Kabaddi has been one of the most popular sports in India for as long as anyone can remember. For a lot of fans of the sport, kabaddi is also an excellent way to make money from home, since betting on kabaddi is as popular as the sport itself.
In today’s time, millions of fans throughout India and Asia regularly tune in to follow their favorite teams and players. However, did you know that some players have even gained legendary status for their skill, long career, and dedication to the sport?
This enthusiasm for kabaddi has given rise to a flourishing market for betting apps, which allow fans not only to watch matches but also to engage in betting conveniently from their mobile devices. These apps offer a variety of betting options on kabaddi matches, making it easier for fans to place bets in real-time, no matter where they are. The ease of access provided by betting apps has revolutionized how fans interact with the sport, merging the excitement of live action with the thrill of sports betting, thereby enhancing the overall experience of kabaddi enthusiasts.
What Makes Kabaddi So Fun?
Whether you call it kabaddi, hu-tu-tu, ha-do-do, or chedu-gudu, one thing’s for certain—kabaddi is thrilling to watch, and most games will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Kabaddi is played between two teams of seven players. Each time occupies one-half of the court. The goal of the game is to invade the opposing team’s half of the court and tag as many players as you can, all while avoiding being tackled to the ground by the defenders.
Because of its fast-paced gameplay, kabaddi is fantastic for sports betting, and there are plenty of betting sites, such as LegalBet India where you can bet on your favorites and test your knowledge of the game.
After all, is there anything more satisfying than watching your team win and make a profit along the way?
To win a game of kabaddi, a team needs to score more points than the opposing team by simply tagging more players. Additionally, you can earn bonus points by scoring three or more points or even land an “All Out” by tagging all seven players of the opposing team.
There’s plenty of skill, wits, and strategy that goes into a game of kabaddi, which is why some players have become legends in the eyes of the fans. For that reason, we’ve prepared a list of some of the best kabaddi players in the world right here at Social Talky.
Pardeep Narwal
Despite being only 25 years old, Pardeep Narwal is widely regarded as one of the best kabaddi players of all time.
Throughout his career, the Dubki King got a ton of achievements under his belt— he was the first player to ever hit the 1,000 points mark, and also holds a record with the most raid points by a player with 1568.
Narwal also won a gold medal at the 2019 South Asian Games with the Indian national team, a bronze at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, the Dubai Kabaddi Masters in 2018, as well as the South Asian Games in 2019 in Kathmandu.
Furthermore, he was also the first player to ever win back-to-back MVP awards, which is just another reason why Narwal already has a status of a kabaddi legend.
Anup Kumar
Anup Kumar is one of the most recognizable kabaddi players in the world and also here in India. Nicknamed the God of Kabaddi, Kumar is considered one of the most prolific raiders of his generation and was the first player to reach stardom as a kabaddi player.
As a captain, Kumar led his international team to glory when he helped India win the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He is best known for his ability to score bonus points and had an illustrious career playing for U Mumba and Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Furthermore, Anup Kumar won one MVP award and has many gold medals under his belt—he won Asian Games in Guangzhou in 2010 and Incheon in 2014, to name a few.
Rahul Chaudhary
Rahul Chaudhary started his career as a defender. However, once he transitioned to a raider, he quickly became one of the most feared names in the sport. Nicknamed the Raid Machine, Chaudhary is known for his trademark running hand touch plays and his flair during raids.
Chaudhary is a PKL legend, having played in every PKL season ever since the league’s inception. He is the second player to reach 1,000 raid points and was also part of the Indian National Kabaddi team that won a gold medal in the 2016 South Asian games.
Deepak Niwas Hooda
Deepak Niwas Hooda is one of the best all-rounders in kabaddi. Known for being clinical and precise, Hooda played in nearly 160 kabaddi matches. Throughout his career, he scored more than 1,100 points and has more than 2,100 raids and 250 tackles to his name.
Hooda won the title in PKL Season 1 and was also a member of the team that won the 2016 World Cup.
Ever since 2019, Hooda has been a captain of the India National Kabaddi Team and has won the Asian Kabaddi Championship in 2017 in Gorgan, Dubai Kabaddi Masters in 2018, and a gold medal from the South Asian Games in 2019 in Kathmandu.
Pawan Sehrawat
Pawan Sehrawat made a name for himself during the sixth PKL season when he exploded onto the scene and scored 282 points. However, what makes this feat even more impressive is that 22 of those points were during the finals when his team, Bengaluru Bulls, won their first Pro Kabaddi title after beating Gujarat Fortunegiants.
Just a year later, Sehrawat’s name entered the history books after he scored 39 points in a single game, a record he holds to this day.
In addition, Hi-Flyer earned more than 1,000 points and one of his biggest achievements includes winning the South Asian Games in 2019 in Kathmandu, making him one of the best players in the world and here in India.
The Wrap Up
The Pro Kabaddi League is in its 9th season and the organization and the love for the sport are only getting better.
With that in mind, it’s only a matter of time before the new generation of players join the ranks of the best teams in the league and make a name for themselves as kabaddi legends.
While we have included only a few names on our list, there are plenty of other players who are considered the greatest kabaddi players of all time.
Some other names every kabaddi fan worth their salt should know are players like Ajay Thakur, Naveen Kumar, and Maninder Singh, to name a few.
What about your favorites, do you have any?