U.P. Yoddha’s Right Corner Nitesh Kumar made his mark in Season 6 and was adjudged the Best Defender of the season after finishing the campaign with 100 tackle points; the first defender to reach the mark in a single season of VIVO Pro Kabaddi. Kumar was one of the stars of U.P. Yoddha’s excellent show in the latter half of the season that saw them reach Qualifier 2 before losing to Gujarat Fortunegiants 38-31. A six-tackle point effort in that match saw Kumar, who was on 94 tackle points before, reach the mark in style, though it wasn’t enough to see his team through.

Kumar started his campaign with a three-tackle point effort against Tamil Thalaivas to help U.P. Yoddha get off to a winning start in the campaign but had to wait till as late as the team’s twelfth match to get his maiden High 5 of the season. Once he got there, though, he kept the momentum going and ultimately finished his campaign with eight High 5s to his name; the most in Season 6 of VIVO Pro Kabaddi.

Kumar also managed the second-most Super Tackles in the season with eight and the most successful tackles with 92, which meant that by the end of his season, Kumar had amassed 10 more successful tackle than his nearest competition. His Ankle Holds have been of the highest quality and one the highlights of his season came in Match 107 at the Vizag leg where he managed 5 Ankle Holds on Rahul Chaudhari to complete a High 5 and take his team to a 27-20 victory.

Having been picked by U.P. Yoddha from the Future Kabaddi Heroes programme in Season 5, Nitesh Kumar’s contribution to team’s cause has been immense as he was their highest scoring defender for the second year running this season.

Nitesh Kumar in Season 6 -

Matches played: 25

Tackle Points: 100

Average Tackle Points: 4

Successful Tackles: 92

Super Tackles: 8

High 5s: 8