Rahul Chaudhari is an Indian professional kabaddi player, widely regarded as one of the most prolific raiders in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Known by the nickname "Raid Machine", he became the first player in PKL history to cross the 700-raid-points and later the 1,000-raid-points milestones.
| Full name | Rahul Chaudhari |
|---|---|
| Born | 1993, Bhilwara district, Rajasthan, India |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Sport | Kabaddi |
| Position | Raider |
| Nickname | Raid Machine |
| Professional league | Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) |
| Notable franchises | Telugu Titans, Tamil Thalaivas, Puneri Paltan |
Rahul Chaudhari was born and raised in Rajasthan, where he took up kabaddi at a young age. He developed his skills through school and district-level competitions before moving on to state and national circuits. His success in domestic kabaddi tournaments brought him to the attention of selectors when the Pro Kabaddi League was launched in 2014.
Chaudhari was signed by the Telugu Titans in the inaugural season of the Pro Kabaddi League in 2014. He went on to represent the franchise across multiple seasons and became the face of the team, consistently finishing among the top raiders of the league. His aggressive raiding style, characterised by quick toe-touches and running hand-touches, helped the Titans reach the play-off stages on several occasions.
Chaudhari was the first raider to reach the 500 and 700 raid-point milestones in PKL, and later crossed 1,000 raid points, a record that established his status as one of the league's all-time leading scorers.
Ahead of the sixth season of the league, Chaudhari was acquired by the Tamil Thalaivas in the player auction for a sum that made him one of the most expensive players in PKL history at the time. He later moved to Puneri Paltan in subsequent auctions.
Chaudhari has represented the Indian national kabaddi team in international competitions. He was part of the Indian squad that won the Kabaddi World Cup held in Ahmedabad in 2016, where India defeated Iran in the final.
Chaudhari is known for his speed, agility, and ability to score against multi-defender situations. His signature moves include the running hand-touch and the toe-touch, which he frequently combines with quick changes of direction. He is also recognised for his stamina, often executing high-volume raiding through long stretches of a match.
Rahul Chaudhari is considered one of the pioneering stars of the Pro Kabaddi League era. His consistency in scoring, marketability, and longevity have contributed to the popularisation of kabaddi as a mainstream professional sport in India. Along with players such as Pardeep Narwal and Anup Kumar, he is often cited as one of the figures who transformed the perception of kabaddi from a traditional rural sport to a televised professional spectacle.