Kabaddi is India’s second most popular sport; hundreds of millions of people watch the Pro Kabaddi League yearly. It might be because Kabaddi originated in India, but the real cause will likely be competitiveness and excitement. As the game has become so popular, it is fair to ask who the most famous Kabaddi players in India are. Here, we are listing the top 10 Kabaddi players in India.
1.Surender Nada
Surender Nada is one of the famous Kabaddi players in India and has been ranked among the top defenders of all PKL seasons. He was a part of the Indian Kabaddi team that won the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, held in Ahmedabad. Known for strong ankle holds, Surender debuted in Kabaddi with U Mumba in the PKL 1 and currently plays for Bengal Warriors.
Instagram Followers: 151K Followers
2.Fazel Atrachali
Fazel Atrachali is a Kabaddi player from Iran and one of the most experienced ones in the game. He became famous in PKL season 2 after joining U Mumba, which won that season. Dash is Fazel’s signature move, which helped him become one of the most famous Kabaddi players in India. With his exceptional game, Fazel inspired not only Indians but also foreigners.
Instagram Followers: 175K Followers
3.Anup Kumar
Anup Kumar has earned recognition as one of the best Kabaddi players in the world. He was part of the Indian Kabaddi team that won Asian gold medals in 2010 and 2014. Anup currently coaches the PKL Team, Puneri Paltan. In his prime, Anup earned the most points, 169, in the first season of PKL. Anup Kumar also led U Mumba to emerge victorious in the PKL 2.
Instagram Followers: 205K Followers
4.Rohit Kumar
Rohit Kumar is next among the famous kabaddi players in India and is among the top players in the game. He is a former captain of the Bengaluru Bulls and led the team to victory in PKL season 6. His signature move is the frog jump, which compels Kabaddi enthusiasts to hold their breath for the moment. Currently, the prolific Kabaddi player Rohit plays for Gujarat Titans.
Instagram Followers: 224K Followers
5.Maninder Singh
Maninder Singh plays for the Indian national Kabaddi team and is the captain of Bengal Warriors. Regarded as one of the best raiders in PKL, Maninder is one of the most famous Kabaddi players in India. He led the Bengal Warriors team to win its first PKL trophy in 2019. Maninder is one of the most famous Kabaddi players in world and the fastest raider, with 500 points in 56 matches only.
Instagram Followers: 312K Followers
6.Ajay Thakur
Ajay Thakur is the former captain of the Indian Kabaddi team and needs no introduction. He is an expert in do-or-die raids and led the Indian team to victory in the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. The unique play style, especially the Frog Jump, helped Ajay make a name among famous Kabaddi players in India. Ajay helped India win gold at the Incheon Asian Games 2014 and plays for Daband Delhi.
Instagram Followers: 423K Followers
7.Naveen Kumar
Naveen Kumar is next among the most famous Kabaddi players in world. He is a youngster from Daband Delhi KC, and is regarded as the future of Indian Kabaddi. There is certainly a reason behind his recognition; Naveen has just played 91 PKL matches and has scored over 1000 points. He was a part of the Indian Kabaddi team that defeated Pakistan and won the 2022 Asian Games.
Instagram Followers: 506K Followers
8.Deepak Niwas Hooda
Deepak Niwas Hooda is the former captain of the Indian National Kabaddi team. He played for the Indian team, which won gold at the South Asian Games in 2016. In the PKL season one, Deepak was the second most expensive player after Rakesh Kumar, being bought for Rs 12.6 lakhs by Telugu Titans. He also showed exceptional skills as an all-rounder in PKL 2018 and 2019.
Instagram Followers: 537K Followers
9.Pardeep Narwal
Pardeep Narwal is a prominent name among the famous Kabaddi Players in India. He has earned the title of Dubki King with his insane agility. Pardeep Narwal debuted in 2015 as one of Bengaluru Bulls’ players. He struggled in the first season, but in 2016, Pardeep’s dedication paid off, and he blossomed in Patna Pirate’s team. In the PKL 10, Pardeep set an unbreakable record of 1600 raid points, becoming one of the top 10 Kabaddi Players in India.
Instagram Followers: 737K Followers
10.Rahul Chaudhari
Rahul Chaudhari is one of the most fleet-footed raiders and famous Kabaddi players in India. He was a defender earlier but shifted to raiding, creating a remarkable image. Rahul has made 10045 raid points, making him one of the best raiders in Kabaddi. He was part of the Indian team that won gold in the 2016 South Asian Games and is regarded among the most famous Kabaddi players in the world.
Instagram Followers: 1MFollowers
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