Kabaddi started as a pretty niche sport. However, it’s more than enough for entertaining Southern Asia. Naturally, it’s also a very profitable sport for professional players and gamblers. This contact sport is only getting started to get known around the world, so it’s a great moment to jump in.
Indians have always played Kabaddi – and the rules aren’t that difficult too. You have seven players per team, with an offensive raider. The raider must tag as many defence players as possible. That are the basics, simple right?
Since its inception, Kabaddi has earned its fair share of superstars. We’ve narrowed down these legends according to their net worth.
Today, we’ll learn who are the richest Kabaddi players. If you see one of these names in the game, betting for their team might be a good idea as they are obviously among the best Kabaddi players in the world.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- 1. Anup Kumar – $1 million to $2 million net worth
- 2. Rahul Chaudhari – $1 million to $2 million net worth
- 3. Ajay Thakur – $1 million to $2 million net worth
- 4. Fazel Atrachali – $1 million to $2 million net worth
- 5. Pawan Sehrawat – $675,936 to $1.35 million net worth
- 6. Rishank Devadiga – $675,900 to $811,100 net worth
- 7. Pardeep Narwal – $270,374 net worth
- What is the Salary of Kabaddi Players?
- Who is the best Kabaddi player in the world?
- Can I bet on Kabaddi Pro League?
1. Anup Kumar – $1 million to $2 million net worth
Kicking off the list, we have Anup Kumar, also known as the Kabaddi God. If you haven’t heard his name, you need to catch up. He started off as a humble young player, who just played with his friends to kill some time.
However, he soon joined the pro Kabaddi scene. Despite his humble introduction, he quickly became a favorite in the field. That’s because he’s among the best raiders ever thrown into the game.
His first taste of fame was with U Mumba, with whom he played for 5 years. He joined Jaipur Pink Panthers until his retirement. His most important skill was definitely leadership. He won the gold in the 2010 and the 2014 Asian Games with his national team.
2. Rahul Chaudhari – $1 million to $2 million net worth
Rahul Chaudhari has an interesting story, and he’s still seen as one of the richest pro Kabaddi players. He started as a great defender before breaking out as an even better raider. He’s also considered one of the best raiders in the pro league.
His story isn’t solely inspirational. He’s also a favorite in his own national team, thanks to his swift moves and aggression.
He’s even developed a trademark: a running hand touch. It’s more than a quirk, though. This move helped him become the second player to break the 1,000 points milestone (after Pardeep).
3. Ajay Thakur – $1 million to $2 million net worth
Consistency is one of the most important aspects of any sport. Luckily, Ajay Thakur has become almost synonymous with consistency as a raider. He’s also made quite a name for himself by playing with several teams.
His talent has served teams like Puneri Paltan, Bengaluru Bulls, and Tamil Thalaivas. The latter is his current home, and they definitely make the most out of the King of Kabaddi. Just like Anup Kumar before him, he captained his national team in 2017 and earned them gold.
He also boasts noticeable experience, with more than 800 points throughout 110 matches in the league.
4. Fazel Atrachali – $1 million to $2 million net worth
Now, it’s time for a twist. This entry belongs to the only player from the list who isn’t Indian: The Sultan Atrachali. Coming from Iran, Atrachali has a significant weight on his shoulders, breaking the pro Kabaddi’s mold.
However, he’s definitely making justice for his region. He was vital for his national team’s gold medal back in 2018.
Interestingly, he’s also the only defender on our top. He’s one of the best left corners in the entire Kabaddi league. It’s not just for his fanbase: he was recognized as the best defender last season, thanks to his 82 tackle score.
5. Pawan Sehrawat – $675,936 to $1.35 million net worth
Of course, experience isn’t the beginning and end. Sometimes, talent is more than enough to make you one of the best players. Pawan Sehrawat is a great example of that.
He’s not even 25, yet he’s made a strong name for himself thanks to his resilience and reach for the lower body. He’s been quick to make the list of the best pro Kabaddi raiders in the league.
In fact, he was the MVP for season six, finishing the league with the top score for both 2018 and 2019. For good measure, he’s also the record holder for most points in one match: 39.
6. Rishank Devadiga – $675,900 to $811,100 net worth
The last entry in our list belongs to another legend. If Ajay Thakur is synonymous with consistency, Rishank Devadigais synonymous with aggression. That’s been enough to earn him the hearts of many fans (and budgets of his teams).
His approach has been a huge asset for U Mumba, back when he started. The same is true today, with UP Yoddha. Throughout 7 seasons, he’s amassed an impressive 671 score. With another 624 raid points across his 1,328 raids, he’s well on his way to become another 1,000-point breaker.
7. Pardeep Narwal – $270,374 net worth
Pardeep Narwal is a more modern legend than Anup Kumar. However, he’s more than earned his Dubki King title through his career. There seems to be a bit of controversy between him and Anup Kumar for fans, regarding who’s the best player ever.
Right now, you can find Narwal playing with the Patna Pirates in the pro league. He’s also believed to be the best raider for the entire league today.
It’s not undeserved, either. He’s famous for breaking the 1,000-point milestone, a first for the league. He also brought his national team a gold medal in 2019.
What is the Salary of Kabaddi Players?
It’s easy to answer “a lot” when someone asks us how much pro players make. However, that might become “too little too soon” if Scroll.in is right. In their analysis article details how the average salary has gone from 12.8 lak to 1.51 crore in 6 seasons.
The “crore barrier” broke a couple of years ago, with the 2018 season. Impressively, the breaker was Fazel Atrachali, our favourite Iranian Kabaddi pro. His introduction to the 8-figure salary came with U Mumba, who bought him for 1 crore.
However, other players have broken that mark, with the highest one being Monu Goyat, with a 1.51 crore salary.
Who is the best Kabaddi player in the world?
Who’s the best quarterback in the world? Who’s the best soccer player ever? These kinds of questions are always difficult, and Kabaddi isn’t the truth.
Of course, Anup Kumar is a common holder for the title, but that’s usually for how he understands the game instead of his skill. Of course, Ajay Thakur and Fazel Atrachali are also common mentions.
However, the most common dispute is between Anup Kumar and Sandeep Narwal: the battle between traditional and “new wave” Kabaddi.
Can I bet on Kabaddi Pro League?
For a short answer, yes, you can bet on Kabaddi’s pro scene. We’ve listed all Kabaddi betting sites in India where you also can find the best odds and many markets to play at.
