The 2023/24 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has already taken off, and the thrill of kabaddi action is spreading like wildfire among fans.
As we delve into Week Two, fans are already fervently cheering for their favorite teams and players. True enough, the PKL stands as a beacon for some of the most skilled kabaddi players in the industry.
In this article, we not only celebrate the ongoing intensity of the league but also turn our spotlight toward the rising stars who are poised to become the heartbeat of this exhilarating season.
Arjun Deshwal (Jaipur Pink Panthers)
Still only 21 years young, Arjun Deshwal enjoyed a breakout sophomore campaign topping the league in raid points. His aggression in darting through defenses led the Pink Panthers to a Finals appearance.
Having further honed instincts and techniques in the offseason, Deshwal appears poised to cement himself as an elite raider night in and night out. Deshwal is one of the players who had a great year during the previous campaign as he also bagged the MVP title.
Rahul Chaudhari (Jaipur Pink Panthers)
We can all agree that Rahul Chaudhari is one of the biggest names in the pro kabaddi scene. He was released by the Panthers before the auction this year, and the Panthers were able to sign him for RS 13 lakhs.
Throughout his PKL career, he was able to score 500, 700, and 800 raid points. He’s the first player to do this. Besides his PKL career, Chaudhari also played a big role in the Indian team winning gold during the 2016 South Asian Games.
Kumar is known for his terrorizing defenses and 500+ career raid points. So far, Dabang Delhi hasn’t been performing well this year as they’ve only won one match out of three. Based on how things are turning out, the team seems to also be relying a lot on his skills.
Well, there’s no denying that Kumar’s instincts and raw power are effective on the court. He’s someone the players should watch out for. It’ll be interesting to see if the team will be able to match his great gameplay so far.
Pardeep Nawal (UP Yoddhas)
Similar to Naveen, “Record Breaker” Pardeep Narwal headlines as an elite raider but doubles as a secret defensive weapon at times in pressure situations. He’s definitely in his top form this year based on his practice sessions before the tournament started.
His attacking skills are also being nicely complemented by UP Yoddha’s robust defense lineup. Well, looking at the points table right now, UP Yoddha might be up for a great season this year.
Shrikant Jadhav (Bengal Warriors)
Shrikant Jadhav has steadily developed into a promising all-round talent for the Warriors. His 49% raid strike rate and 43% tackle strike rate last campaign indicate solid playing fundamentals.
Jadhav expressed earlier this year that he doesn’t feel much pressure by joining Bengal Warriors this year. His good partnership with the team’s captain, Maninder Singh, is also a great sign that the team will do well this season. True enough, Bengal Warriors are sitting on the 2nd spot of the ladder as per the latest points table.
More About the OnGoing Pro Kabaddi League
The 10th edition of the PKL kicked off on December 2, 2023. The playoffs will then be played starting in February 2024. We are still in the second leg of the tournament with the last match scheduled on December 13, 2023, between Bengaluru Bulls and Jaipur Pink Panther.
The third leg will start on December 15, 2023, with matches between Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers, and U Mumba and Patna Pirates. So, you still have a lot to look forward to if you’re thinking about following the season and even wagering on your favorite live PKL betting site.
Here’s a look at the latest points table as of December 12, 2023:
| Team | MP | W | L | D | Points |
| Gujarat Titans | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 17 |
| Bengal Warriors | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 13 |
| UP Yoddhas | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| Patna Pirates | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Puneri Paltan | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| Haryana Steelers | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| Bengaluru Bulls | 5 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| Dabang Delhi | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| U Mumba | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| Tamil Thalaivas | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| Telugu Titans | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 |
Conclusion
Without a doubt, this is another exciting year for the PKL and the fans. It will be interesting to see if these players will live up to expectations throughout the season. So far, all of them have been performing great. Whether their team will win this year is something we can only anticipate at the moment.