Top Raiders of Season 8 | VIVO Pro Kabaddi

VIVO Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 saw a number of seasoned players steal the limelight with some mind-blowing performances. With the right amount of experience behind them, they also brought a lot of skill, dedication and never-dying spirit on the mat that made them stand above the rest.

Here, we look at the top raiders who were at their best in the VIVO Pro Kabaddi League Season 8.

PAWAN SEHRAWAT (BENGALURU BULLS)

Considered to be one of the most prominent raiders in the country today, Pawan Sehrawat was at his exceptional best during the PKL Season 8. Though he failed to carry his team into the final, he finished as the season’s top raider with 304 points in 24 matches with 18 Super 10s, also the highest in the league. Nicknamed Hi-Flyer, Pawan was largely responsible for carrying the team on his shoulders and played a key role in his side’s semi-final qualification. He is considered to be one of the most fearsome raiders on the PKL circuit.

ARJUN DESHWAL (JAIPUR PINK PANTHERS)

Tall and lanky, the young Arjun Deshwal is undoubtedly one of the swiftest and smartest raiders in the league. He is known to get the better of the defenders with his superfast moves and the ability to change directions. The Jaipur raider was bought at a whopping price tag of 96 lacs at the Season 8 auction and has not disappointed ever since. Deshwal ended the season with 267 raid points in 22 matches with 16 Super 10s and stood second in the list of the season’s top-scorers but couldn’t take his side to the playoffs.

MANINDER SINGH (BENGAL WARRIORS)

Skipper of the winning Bengal Warriors team in 2019, Maninder Singh started Season 8 with some outstanding and aggressive performances. Though he put up a brave show throughout the league, lack of support from fellow raiders meant his side failed to qualify for the playoffs. Also referred to as Super-Mani, he finished the league with 262 raid points in 22 matches that included 16 Super 10s. His brute force and aggressive raiding style make him a nightmare for the defenders.

NAVEEN KUMAR (DABANG DELHI K.C.)

Playing this third PKL season, Naveen Kumar showcased his best performance in Dabang Delhi K.C.’s run to their first-ever PKL title. Leading the attack, the youngster showed tremendous composure in nail-biting situations and took on the defenders at will. He scored 14 crucial points in the semi-final versus Bengaluru Bulls and 13 points in the thrilling final versus Patna Pirates. Overall, he scored 207 raid points in 17 matches with 12 Super 10s in Season 8. Naveen finished as the season’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) second year in a row and also became the fastest player to 600 raid points.

SURENDER GILL (U.P. YODDHA)

Surender Gill played an instrumental role as a raider in U.P. Yoddha’s topsy-turvy campaign that ended with a semi-final defeat. The tall raider showed a mix of aggression and calmness in tense situations to help his side regain the momentum in the second half of the league. In 23 matches, he accounted for 189 raid points with eight Super 10s and seven Super Raids. He also doubled up as a defender at times to contribute to the team’s success that paved the way for his side’s playoffs qualification.