Dabang Delhi K.C.Pro Kabaddi League Season 7: The Delhi-based franchise, Dabang Delhi K.C. has been one of the most underperforming teams in the Pro Kabaddi League. For a team which has consistently failed to qualify for the knockout stages of the Pro Kabaddi League, Season 6 came with a wind of change for the Delhi supporters as Dabangs qualified for the playoffs of the competition for the first time in their history.
What Dabangs Did in Season 6?
Since the Pro Kabaddi League Season 1, first time in their history Dabang Delhi K.C reached the playoffs in the tournament. However, they could not make it to the finals as they lost to UP Yoddhas in the eliminator.
How Did the Auctions go for Dabang Delhi?
Prior to the auction, Dabang Delhi retained their reliable trio of skipper Joginder Narwal, Meraj Sheykh and Naveen. The team management of the Delhi based outfit went to the auction with a clear strategy to keep the team from last season intact.
Dabang Delhi K.C.Pro Kabaddi League Season 7: The foreign category did not get much attention from the Dabang Delhi management as their prime focus was on bringing talented Indian players alongside experienced warhorses. The lone purchase from the foreign category was Iranian Meraj Sheykh’s compatriot Saeed Ghaffari. Delhi bagged the well-known defender for a sum of ₹16.5 lakh.
As it was expected from Dabang Delhi, they were extremely focused on bringing back their two superstars who performed brilliantly for them in season 6, Ravinder Pahal and Chandran Ranjit.
Dabang from Delhi bought back their star defender Ravinder Pahal to their roster through the ‘Final Bid Match’ card for ₹61 lakhs.
After getting their hands on Ravinder Pahal, Delhi team management took the backseat until Chandran Ranjit’s name came up on the screen. Dabang Delhi once again utilized their final ‘FBM’ card to buy back the services of their star raider Ranjit for ₹70 lakhs.
Dabang Delhi got two mainstays back in their squad at the expense of their two ‘FBM’ cards. With the signing of Vishal Mane (₹28.5 lakh) and all-rounder Vijay Malik (₹41 lakh), Delhi did exceptionally well to add further steel to their defensive set-up.
After giving the core of the team a similar outlook to the previous season, Delhi spent the last of their cash in hand to sign some exciting Indian talent – Anil Kumar (₹20 lakh), Sombir (₹10 lakh), Pratik Patel (₹6 lakh), and Satywan (₹6 lakh) were some of their other purchases from the two-day auction.
Players to Watch Out for
Ravinder Pahal: With 263 points from 89 matches, ‘The Hawk’ Ravinder Pahal is the second-most successful defender in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League. The diving thigh-hold specialist Pahal is an ‘impact’ player at the right corner, and together with captain Joginder Narwal on the left corner, he will form a dangerous partnership for the Dabangs from Delhi.
Meraj Sheykh: Iranian Meraj Sheykh is one of the most successful overseas players to grace the Pro kabaddi mat. The all-rounder is a vital cog in Dabang’s caravan, and he will be expected to contribute on both the fronts of raiding and defending.
How are the Dabangs Looking?
Strong
Dabangs have built on their A-team from the last season and kept their trust intact in the players who took them to the playoffs last season. If the senior players can keep up with their fitness and form level, then exciting days are ahead of Delhi once again.
Strengths:
Without a shadow of a doubt, keeping the team’s core intact from last season is the biggest advantage Dabangs have over other teams. Delhi Players already have solid chemistry together which can help them to cruise along in the tournament.
Weaknesses:
The Delhi bench seems to be devoid of too many reliable names, which could be a problem if any of the core players are unavailable. Moreover, the absence of a quality back-up raider would be a significant issue for the Dabangs in Season 7.
What to Expect from Dabang Delhi K.C. in Season 7?
With a right mix of youth and experience, Dabang Delhi K.C. could indeed emerge as the dark-horse to win the title in Season 7. With the core team intact that brought them unparalleled success last season, Dabang Delhi K.C. will look to go one step further this time by lifting the prestigious Pro Kabaddi League trophy for the first time in their history.
Dabang Delhi K.C. Full Squad
Raiders: Chandran Ranjit, Naveen Kumar, Neeraj Narwal, Aman Kadian, and Sumit Kumar
Defenders: Joginder Narwal, Ravinder Pahal, Vishal Mane, Anil Kumar, Saeed Ghaffari, Prateek Patil, Satyawan, and Sombir
All-Rounders: Meraj Sheykh and Vijay Malik,
Probable Starting Seven for Dabang Delhi K.C. in Season 7
Ravinder Pahal (Right Corner), Naveen (Right In), Vishal Mane (Right Cover), Chandran Ranjit (Center), Anil Kumar (Left Cover), Meraj Sheykh (Left In) and Joginder Narwal (Left Corner)
