How the Indian national kabaddi team fared in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi season 2
The 2014 Asian Games gold medal winning Indian national team on the podiumThe second edition of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi came to an end on Sunday at the National Sports Club of India (NSCI) in Mumbai with U Mumba winning a thrilling encounter against Bengaluru Bulls to lift the trophy. Prior to the final, Telugu Titans defeated Patna Pirates comfortably to secure the third position in this franchise-based league.The league, which was viewed by millions of people across the globe, saw players from all over the world participate in the tournament. However, all eyes were on the Indian players who made the country proud just a year ago by winning the Asian Games gold medal in kabaddi. The Star Sports Pro Kabaddi franchises dug deep to sign the best Indian players in the first season and while some of them failed to live up to their names, there were others who used their experience at the top level to stake a claim for the best players in the league.The Indian national kabaddi team comprises of the best players in the world and all the Indian internationals took part in the second season of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi. Here are how these players fared in the league:
#1 Anup Kumar and Rakesh Kumar
The captain of U Mumba, Anup Kumar, was one of the top raiders in this year’s league. With a total of 74 raid points, this former Arjuna Awardee, who was the most valuable player in the first edition ended his run as the fourth successful raider in 2015.
Born in Palra, Haryana, this 31-year-old kabaddi superstar was a part of the Indian team that won the gold medal at the Asian Games held at Guangzhou in 2010 and in Incheon in 2014. The man born in Palra, Haryana, was adjudged as the MVP of the first season when he amassed 155 points to guide his team to the runners-up spot.
Even though his statistics weren’t as good as last year, being the humble captain he is, Anup gladly swapped individual glory for the good of the team.
Rakesh Kumar
He has made his name as one of the most respectable players in the history of the sport. He has led the Indian national kabaddi team with aplomb and attracted the highest bid – Rs. 12.8 lakh – by the Patna Pirates in the first season. However, his journey in the franchise-based league has been one to forget. In the second season, he failed to make an impression as he was ruled out of the tournament after just 4 matches.
He was not just the captain, but also the coach of the Patna Pirates. In the second season, he scored 14 raid and 5 tackle points. But, if anyone can answer his critics in the strongest manner, it is this 33-year-old raider.