Surjeet Singh shares his Pro Kabaddi League all-time 7; leaves out Pardeep Narwal [Exclusive]
Defender Surjeet Singh has shared his all-time Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) playing 7 ahead of the much-anticipated PKL Season 11. Known for his rock-solid defense and leadership, Surjeet, a right-cover defender, has established himself as one of the finest players in PKL history.
He has set a benchmark for other defenders with 404 tackle points in 148 matches, an average of 2.73 per game, and a 46% success rate, including 25 super tackles and 34 High 5s.
Having represented six franchises since making his debut in Season 3, Surjeet has become a household name in kabaddi circles. In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, he revealed his all-time PKL playing 7, and while his choices included some of the league's top performers, he left out several big names such as Pardeep Narwal, Anup Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat, and Fazel Atrachali.
Surjeet’s all-time PKL 7 raiding unit consists of Bengal Warriorz’s Maninder Singh, Jaipur Pink Panthers’ star raider Arjun Deshwal, and former Indian captain Rakesh Kumar.
Maninder Singh has been one of the most successful raiders in PKL history, with 1,428 raid points in 143 matches. His ability to break through defenses with ease has earned him a reputation as one of the most feared raiders. Known as "Super Mani," Maninder's consistency and ability to deliver in crunch situations make him a worthy pick for Surjeet’s team.
Joining him is Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Arjun Deshwal, who will be playing alongside Surjeet in PKL 11. Arjun has quickly risen through the ranks, scoring 947 raid points in just 91 games.
Completing the raiding trio is Rakesh Kumar, who’ll be the captain of Surjeet’s dream team. One of the original faces of PKL, Rakesh has led India to many victories and was known for his all-round skills. He accumulated 186 raid points and 74 tackle points in just 55 matches.
Who are the defenders in Surjeet Singh's all-time PKL 7?
When it comes to defense, Surjeet Singh unsurprisingly chose himself as the right cover defender. He is the highest-scoring Indian defender in PKL history and second overall, just behind Fazel Atrachali.
At left cover, Surjeet Singh picked veteran all-rounder Manjeet Chhillar. Manjeet is one of the most decorated players in PKL, with 391 tackle points and 225 raid points in 132 matches.
In the corner positions, Surjeet went with Ran Singh and Ravinder Pahal. Ran Singh, a key figure in Jaipur Pink Panthers' title-winning run during the inaugural season, has registered 299 tackle points in 156 matches at left corner.
Ravinder Pahal, aka "The Hawk", was chosen for the right corner. Known for his exceptional ankle holds, Pahal has accumulated 339 tackle points in 124 matches.
Surjeet Singh’s all-time PKL 7
Rakesh Kumar (Captain), Maninder Singh, Arjun Deshwal, Surjeet Singh, Manjeet Chillar, Ran Singh, Ravinder Pahal