Players with famous nicknames in Pro Kabaddi League

Across the eight seasons of the league, some players have stolen hearts because of their gameplay and earned various nicknames endearingly used by fans to address them. Here, we look at players who have been given famous nicknames in the Pro Kabaddi League.

Hi-Flyer (Pawan Sehrawat)

Hi-Flyer Pawan Sehrawat is one of the most exceptional raiders in PKL. The captain of Bengaluru Bulls helped his team enter the semi-final in season eight as he scored the highest raid points in the league. He scored 304 and was 37 points ahead of the second-placed Arjun Deshwal. Pawan got his nickname because of his ability to go over the defenders' shoulders and make a quick escape with lion jumps. He secured 18 Super 10s, the highest in season eight. 

Record-Breaker (Pardeep Narwal)

Record-Breaker Pardeep Narwal was the leader of U.P. Yoddha's charge in the second half of the season. He is known for his mastery over the art of Dubki, a skill which allows him to get past the defenders' attempt at a chain tackle without much effort. He additionally set up a record of becoming the most expensive kabaddi player in history at the eighth edition player auction. Pardeep became the first player to win back-to-back MVPs in seasons four and five besides topping the list for the most points by a raider in the league. 

Super Mani (Maninder Singh)

Maninder Singh led his team Bengal Warriors to victory in season seven. He derives his nickname from his raiding style, which involves considerable brute force. Although he failed to push his side to the playoffs in the next season, he secured 262 raid points and became the third-best raider of the season. 

Naveen Express (Naveen Kumar)

Naveen Kumar has been a budding star competing for Dabang Delhi K.C. since PKL season six. His speed and consistency are his strengths making him one of the best raiders in the league. So his nickname refers to both of these traits. He became only the second player after Pardeep Narwal to amass consecutive MVP titles, having clinched it earlier in the seventh edition. He also holds a record of securing 28 successive Super 10s, the highest by a player in PKL history. 

Sultan (Fazel Atrachali)

Fazel Atrachali is one of the most loved foreign players in PKL. He is nicknamed Sultan, and the Iranian left-corner defender is the second player in the league to claim the best defender award twice. He is the captain of U Mumba and the pillar of U Mumba's famed defense since season six. His waist hold is one of the most impactful moves that even the best raiders fail to grasp.