Kabaddi has evolved from a traditional Indian sport to a competitive international game. With the growth of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the status of kabaddi has reached new heights.
In this article, let us have a look at the top seven kabaddi players of all time.
1. Pardeep Narwal (Retired)
Pardeep Narwal, who recently took retirement from PKL, is widely celebrated as the greatest raider of all time. One of the highlights of his PKL career was being the top point scorer, recording the most successful raids, achieving the highest number of Super 10s, and being the first to win back-to-back MVP awards. Narwal also reached the 1,000 points milestone.
Beyond the PKL, Narwal earned a gold medal with the Indian national team at the 2019 South Asian Games and secured three consecutive PKL titles with the Patna Pirates. His most memorable moment was scoring an astounding eight points in a single raid against the Haryana Steelers.
2. Anup Kumar (Retired)
Anup Kumar is widely regarded as one of the most prolific raiders in the game’s history. After spending five years with U Mumba, he moved to the Jaipur Pink Panthers. One of his most momentous achievements include captaining the Indian national team to gold medals at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. Though he received an MVP award during his career, it is his legacy as one of the sport’s pioneering superstars that cements his place among the greatest ever.
3. Rahul Chaudhari (Retired)
Rahul Chaudhari transformed from a defender to a raider and mastered it. He went on to become one of the sport’s most dangerous raiders. A member of the Indian national team, Chaudhari was known for his trademark running hand touch has solidified his status as a PKL legend. Chaudhari is only the third player in history to reach 1,000 raid points and has competed in every PKL season. Chaudhari continues to shine, playing for Jaipur Pink Panthers and recently leading Uttar Pradesh to the National Games title.
4. Deepak Niwas Hooda (Bengal Warriors)
Hooda turned to kabaddi, becoming one of the sport’s most formidable all-rounders. His PKL career boasts over 1,100 points, 250 tackles, and 2,000 raids. In 2019, he was honored with the captaincy of the Indian team. He is the former captain of India national kabaddi team.
He was part of the Indian team which won gold medal at the 2016 South Asian Games. He has also featured in all the seasons of the Pro Kabaddi League. Deepak is regarded as one of the best all rounder in the Pro Kabaddi League history.
5. Naveen Kumar (Dabang Delhi K.C.)
Once considered a rising star, Naveen Kumar was the first player born in the 21st century to compete in the PKL. He has established himself as one of the greatest raiders ever and is only the second player to win consecutive MVP awards. Known for delivering when it matters most, Kumar showcased his talent in the PKL Season 8 final, scoring a remarkable Super 10 to help Dabang Delhi K.C. secure a narrow victory over Patna Pirates.
He also played a key role in India’s kabaddi triumph at the 2019 South Asian Games, with many believing his career could ultimately surpass that of kabaddi legend Pardeep Narwal.
Also Read: Players With Most Tackle Points In PKL History
6. Pawan Sehrawat (Tamil Thalaivas)
During the Pro Kabaddi League’s Season 6, Pawan Sehrawat made a stunning impact, scoring 282 points, including 22 in the Bulls’ finals victory against Gujarat Giants. His outstanding performance earned him the MVP title. The following season, Sehrawat set a PKL record by scoring 39 points in a single game. His remarkable achievements led to a record-breaking trade to Tamil Thalaivas for ₹2.26 crore (around $280,000). Unfortunately, Sehrawat suffered a serious knee injury just 10 minutes into the 2022 season opener, limiting his participation. However, fans eagerly await his return to the mat.
7. Maninder Singh (Patna Pirates)
Maninder Singh has the second-highest points total ever (1,126). He began his Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) journey with the Jaipur Pink Panthers, contributing 130 points in his debut season in which the team win the league. After skipping the next three PKL seasons due to an injury, in 2017, Singh joined the Bengal Warriors and made a remarkable comeback, scoring 190 points in his second season. The following year, he became the fastest player to reach both 400 and 500 raid points. In 2019, Singh led the Warriors to their first title.
