Nitesh Kumar: Defender Profile, Stats & High 5s
Nitesh Kumar is an experienced Indian defender in the Pro Kabaddi League, recognised for his tackling ability and consistent performances on the mat. He built his reputation during six seasons with UP Yoddhas before joining Bengal Warriorz. His career record includes 422 tackle points and 29 High 5s across 161 PKL appearances.
Born on 12 August 1997, Nitesh made his PKL debut in Season 5 and became one of the league’s leading defenders. His biggest individual achievement came in Season 6, when he became the first player in PKL history to score 100 tackle points in a single season. Here is a closer look at his profile, career statistics, teams, season-wise performances and High 5 record.
Who Is Nitesh Kumar?
Nitesh Kumar is an Indian professional kabaddi player who plays as a defender. He made his Pro Kabaddi League debut with UP Yoddhas in 2017 and represented the franchise from Season 5 through Season 10. He then joined Bengal Warriorz, where he continued his PKL career in Seasons 11 and 12.
He is primarily known for his defensive contribution rather than his raiding ability. His career figures underline this strength: out of 428 total points, 422 have come from tackles. He has also registered 29 High 5s, showing his ability to produce multiple successful tackles in a single match.
Nitesh Kumar Profile at a Glance
| Profile Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Nitesh Kumar |
| Date of Birth | 12 August 1997 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Playing Position | Defender |
| Height | 5 feet 8 inches |
| Weight | 74 kg |
| PKL Debut | Season 5, 2017 |
| Former Teams | UP Yoddhas |
| PKL Team | Bengal Warriorz |
| Jersey Number | 2 |
| Total PKL Matches | 161 |
| Total Points | 428 |
| Tackle Points | 422 |
| High 5s | 29 |
Nitesh Kumar PKL Career and Teams
Nitesh began his Pro Kabaddi League journey with UP Yoddhas in Season 5. He spent six seasons with the franchise and became an important part of its defensive unit. His performances improved significantly in Season 6, when he produced one of the finest defensive campaigns in the league.
After Season 10, Nitesh moved to Bengal Warriorz. He continued to contribute through tackles and became part of the team’s defensive setup. He played 21 matches in Season 11, scoring 61 points, including 59 tackle points and five High 5s. He remained with Bengal Warriorz for Season 12.
UP Yoddhas: The Early Years
Nitesh made an immediate contribution during his debut season. He scored 47 points in 19 matches in Season 5, with all 47 coming from tackles. He also registered four High 5s.
Season 6 became a turning point in his career. Nitesh scored 101 total points in 25 matches, including 100 tackle points and eight High 5s. He became the first player in PKL history to reach 100 tackle points in a single season. This achievement established him as one of the league’s most productive defenders.
He continued to contribute in the following seasons. His 76 points in Season 7 included 75 tackle points, while Season 8 brought 57 tackle points from 24 appearances. He added 34 tackle points in Season 9 and 37 in Season 10, completing six seasons with UP Yoddhas.
Bengal Warriorz: A New Chapter
Nitesh joined Bengal Warriorz ahead of Season 11 after spending six seasons with UP Yoddhas. He played 21 matches in his first season with the franchise and scored 61 points, including 59 tackle points and five High 5s.
He continued with Bengal Warriorz in Season 12, appearing in 11 matches and collecting 13 points, all from tackles. He also registered one High 5 during the campaign.
His move to Bengal Warriorz marked the next phase of a career that had already included a historic 100-tackle-point season and several productive campaigns with UP Yoddhas.
Nitesh Kumar Season-Wise PKL Stats
Nitesh’s season-wise numbers show how consistently he has contributed through tackles. Season 6 remains his most productive campaign in terms of total points and High 5s.
| PKL Season | Team | Matches | Total Points | Tackle Points | High 5s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 5 | UP Yoddhas | 19 | 47 | 47 | 4 |
| Season 6 | UP Yoddhas | 25 | 101 | 100 | 8 |
| Season 7 | UP Yoddhas | 23 | 76 | 75 | 6 |
| Season 8 | UP Yoddhas | 24 | 58 | 57 | 2 |
| Season 9 | UP Yoddhas | 22 | 34 | 34 | 0 |
| Season 10 | UP Yoddhas | 16 | 38 | 37 | 3 |
| Season 11 | Bengal Warriorz | 21 | 61 | 59 | 5 |
| Season 12 | Bengal Warriorz | 11 | 13 | 13 | 1 |
| Career Total | Two Teams | 161 | 428 | 422 | 29 |
The table highlights two important phases of his career. His most productive period came with UP Yoddhas, particularly in Seasons 6 and 7. His move to Bengal Warriorz also brought a useful contribution in Season 11, when he collected 59 tackle points and five High 5s.
Across these eight seasons, tackling has remained the central part of his game. His 422 tackle points account for nearly all his career points, underlining his role as a specialist defender.
How Many High 5s Does Nitesh Kumar Have?
Nitesh Kumar has recorded 29 High 5s in the Pro Kabaddi League. A High 5 is achieved when a defender scores five or more tackle points in one match. It is an important measure of defensive impact because it reflects a player’s ability to stop raiders repeatedly during the same game.
His eight High 5s in Season 6 remain his best single-season return. He also recorded six in Season 7 and five in Season 11. These performances show that his defensive contribution has not been limited to one successful campaign.
Nitesh Kumar’s High 5 Record by Season
| Season | High 5s |
|---|---|
| Season 5 | 4 |
| Season 6 | 8 |
| Season 7 | 6 |
| Season 8 | 2 |
| Season 9 | 0 |
| Season 10 | 3 |
| Season 11 | 5 |
| Season 12 | 1 |
| Total | 29 |
His High 5 record highlights his ability to deliver multiple tackle points against different opponents. A defender may have a good overall points total, but repeated High 5 performances indicate that the player can influence matches through sustained defensive pressure.
What Makes Nitesh Kumar an Effective Defender?
Nitesh’s career statistics show that tackling is the foundation of his game. His 422 tackle points account for almost all his 428 PKL points. Rather than depending on occasional raids, he has built his value through consistent defensive work.
His experience also matters. Having played eight seasons, he has faced different raiding styles and match situations. That exposure helps a defender judge when to attempt a tackle, when to hold position and when to support a teammate.
Some important aspects of his defensive contribution include:
- Tackling consistency: His career total of 422 tackle points reflects his long-term contribution to team defence.
- High 5 performances: His 29 High 5s show that he has repeatedly produced five or more tackle points in individual matches.
- Experience: Eight PKL seasons have given him exposure to different raiders, teams and match situations.
- Team contribution: His performances for UP Yoddhas and Bengal Warriorz demonstrate his ability to contribute in different defensive setups.
- Season 6 achievement: His 100 tackle points in Season 6 remain a major milestone in his career.
Nitesh Kumar vs Other PKL Defenders
Nitesh’s defensive record becomes clearer when compared with other established PKL defenders. The following table uses career tackle points and match appearances listed in the league’s all-time statistics.
| Defender | Matches | Tackle Points |
|---|---|---|
| Fazel Atrachali | 207 | 597 |
| Surjeet Singh | 190 | 476 |
| Sunil Kumar | 179 | 442 |
| Nitesh Kumar | 161 | 422 |
Nitesh has accumulated 422 tackle points in 161 matches. His tally places him among the leading defenders in the league’s all-time tackle-point standings. The comparison also shows that he has produced a substantial number of points despite having played fewer matches than the three defenders listed above.
These figures should be read as career totals rather than a direct measure of who is the better defender. Matches played, team roles, defensive positions and playing conditions all influence a player’s statistics.
Fazel Atrachali’s record is another important benchmark. He became the first defender in PKL history to cross 500 career tackle points, setting a significant milestone for the league’s defensive players.
What Is Nitesh Kumar’s Biggest PKL Achievement?
His most notable individual achievement came in Season 6, when he became the first player to score 100 tackle points in a single PKL season. He finished that campaign with 101 total points and eight High 5s.
The milestone was significant because it demonstrated how much influence a defender could have over a team’s performance across a full season. Nitesh combined regular tackle points with repeated High 5 performances to deliver a memorable campaign for UP Yoddhas.
FAQs
Nitesh Kumar is an Indian professional kabaddi defender who made his PKL debut with UP Yoddhas in Season 5. He later represented Bengal Warriorz.
Nitesh Kumar has played 161 Pro Kabaddi League matches across eight seasons, from Season 5 through Season 12.
He has scored 428 total points in the PKL, including 422 tackle points and six raid points.
Nitesh Kumar has recorded 29 High 5s in his PKL career. His best season was Season 6, when he registered eight High 5s.
He has represented two franchises: UP Yoddhas from Season 5 to Season 10 and Bengal Warriorz from Season 11 to Season 12.
Conclusion
Nitesh Kumar has built his Pro Kabaddi League career through consistent defensive performances. His record of 422 tackle points and 29 High 5s across 161 matches reflects his value as a specialist defender. His Season 6 campaign, featuring 100 tackle points, remains the defining achievement of his career. From UP Yoddhas to Bengal Warriorz, Nitesh has maintained a reputation as an experienced defender capable of making an impact through tackles.
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