PKL 2021 Final: Top raiders, top defenders and top teams of season 8

PKL 2021 final: Before the PKL final begins tonight, here is the updated list of top raiders and defenders of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8

The Pro Kabaddi League 2021 season is nearing its end as tonight, February 25, marks the date of the PKL final which will decide the team that will be called the Champions of PKL 2021. In the first semi-final, three times champion Patna Pirates defeated UP Yodha while the second semi-final saw PKL 2019 Runners-Up Dabang Delhi beat PKL 2018 winners Bengaluru Bulls

Before getting to the core of the Final, it would be great to have a look at the journey of the all fours top teams that made to the semi final. 

Patna Pirates

The team from Bihar's capital has been the most successful unit in the league's seven seasons so far. This year too the team has been in top-notch form, winning its 16 matches out of the 22 that have been played. Their score difference of +120 is also the best so far. They have lost only five matches going into the semi-finals and drawn one. It has got 86 points and has steered well above the rest of the teams.

Dabang Delhi 

The team from India's capital, which remained just shy of lifting its maiden PKL trophy in the last season after being beaten by Bengal Warriors, has risen up to the occasion and in this season, they have garnered 75 points and have a score difference of -3. The team won 12 games out of 22 and have tied four games. 

UP Yodha 

Having gotten Pradeep Narwal, the all-time high scorer with raid points in the history of the league, the Yodahas have been able to reach the Semi-Finals and would be wanting to reach their maiden finals as they face Patna Pirates in the last hurdle before the final. The team won 10 matches and lost three to accumulate 68 points with a score difference of +33. 

Bengaluru Bulls

After the dismal run of Telugu Titans and Tamil Thalaivas this season, the only team from South India to have made an impact is Bengaluru Bulls. The Bulls, who won 11 matches and lost nine in the regular season to accumulate 66 points, defeated Gujarat Giants in the Playoffs to reach the semi finals. 

Top Raiders before the PKL final 

Player	Team	Successful Raids
Pawan Sehrawat	Bengaluru Bulls	244
Arjun Deshwal	Jaipur Pink Panthers	221
Maninder Singh	Bengal Warriors	192
Naveen Kumar	Dabang Delhi	167
Abhishek Singh	U Mumba	144

Top Defenders before the PKL final

Player	Team	Successful Tackles
Mohammadreza Chiyaneh	Patna Pirates	84
Sagar	Tamil Thalaivas	74
Saurabh Nandal	Bengaluru Bulls	63
Jaideep	Haryana Steelers	61
Sumit	UP Yodha	59