The table-toppers of the seventh edition of the PKL – Dabang Delhi – have the most experienced defensive unit out of all the teams in the league. With the likes of Joginder Narwal and Ravinder Pahal, they have the strongest corner combination while their cover is guarded by none other than Vishal Mane. Playing from the very first season in the league, Mane has an experience of 121 matches with a total of 191 points for four different teams.

Although in the last season, Mane had players like Pahal and Joginder at the corner positions, there was no proper cover defender to support him. However, coach Krishan Kumar Hooda roped in Iranian Saeid Ghaffari and Anil Kumar as the two left covers this year to support Mane. The right cover has so far collected 21 points from 16 games and is of the opinion that combination matters for the cover defenders and not their individual points.

“As in Kabaddi trust in one another is really important, we rely on offence more as it is our strong department with Naveen, Chandran Ranjit and Meraj Shejkh and even all-rounder Vijay. That is why our captain asks us to play bindaas (freely). Joginder and Ravinder’s stay on that mat helps us a lot. Till the time they are on the court we don't have any fear or hesitations,” the Maharashtra player explained. 

“For us, it doesn't matter much if it is the left or right cover, we look for success. We don’t care if it's me or Saeid or Anil. As far as Anil is concerned, he is a very experienced player especially in the last four matches he has done many tackles. He worked brilliantly against Siddharth Desai who was the highest-paid player in the auction. For us, the aim is to win and our individual score of one or two points don’t matter.”

“In the second season, I was with Mumba and we won. Now, with the same plan and we are having the same bonding in Delhi. In the second season as well U Mumba was like this and they had won 7-8 matches consecutively and every player was contributing. I feel that the journey is repeating itself because we are working hard and we are thinking to convert our hard work. And with God’s grace we will be successful as well,” the 34-year-old expressed.

Like all other kabaddi players who have played matches both in the pre-PKL era and post the inception of the league, Mane’s lifestyle has also gone through a lot of changes. He has underlined the fact that the league is the biggest boon for the game and the players as it not only provided the much-needed financial support for them but also brought fame for many players from the rural belts of India.

“The kabaddi then also was very good but it wasn’t reaching people at home, The Pro Kabaddi has not only reached people’s homes but across seven seas as well. The kabaddi was earlier played on mud but now it has developed to the mat.  It feels really nice and the stature of Kabaddi has increased and we feel really proud. Earlier people didn’t accept it but now they are accepting it what else does one need. PKL has given us finance and fame,” Mane explained.

When asked about the feeling of playing in home state Maharashtra for other franchises, he replied, “Home crowd always supports me whether in Mumbai or in Pune. Even when I play for Dabang Delhi they support me but they do get confused when I am playing against Mumbai and they keep saying to make a comeback in U Mumba.”

Pawan Sehrawat was tackled as many as seven times in that game, which Delhi won 33-31, thanks to some advance blocks by Mane and Pahal. However, the strategy might have some changes according to Mane as the opponents will also have a plan of their own.

“The planning is going to be the same but with some changes as a player always makes strategies against their opponents and they would have done the same. We have also have plan A and plan B so if one isn’t successful we are going to use the other. We are going to play the upcoming matches with full planning,” the Delhi cover stated.