The first Green Sleeve winner PKL history produced was Anup Kumar, the captain and star raider of U Mumba. He earned the honour during the inaugural Pro Kabaddi League season in 2014 after finishing as the tournament’s leading raid point scorer.
Anup Kumar’s performances were central to U Mumba’s successful campaign. He scored 155 raid points in 16 matches and was also named the Most Valuable Player of PKL Season 1.
Anup Kumar Won the First Green Sleeve
The PKL Season 1 Green Sleeve was awarded to the leading raider in the competition. Anup Kumar claimed it after producing 155 raid points, four more than his closest challenger, Rahul Chaudhari of Telugu Titans.
Anup also recorded 123 successful raids during the tournament and finished with 169 total points. His ability to collect bonus points regularly earned him the famous nickname “Bonus Ka Badshah”.
His calm approach and clever movement made him one of the most difficult raiders to contain. Rather than relying only on power, Anup often used timing, footwork and his understanding of the mat to collect points.
Rahul Chaudhari Pushed Him Closely
The race for the first Green Sleeve winner Pro Kabaddi honour was extremely competitive. Rahul Chaudhari finished the season with 151 raid points from 14 matches, only four points behind Anup.
Interestingly, Chaudhari recorded eight Super 10s, the highest number in the tournament. Anup finished with five Super 10s, but his overall consistency helped him stay at the top of the raid charts.
Maninder Singh of Jaipur Pink Panthers finished third with 130 raid points. Bengaluru Bulls’ Ajay Thakur scored 122, while Kashiling Adake of Dabang Delhi K.C. completed the top five with 113 raid points.
Anup Kumar Also Won the MVP Award
The first Green Sleeve was not Anup Kumar’s only major achievement in Season 1. He was also named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament.
Anup’s leadership was an important part of U Mumba’s run to the inaugural PKL final. His performances as captain and raider helped establish U Mumba as one of the strongest teams in the first season.
The combination of leadership, consistency and scoring ability made him the natural choice for the league’s top individual honour.
What Was the Green Sleeve?
The Green Sleeve became an important symbol in the early years of Pro Kabaddi. It was worn by the active leading raider during the tournament and helped fans identify the player at the top of the scoring charts.
The award had a defensive equivalent in the Orange Sleeve, which represented the leading defender. Together, the two “sleeves” highlighted the importance of both raiding and defending in the league.
For Anup Kumar, becoming the first player to wear the Green Sleeve gave him a special place in PKL Green Sleeve history.
Anup Kumar’s Lasting Legacy
The first Green Sleeve winner PKL fans remember is Anup Kumar. His 155 raid points, 123 successful raids and five Super 10s made him the standout raider of the inaugural campaign.
More importantly, his success helped introduce a wider audience to the skill and intelligence involved in kabaddi raiding.
The PKL Season 1 Green Sleeve therefore represents more than a scoring award. It marks the beginning of a tradition that celebrates the league’s best raiders and gives outstanding attacking players a distinct place in Pro Kabaddi history.
