the attack for Bengal Warriors, Maninder Singh has scored almost half their raid points this season. He returned to PKL in Season 5 after finishing third in the list of top raiders in Season 1 with titlists Jaipur Pink Panthers.

Maninder’s success rate this season as a raider has been quite good at 64.46, and he also averages above ten in raid points per match. His ability to outsmart defenders and running hand-touches make him a lethal raider.

4. Shrikant Jadhav

Shrikant Jadhav is ‘do-or-die’ specialist for UP Yoddha who gets them points in difficult situations when his team needs him the most. He already has 134 points so far this season which makes him the top performer of his team.

His not out percentage for this season reflects what threat he posses whenever he is sent to perform a ‘do-or-die’ raid. He has a not out percentage of 77.27 which directly means he does not give away easy points to the defending team.

5. Vikash Kandola

Haryana Steeler’s Vikash Kandola came into spotlight after scoring 177 points in season six for his team. He not only specializes in running hand touches, but his ability to pull out bonus points makes it tricky for the defending teams to deal with.

He has already surpassed his tally of last year and is looking in great form. His team relies on him to keep the score board ticking and will provide the Haryana side a helping hand in going through the play-offs.

Feature Image Courtesy: Star Sports & Pro Kabaddi

Season seven of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is about to enter its most exciting phase. The stage is set for the players to come out with all guns blazing and take centre stage in the Playoffs. The spotlight will be on star players such as Naveen Kumar and Pawan Kumar Sehrawat who have mesmerized the fans with their record-breaking performances, but the extreme pressure of the knockout stages might get to some.

Here we bring you the list of players who might bow out or falter in the Playoffs.

Monu Goyat

UP Yoddha’s raider Monu Goyat has been a disappointment so far. Playing for Haryana Steelers in the previous season, Monu posted impressive numbers but the story has taken a complete u-turn in the ongoing season. Goyat has just managed 65 points in his 13 encounters in the season so far with a maximum of 11 points in a match against Dabang Delhi. His inconsistency has been a huge let down for his team as he had built a reputation of turning things around in the last season with Haryana. UP Yoddha have qualified for the Playoffs for the third consecutive season but given his recent run of form, it might take something special from Goyat to uplift himself and prove his critics wrong.

Vikas Kale

Occupying the right corner for the Haryana Steelers, Vikas Kale’s defensive skills have been rather average. In an encounter against Bengaluru Bulls recently, he was caught off guard by star raider Pawan Kumar Sehrawat who managed to score 10 touch points off him. The Playoffs will surely bring out the best of these star raiders who will eventually manage to score easy points off Kale, and Haryana might just be on the backseat. Kale has been averaging over just one tackle point a match this season and the toll is not expected to improve anytime soon until he wants to take a miraculous turn.

Ravinder Pahal

The 29-year-old surely seems to be finding it difficult to adapt to the changing pace of the game. Holding the right corner for Dabang Delhi in the seventh season so far, Pahal’s susceptibility to the running hand touch has been exposed by the raiders in past encounters this season. Although his average of almost three tackles per match has boded well for Delhi, the question of vulnerability still isn’t addressed. Teams in Playoffs are aware of his weakness and will tend to find a way to score maximum points against him.

Surinder Singh

Surinder Singh’s journey with U Mumba in the ongoing season has been quite shaky. Singh usually plays on the right corner for his team and his performances have dropped as compared to his outings in the previous season. His defence tactics have been rigid, and Singh is unable to move quickly to outwit the raiders. He becomes an easy target for the opponent raiders and his rigidity has let to a decline in his tackle points as well, which have gone down from 62 in the last season to 46 in the current one, thus far.

The Playoffs demand the players to stay on alert and grab every opportunity to earn points. If any one is found lacking in his pursuits, the team will suffer and the dream of lifting the championship will be over before it even begins. All that the fans can hope for is for their favourite stars to get their mojo back and lift the coveted trophy on October 19.

Feature image courtesy: Star Sports & Pro Kabaddi

As VIVO Pro Kabaddi League enters the final stages of the most competitive and unpredictable season in history, there are no clear favourites for the coveted title. The competitiveness of the ongoing season was highlighted by the fact that teams had to wait till the final leg to find out the six team who will make it to the playoffs. Jaipur Pink Panthers, mid-season table toppers and favourites to seal a playoff berth, lost to Tamil Thalaivas on Monday night, arguably the poorest team this season, once again proving the theory that there are no favourites in the game of Kabaddi.

Six teams – Dabang Delhi KC, Bengal Warriors, Haryana Steelers, UP Yoddha, U Mumba and Bengaluru Bulls – will fight it out amongst themselves for the trophy having already secured the playoff slot. The Delhi and Bengal sides have secured direct qualifications to the semi-final on the virtue of being first and second in the league but UP Yoddha’s form in the second half of the season (11 wins in their last 12 matches) and U Mumba’s defence peaking at the right time means we are in for more surprises in the playoff stage.

When the defence had its say

Despite strong performances from individual raiders such as Naveen Kumar, Pardeep Narwal and Pawan Sehrawat, the defences have had a bigger say in the ongoing season. Teams have opted for aggressive strategies, often playing with an extra defender, to force the raiders into making a risky move or wait it out till the Do-or-Die raids.

At all stages this season, the defenders outdid their numbers from the previous two seasons. At the end of 4 legs, the average tackle points was 20.4 for this season as opposed to 19.7 and 18.1 in season 6 and 5 respectively. The trend continued and at the end of 11 legs, the average tackle points was 20.1 (19.9 in season 6 and 18.4 in season 5).

Five star performances

Top raiders did flourish regardless of the defensive approach with Pardeep Narwal (302), Pawan Sehrawat (295), Naveen Kumar (256), Maninder Singh (205) and Siddharth Desai (202) crossing the 200-point mark. What is staggering is how both Pardeep Narwal and Siddharth Desai racked up these points for teams who failed to qualify for the playoffs which meant they spent more time on the dugouts than their competitors). Pardeep contributed to 68% of Patna Pirates’ raid points this season But unfortunately for the ‘record breaker’, no other raiders managed to secure a Super 10 for Patna in the entire season. Siddharth Desai faced similar problems with backups with all the other Telugu raiders averaging less than 5 points per match.

Not all stars delivered this season with the likes of Rahul Chaudhari, Ajay Thakur and Nitin Tomar struggling to live up to the hype. The ‘showman’ Rahul Chaudhari had his poorest performance in the history of VIVO Pro Kabaddi League with an average raid points of 5.7 (his previous lowest was 6.7 in season 3). He also failed in 28% of his raids – a far cry from his Telugu Titans days where he was nearly unstoppable.

Sandeep Dhull (73), Sumit (65), Fazel Atrachali (64), Surjeet Singh (63) and Nitesh Kumar (62) lead the chart for tackle points this season. Just like in the raiding department, two of the defenders in the top five – Sandheep Dhull and Surjeet Singh – secured these personal milestones for teams (Jaipur Pink Panthers and Puneri Paltan respectively) who failed to rally around their superstars to secure a playoff berth.

The future is bright

Perhaps the best defensive performances of the season have come from the UP Yodda team whose corners – Sumit and Nitesh Kumar – both feature in the top five defenders’ list. Sumit, playing his first season of VIVO Pro Kabaddi, has been a calm performer in the left corner for the UP side while Nitesh Kumar has followed his breath-taking 100-point season 6, with another stellar showing in the right corner. The young captain, a product of VIVO Pro Kabaddi’s Future Kabaddi Heroes (FKH) programme, has already secured five High 5s this season, and has been a leader on the mat for the Yoddhas – a glowing testimony to FKH that scouts and promotes young Kabaddi stars across the country.

Naveen Kumar’s run of consecutive Super 10s, Surender Gill’s all-round heroics for UP Yoddha, Saurabh Nandal’s assured performances in the defence for Bengaluru Bulls all highlight how FKH has created a path for future Kabbadi stars to perform in the biggest league for the sport. With season seven entering its most importance phase, the stage is now set for these young guns to rewrite history.

The third-placed team will face sixth-placed side, while the fourth and fifth placed teams will face each other in eliminators which will be held on Monday (October 14). The winners of the eliminators will then face the first and second-placed teams in the semi-finals on Wednesday (October 16). The finals will be held on Saturday (October 19). All the playoff matches and the final will be held at the EKA Arena by TansStadia in Ahmedabad.

Source: Star Sports & PKL

The playoff spots are now confirmed and the penultimate week in Pro Kabaddi offers some mouth-watering fixtures for the fans. Table-toppers Dabang Delhi will face U Mumba with the hopes of keeping their first place intact and enter the semi-finals, while UP Yoddha’s spirits are up after registering consecutive wins over Delhi and Puneri Paltans last week. This is a big week before the playoffs and the teams who failed to make it to the top six will look to put their best foot forward.

To make the road easier for you, we have shortlisted five players who you should pick without any second thoughts this week.

Pawan Kumar Sehrawat

Team: Bengaluru Bulls

Match: Bengaluru Bulls vs UP Yoddha

This one is a no brainer. The most successful raider of the seventh season, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat picked up 53 points in his last two outings. He has been utterly ruthless in his pursuits and has kept the opponent defenders on their toes. His flamboyance has never been outclassed and his performances have only improved as the season progressed. His presence can surely help strengthen your fantasy squad.

Siddharth Desai

Team: Telugu Titans

Match: Telugu Titans vs Gujarat Fortunegiants  

Although his form may have dipped compared to the previous season, the ‘Baahubali’ of Pro Kabaddi has been the top performer for the Telugu Titans. In his 20 outings this season, Siddharth Desai has garnered 192 points and will be looking to end his season on a high by gaining maximum points in the final two encounters for the Titans. Take him at his reputation, for he may deliver when it matters the most.

Monu Goyat

Team: UP Yoddha

Match: UP Yoddha vs Telugu Titans

Monu Goyat’s return last week in the encounter against Delhi helped UP Yoddha to book a place in the playoffs. His return in form bodes well for UP as he notched up 11 points against Delhi and announced his readiness going into the playoffs. He capitalised on the opportunities presented to him against Delhi and Puneri Paltan, making a strong case for himself. He’ll be instrumental in the remaining two encounters for the Yoddhas.

Sandeep Kumar Dhull

Team: Jaipur Pink Panthers

Match: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Bengaluru Bulls

The big positive for Jaipur Pink Panthers this season has been the phenomenal ascent of Sandeep Kumar Dhull in the competition. He’s been a rock-solid figure at the left corner for Jaipur and has slowly turned into the face of their defence. Averaging almost three tackles per match, Sandeep will aim to leave his mark in Jaipur’s final encounter this season against bottom-placed Tamil Thalaivas. He’ll be raring to go and will be an exciting prospect in your fantasy team.

Vikash Kandola

Team: Haryana Steelers

Match: U Mumba vs Haryana Steelers

Scoring 13 points in his previous encounter against Telugu Titans, Vikash Kandola has been time and again emerged as the saviour for Haryana Steelers. In his 18 outings this season, he has garnered 176 points and etched his name as one of the most consistent performers in the league. Haryana play U Mumba before the playoffs begin and their fortunes highly depends on the performance of Vikash.

It's time to start creating your Fantasy team. Head to Nostragamus for more details.

Feature image courtesy: Star Sports & Pro Kabaddi