Five reasons why you can’t miss VIVO Pro Kabaddi’s All Star match

The VIVO Pro Kabaddi league’s first-ever All Star match will feature an Indian 7 side taking on a World 7 team in a one-off game at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday. The first of its kind, here are five reasons why you mustn’t miss this never-before-seen clash.

1. Prelude to Season 7 action

The All Star match will be our first glimpse of VIVO Pro Kabaddi action this season. With the best players that the league has to offer on show; Saturday’s clash will serve as a good indicator of what’s to come over the next three months. It’ll be interesting to see which stars will be quick off the blocks and how sharply they move.

2. First glimpse of big names

This unique one-off game gives us a chance to watch the best that kabaddi has to offer, including some who will make their VIVO Pro Kabaddi bow. Bengal Warriors Mohammad Nabibaksh, the costliest foreign recruit this season, is one such individual. The Iranian all-rounder will want to make his presence felt melt on the mat in defence as well as attack.

3. Top international stars in action

With kabaddi growing at an exponential rate across the globe, the All Star match allows the best international talent to team up and take on their Indian counterparts. The match will be a wonderful opportunity to assess how much progress the sport has made on the global stage since the inception of VIVO Pro Kabaddi.

4. Favourite Indian stars in one team before the start of the league

Since most of the Indian players in the All Star squad are part of different franchises, fans have the chance to witness their favourite heroes playing for the same team before going their separate ways for the rest of the season. What this offers us is the exciting prospect of Pawan ‘Hi-Flier’ Sehrawat and Pardeep ‘King’ Narwal – together MVPs for the past three seasons – raiding in tandem.

5. Unique format in kabaddi

Such a one-of-a-kind match will be a first in the sport. India may have played against other countries on the international stage earlier, but they’ve never gone up against a World 7. What this translates to on the mat for the Indian 7 is that they’ll be up against the best from across the globe. Not only will they need to be wary of Fazel Atrachali and Abozar Mohajermighani’s brute strength, but Jang Kun Lee’s swift raids as well.