Pardeep Narwal picks Anup Kumar as captain in his Pro Kabaddi League all-time 7, leaves out Pawan Sehrawat, Fazel Atrachali [Exclusive]
Pardeep Narwal has shared his all-time playing 7 of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), creating a stir with his selection choices. Narwal's picks carry considerable weight, with him being the highest-scoring raider in PKL history with an incredible 1,690 raid points in 170 matches.
Currently set to don the Bengaluru Bulls' jersey in PKL 11, for whom he debuted in Season 2, Pardeep will lead the team in hopes of reviving his form and guiding the Bulls to the title.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Pardeep Narwal named some of the league's greatest players in his all-time PKL playing 7 while notably leaving out two major figures: Pawan Sehrawat and Fazel Atrachali.
Pardeep began by picking himself, PKL veteran Anup Kumar, and "Super Mani" Maninder Singh as his raiding trio. Anup Kumar, often referred to as the "Bonus ka Badshah" and "Captain Cool," was named captain of Narwal’s all-time team.
Pardeep highlighted Anup’s intelligence and calm leadership, citing his ability to manage the game and consistently score bonuses. Anup Kumar led U Mumba to three consecutive finals in the first three PKL seasons, including a title-winning run in Season 2. In his 91-match PKL career, Anup accumulated 527 raid points, earning him a place in Pardeep’s elite team.
For Maninder Singh, Narwal described him as a “powerful raider,” second only to himself in PKL history with 1,428 raid points in 143 games.
Who are the defenders in Pardeep Narwal's all-time PKL 7?
In defense, Pardeep Narwal selected a formidable quartet, beginning with Manjeet Chillar and Sunil Kumar as his cover defenders. Describing Manjeet as “fearless among raiders,” Narwal highlighted his dual threat as a defender and an all-rounder. Manjeet has accumulated 391 tackle points and 225 raid points over 132 matches, cementing his legacy as one of PKL’s finest.
For Sunil Kumar, Pardeep highlighted his ability to adapt and excel in any defensive position and give 100 percent every time. Sunil has 336 tackle points to his name in 137 PKL games.
For the left corner, Narwal opted for Iranian sensation Mohammadreza Shadlou Chiyaneh over the legendary Fazel Atrachali. Shadlou’s brilliant ankle holds, and chain tackles stood out for Narwal. In just 68 matches, Shadlou has racked up 272 tackle points at an impressive average of 4.00 per game. His 99 tackle points in PKL 10 played a key role in Puneri Paltan’s title victory, making him an undeniable choice for Narwal’s all-time 7.
On the right corner, Pardeep selected Ravinder Pahal for his aggressive, front-on tackles, which earned him 339 tackle points in 124 matches.
This is what Pardeep Narwal’s all-time PKL playing 7 looks like:
Anup Kumar (C), Pardeep Narwal, Maninder Singh, Manjeet Chillar, Sunil Kumar, Mohammadreza Shadlou Chiyaneh, Ravinder Pahal