Iranian flavour enriching kabaddi

No season of PKL has gone without an Iranian player, with ongoing 11th season featuring 13 Iranians

- Shantanu Srivastava

It is easy to construe Mohammadreza Shadloui's bristling confidence as conceit. He walks around with the swagger befitting a rockstar, prowls on the mat with deadpan surety, cares little for reputations, and calls himself a showman. And, he backs the bluster with performances. Over the past few seasons, the 24-year-old Haryana Steelers all-rounder has steadily emerged as the young and audacious face of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) that's into its second decade.

Shadloui is not the lone Iranian who has PKL besotted with his dazzling flair. Fazel Atrachali caught the fancy of kabaddi aficionados in India after his exploits in PKL over the years while the likes of Meraj Sheykh are still remembered for their innovative raids.

Fazel, the captain of Bengal Warriorz, recently became the first defender in the history of PKL to score 500 tackle points-a testimony to his longevity and obvious skills. He may have company soon, with Shadloui regularly matching his unbridled ambition with indisputable ability. With a tally of 324 tackle points along with 38 raid points in just four seasons, it shouldn't be long before Fazel's 500-point record is surpassed.

"There are many who claim to be all-rounders in PKL, but I have proven that I can tackle and raid effectively. I adapt my game as per the team needs whether it's raiding or tackling," Shadloui said. "Fazel has played 10 seasons in PKL to reach 500 points. I've achieved 300 in just four seasons. The numbers speak for themselves."