The Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 ended with Haryana Steelers becoming the first-time champions, defeating Patna Pirates 32-23 in the final. Defenders proved critical this season, with players such as Mohammadreza Shadloui and Nitesh Kumar consistently providing high tackle points and decisive stops. Shadloui led the charts with 82 tackle points in 24 games and also contributed in raids, and Nitesh Kumar was named the Best Defender with 77 tackle points and the greatest number of High 5s.
This article will focus on the best PKL 11 defenders, their performances, and their contributions to the season.
Top Defenders of Pro Kabaddi League 2024
| Rank | Player Name | Matches Played | Tackle Points |
| 1 | Mohammadreza Shadloui (Haryana Steelers) | 24 | 82 |
| 2 | Ankit Jaglan (Patna Pirates) | 25 | 79 |
| 3 | Nitesh Kumar (Tamil Thalaivas) | 22 | 77 |
| 4 | Yogesh Bijender Dahiya (Dabang Delhi K.C.) | 22 | 75 |
| 5 | Nitin Rawal (Bengaluru Bulls) | 22 | 74 |
| 6 | Hitesh (UP Yoddhas) | 23 | 74 |
| 7 | Rahul Sethpal (Haryana Steelers) | 25 | 73 |
| 8 | Sumit Sangwan (UP Yoddhas) | 23 | 72 |
| 9 | Ankush Rathee (Jaipur Pink Panthers) | 23 | 68 |
| 10 | Deepak Singh (Patna Pirates) | 25 | 64 |
Mohammadreza Shadloui (Haryana Steelers, 82 Tackle Points)
The most prolific tackler in PKL 11 was Mohammadreza Shadloui of Iran, the all-around defender for the Haryana Steelers and a good raider, making him a two-sided threat on the mat. He was instrumental in helping Haryana to win its first PKL title.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 24 | 82 | 4 | 5 |
Shadloui usually played in the cover or corner, with great anticipation, physical prowess, and timing to cut raiders short. Reading raid arrangements helped Haryana develop a defensive strategy, particularly during crucial moments.
In PKL 11, he was the top tackler of the season with 82 points of tackles and 57 raid points, indicating his versatility. His outstanding performance was recognised through the Most Valuable Player award.
Shadloui has played important matches, particularly in the playoffs and final, and his ability to successfully tackle resulted in Haryana not being able to sustain any long raid, so he is the key to the team’s defense.
Ankit Jaglan (Patna Pirates, 79 Tackle Points)
One of the most dependable defenders in PKL 11 was Jaglan, the Indian all-around defender for Patna Pirates and skipper, who contributed to the tournament final with his consistent defensive performance.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 25 | 79 | 8 | 4 |
Jaglan primarily played a cover defence, anticipating and being accurate with his tackling, which broke raiders. His power to turn pressure into Super Tackles made him a powerful second-line defender to Patna.
He was second in total tackles with 79 and eight Super Tackles, highlighting his influence on plays in which he defended.
Defensive play has played a crucial role in Patna Pirates’ tight league games and in the playoffs, as Jaglan has assisted Patna to reach their fifth final, which they eventually lost to the Haryana Steelers.
Nitesh Kumar (Tamil Thalaivas, 77 Tackle Points)
One of the best defenders in PKL 11 was Nitesh Kumar, the Indian left corner defender of Tamil Thalaivas, although his team did not make the playoffs.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 22 | 77 | 3 | 8 |
Nitesh, who was renowned in his ankle holding and positional discipline in the left corner, never allowed raiders to score easy points. Tackle point totals in the history of the sport were one of the highest achieved by his patience and clean tackles.
He finished the season among the three best defenders with 77 tackle points and eight High 5s, which indicated multiple-point defensive interactions.
He was awarded the Best Defender of Season 11 for his performance throughout the season, which highlighted the difference he made despite Tamil Thalaivas not having a playoff push.
Yogesh Bijender Dahiya (Dabang Delhi K.C., 75 Tackle Points)
Yogesh Dahiya played a major role as a corner defender for Dabang Delhi KC in PKL 11, and he was a regular contributor on the defensive side and appeared to help maintain his team’s performance.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 22 | 75 | 10 | 5 |
Dahiya played primarily on the right corner, where he used his quick reactions and foresight to make tackles and also led his team in Super Tackles. His strong tackling enabled Delhi to deal with opposition raids.
He completed 4th in total tackle points on PKL 11 with 75 of which he recorded one of the highest Super Tackle totals on the defensive side.
Dahiya played a defensive role, which helped Dabang Delhi finish competitively in the league and enabled his team to make matches competitive against power raiders.
Nitin Rawal (Bengaluru Bulls, 74 Tackle Points)
Nitin Rawal was a regular all-around defender of Bengaluru Bulls and assisted in anchoring the defensive plays of the team throughout PKL 11.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 22 | 74 | 8 | 5 |
Rawal took up cover and regular corner positions, preventing raiders through positioning and anticipation. Combining his physical and tactical intelligence, he played a productive role in team defence.
He completed the season having accumulated 74 tackle points and has played regularly on multi-point defensive plays, indicating his dependability in different match situations.
The Bulls were competitive in close matches because of Rawal’s tackling, which restricted the opponent’s scoring at critical times.
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Hitesh (UP Yoddhas, 74 Tackle Points)
Hitesh has played as a right corner defender for UP Yoddhas, and after finishing PKL 11, he had 74 tackle points in 23 matches and 9 Super Tackles, ranking him among the most prolific Super Tacklers among defenders.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 23 | 74 | 9 | 7 |
His tackling was physical and direct, challenging the raiders early. Hitesh, alongside Sumit Sangwan at the opposite corner, was one of the more effective corner partnerships in PKL 11, accounting for a high proportion of the Yoddhas’ defensive points.
Rahul Sethpal (Haryana Steelers, 73 Tackle Points)
Rahul Sethpal scored 73 tackle points in 24 games with Haryana Steelers, where he played primarily as a right corner defender and assisted the team’s main defence.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles |
| 25 | 73 | 7 |
Sethpal was a specialist in coordinated defence, frequently covering Shadloui during a chain tackle, and left the right side of Haryana covered. His work was on the defensive line, which helped gain stop points at key moments in close matches.
Sumit Sangwan (UP Yoddhas, 72 Tackle Points)
Sumit Sangwan played 23 matches and scored 72 tackle points with UP Yoddhas, contributing to a productive corner partnership with Hitesh through regular defensive efforts.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles |
| 23 | 72 | 7 |
His positioning, strength and timing enabled him to make periodic positive stops, making him a central part of UP Yoddhas’ defensive game plan, alongside his corner partner.
Ankush Rathee (Jaipur Pink Panthers, 68 Tackle Points)
Ankush Rathee completed 68 tackle points in 23 games with Jaipur Pink Panthers and provided a credible defensive effort in PKL 11.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | High 5s |
| 23 | 68 | 1 |
Rathee was primarily a left corner defender. His expectancy and speed enabled him to catch regular stops, which gave depth to Jaipur’s defence over the season.
Deepak Singh (Patna Pirates, 64 Tackle Points)
At the end of PKL 11, Deepak Singh had 64 tackle points in 25 matches, playing mostly on the cover to assist his team in defense.
| Matches Played | Tackle Points | Super Tackles | High 5s |
| 25 | 64 | 1 | 4 |
As a cover defender, Deepak focused on coordinated defence with his teammates and applied pressure in the decisive moments of some matches.
Impact of Top Defenders in PKL Season 11
The 2024 Pro Kabaddi league demonstrated the importance of defence in making a team successful. The best defenders, Mohammadreza Shadloui, Ankit Jaglan, Nitesh Kumar, and Yogesh Dahiya, were a constant source of high tackles, Super Tackles and High 5s, and changed the direction of the match many times in the favour of their own teams.
Hitesh and Sumit Sangwan gave the UP Yoddhas balance and stability, and Rahul Sethpal and Deepak Singh provided important stops at critical moments. Their joint efforts formed teams to control the momentum, restrict the opposition’s raids, and remain competitive throughout the league and the playoffs.
On the whole, the season has demonstrated that a powerful, reliable defensive formation is no less decisive than goal raids in determining match results and the championship race.
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