Kabaddi has travelled farther than almost any other indigenous Indian sport. What once belonged mainly to village grounds, mud-pit akhadas and school competitions is now a television spectacle played on brightly coloured mats, with specialist raiders, corner defenders, tactical analysts and packed Pro Kabaddi League arenas. Terms such as dubki, toe touch, ankle hold, Super Raid and do-or-die raid are now familiar to millions of fans.
India’s international record remains formidable. The men recovered the Asian Games crown in Hangzhou and successfully defended it at Aichi-Nagoya in September 2026, while the women also retained their title by beating Iran. PKL, meanwhile, continues to produce new stars beside established legends. This list considers league records, international medals, awards, leadership, signature skills and cultural impact.
1. Pardeep Narwal
Pardeep Narwal changed how modern raiding is imagined. The left raider made the dubki his trademark, dropping under an approaching chain and slipping through defenders before racing back across the midline. He also used the running hand touch and toe touch to keep defenders guessing.
Narwal retired from PKL in 2025 with a league-record 1,801 raid points in 190 matches. He powered Patna Pirates to three consecutive titles from Seasons 3 to 5 and scored a record 369 raid points in Season 5. He also won the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup with India.
2. Pawan Sehrawat
Pawan Sehrawat, the “Hi-Flyer,” brings explosive athleticism to raiding. His long reach, sudden acceleration and airborne escapes make him dangerous around both corners, while his willingness to attack multiple defenders can turn an ordinary raid into a Super Raid.
Pawan owns the PKL single-match record with 39 raid points and has 1,340 career raid points. He was Season 6 MVP, won the title with Bengaluru Bulls and received the Arjuna Award for 2023. He captained India to Hangzhou gold, carried the flag at the 2026 Asian Games opening ceremony and served as vice-captain as India retained gold.
3. Anup Kumar
Anup Kumar helped define the tactical sophistication of early Pro Kabaddi. “Captain Cool” relied on court awareness, the toe touch, bonus-line intelligence and the ability to manipulate defenders before attacking the weakest link. He understood when patience mattered more than a risky raid.
Anup captained U Mumba to three successive PKL finals and lifted the Season 2 title. Internationally, he won Asian Games gold in 2010 and 2014 and the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup. He received the Arjuna Award in 2012. His calm leadership showed that elite kabaddi is as much about game management as physical power.
4. Manjeet Chhillar
Fazel Atrachali is one of PKL’s greatest defenders, but he is Iranian; for an India-only list, Manjeet Chhillar is the fitting defensive legend. The former wrestler became a fearsome all-rounder and left-corner presence, using blocks, thigh holds and lower-body strength to stop powerful raiders.
Manjeet was PKL Season 1’s Best Defender and Season 2 MVP. He finished his league career with 391 tackle points and later won the Season 8 title with Dabang Delhi. He represented India in major championship-winning teams and received the Arjuna Award in 2015, setting an early benchmark for professional defenders.
Naveen Kumar’s speed earned him the nickname “Naveen Express.” He built dominance through rapid entries, sharp hand touches, bonus points and the ability to retreat before a defence could complete its chain. His low centre of gravity also made him difficult to trap near the baulk line.
He became the fastest PKL player to reach 500 raid points and produced a record 28 consecutive Super 10s. Naveen won MVP in Seasons 7 and 8 and helped Dabang Delhi claim their first championship in Season 8. With 1,120 career raid points, he remains fifth on the all-time list in 2026.
6. Arjun Deshwal
Arjun Deshwal is one of the most reliable high-volume raiders of the current era. He scores through balance, running hand touches, bonus-line awareness and patient reading of corner movement rather than relying only on spectacular escapes. His composure in do-or-die raids makes him especially valuable late in matches.
Arjun was Season 9 MVP after scoring 296 raid points and helping Jaipur Pink Panthers win the title. By 2026, he had climbed to third on the all-time PKL list with 1,383 raid points. He also played a major attacking role in India’s 40-34 Asian Games final win over Iran.
7. Aslam Inamdar
Aslam Inamdar represents the modern kabaddi all-rounder: quick enough to raid, strong enough to help in defence and tactically aware enough to control tempo. He can attack the bonus line, work with hand touches and then contribute to cover defence or a chain tackle.
His finest PKL campaign came in Season 10, when he captained Puneri Paltan to their first title and was named MVP with 142 raid points and 26 tackle points. Aslam was also part of India’s Asian Games gold-winning squads in Hangzhou and Aichi-Nagoya. His value lies in flexibility rather than one-dimensional scoring.
8. Ritu Negi
Ritu Negi has become one of the defining leaders of Indian women’s kabaddi. A defender and former national captain, she is valued for positioning, discipline and her ability to keep a defensive unit organised under pressure. Her strength lies in reading a raider’s footwork and committing only when the tackle is ready.
Negi captained India to Asian Games gold in Hangzhou, where the women edged Chinese Taipei 26-25. She received the Arjuna Award for 2023. In 2026, with Pushpa Rana taking over as captain, Negi remained a senior defensive presence as India beat Iran 37-34 to retain the title.
9. Sunil Kumar
Sunil Kumar is one of the finest cover defenders and captains of the PKL era. From right cover, his strengths are body positioning, blocks, dashes and well-timed chain tackles. He excels at keeping the defensive line compact and forcing raiders toward prepared traps.
Sunil captained Jaipur Pink Panthers to the Season 9 title and later led U Mumba. In Season 12 he scored 52 tackle points and crossed 400 career tackle points. In 2026, he captained India to Asian Games gold, defeating Iran 40-34 in the final. His leadership has made organised defence central to India’s modern identity.
10. Ashu Malik
Ashu Malik has developed from an exciting young raider into one of PKL’s most dependable leaders. A right raider with sharp footwork, he is particularly dangerous on do-or-die raids, where his running hand touch and late changes of direction punish defenders who commit early.
Ashu captained Dabang Delhi to the Season 12 championship despite missing part of the campaign through injury. He scored 152 raid points in 14 matches and has reached 882 career raid points. He also made his Asian Games debut in 2026 and returned with gold. Alongside Season 12 top raider Ayan Lohchab, he represents India’s next generation.
Conclusion
These ten players capture kabaddi’s transformation from traditional Indian combat sport to professional global entertainment. Anup Kumar and Manjeet Chhillar established tactical and defensive standards, Pardeep Narwal and Pawan Sehrawat turned raiding into box-office spectacle, and today’s stars combine athleticism with detailed match planning. Ritu Negi represents the growing stature of women’s kabaddi.
India’s double gold at the 2026 Asian Games confirmed that its international standard remains exceptionally high. The next step is stronger women’s professional competition, deeper youth systems and more international leagues. If those structures grow, kabaddi’s future beyond 2026 can be genuinely global.
