The 5 best defensive displays of Season 6

VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 saw three defenders go past the 80-tackle-point mark which served as the record for most tackle points in the previous season. The recently concluded campaign also saw 15 players score 50 or more tackle points, which is also currently the highest number in VIVO Pro Kabaddi history. With the defensive units firing at an elite level, there were bound to be some huge performances from the players. We look back at the five biggest defensive performances in VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 -

1. Vishal Bhardwaj – 9 tackle points vs. Patna Pirates

Telugu Titans skipper Vishal Bhardwaj delivered a masterclass against Season 5 champions Patna Pirates when the two teams met in the latter’s home leg. The Corner scored a season-high nine tackle points in just eight tackle attempts, helping his team win by an impressive scoreline of 53-32. Bhardwaj managed two Super Tackles in the match and scored his tackle points at a brilliant strike rate of 112.5. His performance was crucial in limiting then reigning MVP Pardeep Narwal to just four points on the night.

2. Parvesh Bhainswal – 8 tackle points vs. Patna Pirates

Gujarat Fortunegiants’ Parvesh Bhainswal enjoyed a magnificent campaign at the Cover position in Season 6, scoring 86 tackle points to finish second in the race for Best Defender. The highlight of his campaign came against Patna Pirates at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex where Bhainswal inflicted eight successful tackles on the opposition raiders in an outstanding defensive display. Bhainswal did not have a single unsuccessful tackle in the match, giving him a perfect record on the night at a strike rate of 100.

3. Sunil Kumar – 8 tackle points vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers

Gujarat Fortunegiants’ skipper Sunil Kumar finished Season 6 with 76 tackle points, equaling the record for most tackle points by a Right Cover in a season set by PO Surjeet Singh in the previous campaign. His best performance of the season came against Zone A rivals Jaipur Pink Panthers, where Kumar scored a career-high eight tackle points in eight attempts to give his side a 36-25 victory. Kumar finished the night with a strike rate of 100 while also scoring one of the four Super Tackles that he managed over the course of the campaign.

4. Nitesh Kumar – 8 tackle points vs. U Mumba

A list of outstanding defensive efforts from Season 6 would be incomplete without the mention of U.P. Yoddha ace Nitesh Kumar who became the first man in VIVO Pro Kabaddi history to score 100 Tackle Points in a season. His heroics inspired his team to make it all the way to Qualifier 2. Kumar delivered a decisive performance against U Mumba in Eliminator 1, scoring eight tackle points in 10 attempts, limiting U Mumba’s potent raiding unit to just eighteen points on the night. Kumar finished his campaign with a season-leading eight High 5s and was joint-second in Super Tackles scored with eight.

5. Sunil Siddhgavali – 8 tackle points vs. Puneri Paltan

Sunil Siddhgavali scored 33 tackle points in Season 6 for Jaipur Pink Panthers and finished as their second-best defender in the campaign. His best defensive performance of the season was an eight-point effort against Puneri Paltan, which included an impressive Super Tackle. This defensive showing led his team to a 36-23 victory in front of their home fans in Panchkula. Siddhgavali needed only 10 tackle attempts to score his eight tackle points in what was a career-best performance for the player.