The U.P. Yoddhas, owned by the GMR Group, are a professional kabaddi team who play in Pro Kabaddi since 2017.
The Yoddhas, as a matter of fact, are the only team to qualify for the playoffs in every PKL season.
This feat is a collective effort of eye-grabbing performances put on the mat by U.P Yoddha stars like captain Nitesh Kumar, raiders Shrikant Jadhav, Rishank Devadiga and Surender Gill.
By the numbers, Shrikant has been U.P. Yoddhas’ greatest raider in Pro Kabaddi history. On the other hand, Nitesh is the Yoddhas’ biggest asset in defence.
Nitin Tomar, who returns to represent U.P. Yoddhas for the latest edition of Pro Kabaddi, registered the most points (177) in UPY’s inaugural PKL campaign in 2017.
In the following season (2018-19), Nitesh Kumar scripted history as the first player to accrue 100 tackle points in a single campaign.
While an array of individual performances often put the U.P. Yoddhas in the spotlight, the team effort has made the franchise one of the most popular teams in PKL.
Having said that, we look at some top-performing players who have stamped their authority in Pro Kabaddi for U.P Yoddhas.
Total Points
Raider Shrikant Jadhav amassed the most points (398) as a U.P Yoddhas player in PKL history. Regarding the record for total points in a single season, Surender Gill holds the crown following his fabulous displays (198 points) in Pro Kabaddi Season 8.
Most raid points
Shrikant, who played in a U.P. Yoddhas shirt between seasons 6 to 8 of Pro Kabaddi, has accrued the most raid points for the franchise in the competition. The raider tallied 381 raid points, with his best return (148) coming in PKL 7. For most raid points in a single PKL campaign, Surender Gill (189 in PKL 8) is the record holder.
Most Super Raids
Rishank Devadiga, who spent three seasons at U.P. Yoddhas between 2017 and 2019, registered the most Super Raids (17) by a Yoddhas player in Pro Kabaddi. His record of 12 Super Raids in PKL 5 would be matched by Pardeep Narwal in PKL 8.
Most tackle points
U.P. Yoddhas captain Nitesh Kumar is undoubtedly one of the team’s best defenders in their Pro Kabaddi journey, given he has tallied the most tackle points (279). Nitesh is the only UPY player to score 100 tackle points in a single PKL campaign.
Most Super Tackles
Besides most tackle points, Nitesh Kumar owns the record for the Super Tackles (20). In PKL 6 and PKL 7, the defender notched eight Super Tackles for the Yoddhas - a team record.
Most Super 10s
Shrikant Jadhav has scored the most Super 10s for U.P. Yoddhas in Pro Kabaddi history. His record of ten Super 10s is likely to be broken by Pardeep Narwal, who amassed nine Super 10s alone in PKL 8.
Most High 5s
Nitesh Kumar has the most High 5s (20) for U.P. Yoddhas in Pro Kabaddi, with his best performance coming in PKL 6 where he registered a league-topping eight High 5s.
