The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 11 is going to be a historic one, as India's very own sport has found a new wind in the franchise format. After 10 seasons of enthralling Kabaddi action, PKL Season 11 will start with teams gunning for glory, once more!
There is an age-old saying, "Defenders win you championships". Courtesy of a solid defense, Puneri Paltan won their maiden PKL shield last season. As much as raiding brings fans to the edge of their seats, resolute defending is the aspect that keeps the scoreboard ticking.
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Over the years, while raiders have shone with their raiding pyrotechnics, the defenders have proved that they are no pushovers either. Players like Fazel Atrachali, Sunil Kumar, and Mohammadreza Shadlou, to name a few, have earned their reputation as not only some of the best tacklers in the competition but also in the world.
Here we will round up the list of players with the most tackle points as the tournament progresses.
Top Defenders in Pro Kabaddi League Season 11
Puneri Paltan won their first-ever PKL title in season 10. As Abinesh Nadarajan & Co. gear up to 'defend' their maiden title, let us take a look at the best defenders from PKL 11.
The likes of Shadlou, Sunil, Ankush Rathee, Sagar Rathi, and Jaideep Dahiya are all expected to make the top end of the list of best defenders.
Here is how the list looks like so far.
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| Player | Team | Tackle points | Matches |
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Haryana Steelers | 71 | 21 |
| Nitin Rawal | Bengaluru Bulls | 70 | 20 |
| Ankit Jaglan | Patna Pirates | 70 | 22 |
| Nitesh Kumar | Tamil Thalaivas | 69 | 20 |
| Yogesh Dahiya | Dabang Delhi KC | 68 | 20 |
MORE: PKL 11: Team standings and points table of the Pro Kabaddi League 2024
Top Defenders in Pro Kabaddi League Season 10
The Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League ended with Puneri Paltan clinching their first-ever title. They beat Haryana Steelers in the final last season, with a scoreline of 28-25.
Here is the list of the most successful tacklers from last season. They are certainly the ones to watch out for in the upcoming season (PKL 11).
| Rank | Name | Team | Matches | Tackle Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohammadreza Chiyaneh | Puneri Paltan | 24 | 99 |
| 2 | Krishan Dhull | Patna Pirates | 24 | 78 |
| 3 | Yogesh | Dabang Delhi KC | 23 | 74 |
| 4 | Rahul Sethpal | Haryana Steelers | 23 | 73 |
| 5 | Mohit Nandal | Haryana Steelers | 24 | 70 |
Top defenders in Pro Kabaddi League history
Iranian legend Fazel Atrachali is the most successful defender in the history of PKL with 486 tackle points. Indian veteran Surjeet Singh (404) is the only player to score 400+ tackle points in PKL history, alongside Fazel.
| Player | Current Team | Tackle points | Matches | Average tackle points |
| Fazel Atrachali | Bengal Warriors | 511 | 176 | 2.90 |
| PO Surjeet Singh | Jaipur Pink Panthers | 420 | 155 | 2.71 |
| Manjeet Chillar | - | 391 | 132 | 2.96 |
| Nitesh Kumar | Bengal Warriors | 367 | 136 | 2.69 |
| Girish Maruti Ernak | U Mumba | 362 | 147 | 2.46 |
| Sandeep Narwal | UP Yoddhas | 360 | 156 | 2.30 |
| Sunil Kumar | U Mumba | 355 | 145 | 2.44 |
| Ravinder Pahal | - | 339 | 124 | 2.73 |
| Sandeep Dhull | - | 328 | 118 | 2.77 |
| Vishal Bhardwaj | - | 324 | 118 | 2.74 |
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