Key battles to look out for in the All Star game

The All Star game will not only serve as the curtain-raiser for VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 7 but also pit the sport’s best talents against each other. While both squads are laced with talent across the board, a few key duels could determine the fate of the contest. We look at some of those -   

Pardeep Narwal vs. Abozar Mohajermighani

Being a left-sided raider, VIVO Pro Kabaddi’s all-time leading raid point scorer and two-time MVP Pardeep Narwal will be up against Right Corner Abozar Mohajermighani, who has been outstanding in each of his two campaigns in the league. The Right Corner has tackled Narwal 11 times in VIVO Pro Kabaddi career while the raider has gotten the better of Abozar on six occasions, picking up nine raid points in the process. Narwal possesses the ability to take the game away from the opposition and hence it will crucial for World 7 to limit his impact on the contest as much as possible. Abozar’s head-to-head record against the raider suggests that he might be able to do just that.     

Ajay Thakur vs. Fazel Atrachali

Both skippers, Fazel Atrachali and Ajay Thakur, are not only two charismatic leaders but also two of the best players in their respective positions. Both players finished among the top five tackle point and raid point scorers in Season 6, respectively, and will be eager to get the new campaign underway with a big performance in the All Star game. Fazel, a master of the Dash as well the Ankle Hold, has a career tackle strike rate of 50% against Thakur, while the raider has also managed a 50% raid strike rate against the Iranian Left Corner. With their career head-to-head evenly poised, the All Star game could be the perfect platform for one of these players to seek advantage over the other.

Nitesh Kumar vs. Jang Kun Lee

The most successful overseas raider in VIVO Pro Kabaddi, Jang Kun Lee will be up against Nitesh Kumar, who was the first defender in league history to score a century of tackle points in a single season. While Lee’s quick feet have been his go-to weapon throughout his VIVO Pro Kabaddi career, Nitesh’s trusted and potent Ankle Hold could neutralise the South Korean’s impact on the contest. However, Lee has a 4-2 lead in the head-to-head battle between the two and will look to extend that record against the talented Right Corner.