Puneri Paltan, the defending champions, faced tough challenges in the 2024 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 11). They finished the season in 8th place with a record of 9 wins, 3 draws, and 10 losses from 22 matches. It was a disappointing result after a strong start, where they won 5 out of their first 6 matches. But as the season progressed, their form dropped, and they couldn’t maintain their early success.
Key Reasons Behind Puneri Paltan’s Struggles
A major reason for their struggles was the absence of team captain Aslam Inamdar. Aslam, who was injured during a match against the Telugu Titans, had been a key player for the team. He scored 38 points in just 7 matches and played a big role in the team’s success in previous seasons. His injury left a gap in the raiding department, and Puneri Paltan struggled to score points without him.
Without Aslam, the team finished 8th in total raid points, scoring only 923 points from 22 matches. Their defense also faced problems. Last season’s defensive star, Mohammadreza Shadloui, left the team, leaving a significant void. Despite some good performances from Gaurav Khatri, other defenders like Vishal and Aman couldn’t maintain consistency. This allowed opposing teams to exploit gaps in their defense.
Pro Kabaddi League 2024: Top Performers of Puneri Paltan
Despite their overall poor performance, some players stood out with their strong efforts.
Gaurav Khatri:
Gaurav Khatri was a key defender for Puneri Paltan. In 21 matches, he scored 61 tackle points and had a 57% tackle success rate. He also made six High-5s and two Super Tackles. Gaurav’s strong presence in defense helped the team stay competitive throughout the season.
Pankaj Mohite:
Pankaj Mohite stepped up in the absence of Aslam Inamdar. He played all 22 matches, scoring 116 raid points with an average of 5 points per game. Pankaj had a success rate of 41.82% in raids and pulled off 5 Super Raids and 2 Super 10s. His efforts were crucial to the team’s attacking game.
Aman:
Aman, a new addition to the defense, showed his importance to the team. He scored 52 tackle points in 14 matches and made a strong comeback after an injury. His solid performance in the final few matches helped the team.
Aryavardhan Navale:
Aryavardhan Navale was another bright spot for Puneri Paltan. Though he didn’t play many matches, he impressed with his performances. He scored 45 raid points in 13 matches, averaging 3.46 points per game. Aryavardhan also made 3 Super Raids and 1 Super 10, showing his potential for the future.
Special Match Performances
Puneri Paltan had some standout matches in PKL 11, where they displayed their strength and skills.
| Match | Opponent | Score |
| 110 | Bengaluru Bulls | 56-18 |
| 73 | Bengal Warriors | 51-34 |
| 8 | Patna Pirates | 40-25 |
Coach BC Ramesh’s Challenges
As defending champions, expectations were high for Puneri Paltan and coach BC Ramesh. However, the loss of Aslam Inamdar left him with a tough task. Despite not getting the desired results, he stuck with the same lineup. This decision led to a series of losses. Near the end of the season, Ramesh stepped down, and Ashok Shinde took over. The team showed some improvement with the addition of Ajay Thakur as the assistant coach, ending the season with a win.
Important Lessons for the Team
Puneri Paltan’s experience in PKL 11 taught them some valuable lessons. First, they realized the importance of having strong backup players. The loss of Aslam Inamdar showed that they needed more reliable options. Secondly, as Ajay Thakur pointed out, the team lacked speed and often reacted too slowly. This allowed opponents to take advantage of their mistakes.
Fans’ Expectations and Disappointment
Puneri Paltan entered the season as title contenders, and fans had high hopes for them. They started strong, and expectations grew. However, as the season went on, the team couldn’t keep up the momentum and finished in 8th place. This was a big disappointment for the fans, who were hoping to see their team defend the title.
In conclusion, Puneri Paltan’s PKL 11 campaign was full of challenges. Key injuries, defensive issues, and missed opportunities led to their struggle in defending the title. However, players like Gaurav Khatri, Pankaj Mohite, and Aman showed promise and kept the team fighting. Moving forward, Puneri Paltan will need to address these issues to return stronger in the future.
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