PKL Season 11 is now the talk of many, especially after the two-day auction held in Mumbai on August 15 and 16. During these two days of intense revamping, PKL teams did everything they could to build a strong core. While some teams may feel they’ve lost their grip, others might believe they did well. From the Telugu Titans, who spent crores on multiple players, to the Patna Pirates, who were active yet strategic with their spending, the lineups are now set. The question is, who will win? Who has a chance to claim that prestigious kabaddi silver? Let’s take a look at three teams that could be strong contenders, considering their dominance in the league and their performance in the Season 11 auction.
Who can win PKL Season 11
Patna Pirates
The Patna Pirates, already dominant in the league since their Season 3 victory, continued their winning streak into the fourth season and again in 2015. Their success can be attributed to their strategic composition. If we look at the 2024 auction, it’s clear they managed to acquire players at reasonable prices, such as Shubham Shinde for ₹70 lakh and right cover Deepak Rajender Singh. It’s fair to say they are the CSK of PKL, with all bases covered once again. The team had a consistent performance last season, reaching the semifinals but ultimately losing to Puneri Paltan, who went on to become champions. It will be interesting to see how they fare this time.
Puneri Paltan
Now, let’s turn to the Season 10 winners, Puneri Paltan, who were fortunate to retain top players who performed exceptionally well last season. From defender Sanket Sawant to raider Akash Shinde, they have managed to keep key players while also acquiring new talent at reasonable rates, much like the Patna Pirates. The big question now is how they will retain their PKL crown, especially with the added pressure.
This season, they’ve made quality additions, particularly in defense, which could be their strongest asset moving forward. Puneri Paltan looks solid once again, despite mixed results in the past. Last season, they scored 950 points, the third-best in PKL history, with the most tackle points (340) and the most All Outs inflicted (45). They were outstanding last year and seem well-prepared this time as well.
Telugu Titans
It would be wrong to say that the Telugu Titans have no chance, even though they finished 12th last season. Learning from their mistakes, they’ve made significant changes and now look poised to do well. Although it may be an unpopular opinion, they’ve managed a major turnaround. They reacquired Pawan Sehrawat, whom they had released, by using the FBM card, securing the star raider for INR 1.725 crore. Also, the inclusion of Ashish Narwal adds further solidity to the team. Last season, their main issue was defense, but they are hopeful that with the new squad structure, including Krishan and Milad Jabbari for INR 13 lakh, they can turn things around this time and potentially surprise everyone or redeem themselves.
