"First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win," said Mahatma Gandhi with absolutely no reference to sport - but the quote may well define the story of contemporary kabaddi in India.

We tend to think of filling stadiums as important to a sport's success. It isn't. Most integral to a sport hitting the big league is one simple question: is it televisable?

The answer, in the case of kabaddi, is a vehement yes. It's hungry, competitive, passionate. It's rugged, physical, high-adrenaline. It may be an ancient village tradition, but it's actually made for big-ticket success.

That big-ticket success needs two things: sharp patrons and heroic players.

The former came together last year to create the Pro Kabaddi League, using the template set by Twenty20 cricket to generate a never-before buzz around the sport. There was drama and entertainment, movie stars and industrialists, thumping music and branded team gear - and the payoff was immediate.

The game generated a staggering 2 billion digital mentions during its 6-week duration, and was watched by an estimated 430 million people. 10 times more people tuned in on opening night than did for the opening of the Football World Cup. Star TV came on board as both title sponsor and exclusive broadcaster.

Clearly, on the patronage side, things are on the right track. What's been left behind in the publicity stakes? The players.

These are the young men who define the contemporary new face of an age-old game. They're tough. They're competitive. They're skilled. They're superb sportsmen. And they're invisible to most of the country.

As the Pro Kabaddi League 2015 kicks off, here's a look at the key player from every one of the 8 teams, the men whose names and on-field exploits we're going to be buzzing about for the next few weeks - and years.