The PKL 12 is set to kick-off on August 29 and the twelve teams are looking to renew the rivalries on the mat. Telugu Titans are stepping in the tournament with a well-balanced squad under the guidance of head coach Krishan Kumar Hooda.
In the last season, the Titans narrowly missed the Playoffs finishing seventh with 66 points from 22 matches. This time round, the team will look to progress even further to lift the title. They had retained their core squad and made wise investments during Player Auction. By spending ₹4.531 crore to acquire fresh talent, Telugu Titans have projected that they are well serious in winning their maiden title.
In this article, we break down the SWOT analysis of Telugu Titans ahead of PKL 12.
Strengths
The Titans boast of a versatile squad that goes deep. They comprise of experienced stars and promising youngsters in both raiding and defensive departments.
Vijay Malik, the dynamic all-rounder, is one of their star players. They retained him using the Final Bid Match (FBM) card at ₹51.50 lakh. Last season, he scored 172 raid points and 11 tackle points, often leading the charge in crunch moments.
Another player who will lead the charge is Bharat Hooda who has 599 career raid points.
Retained stars Ashish Narwal and Manjeet provide bench strength allowing the Titans to rotate their raiders tactically according to the match situations.
The Titans also have a good defence unit. Shubham Shinde, with 207 tackle points in 106 games, brings aggression, experience, and leadership at the back.
Aman Antil and Rahul Dagar are other defenders, alongside a promising group that includes AmirHossein Ejlali, Shankar Gadai, Ankit, Sagar Rawal, Ajit Pawar, Avi Duhan, and Bantu Malik. This means Titians have multiple combination options.
Weaknesses
Absence of top players like Pawan Kumar Sehrawat is could play spoilsport for Titans. Sehrawat was their top raider in Seasons 10 and 11, with 202 and 129 raid points respectively before injury curtailed his last campaign.
The most glaring weakness is the departure of former captain Pawan Kumar Sehrawat. A marquee player and the Titans’ top raider in Seasons 10 and 11, Pawan notched 202 and 129 raid points respectively before injury curtailed his last campaign. He will be missed particularly in high-pressure scenarios.
Their other weakness is the inexperienced players like Sagar Rawal who is yet to give a remarkable performance yet. Avi Duhan and Bantu Malik are yet to make their PLK debut. Their opponents could exploit these gaps, particularly if injuries strike during the season.
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Opportunities
Head coach Krishan Kumar Hooda, A Dronacharya Awardee will add value to the team. He led Dabang Delhi K.C. to their first-ever PKL title in Season 8 and has multiple national accolades to his name. His tactical acumen will be invaluable for the team. He is known for nurturing emerging talents.
Youngsters like Chetan Sahu, Rohit Rathee, Nitin, and Sagar Rawal, all retained under the Existing NYP Category, are raring to go. The team has a golden opportunity to unlock their potential.
Threats
Dependency on a single player like Bharat Hooda could pose a threat to the Telugu Titans. The team also relies heavily on Pawan Sehrawat’s for attack. Additionally, lack of experience in cover positions will is something they will have to overcome.
While Telugu Titans have a balanced squad, they will have to work as a team and not let rivals to exploit their gaps.
