EXCLUSIVE: 'Raiding is one department we would like to focus on' says Dharmaraj Cheralathan ahead of PKL auction

Dharmaraj Cheralathan is one of the big names in the Indian Kabaddi scene. Having played in multiple tournaments, Cheralathan has won many medals in India. What gained him fame is the Pro Kabaddi League. The defender from Tamil Nadu has played for some big teams in the tournament. He might be present in the PKL Auction taking place today,

Cheralathan has played for Bengaluru Bulls, Telugu Titans, Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan, Haryana Steelers, and U Mumba. He’s known for his defensive masterclass. Over the years, he was one of the best defenders in the Pro Kabaddi League.

Now, after retiring from Kabaddi after a two-decade career, the PKL legend has already taken up a coaching role. The 48-year-old Cheralathan will serve as the strategy coach for the Tamil Thalaivas in the upcoming season 11 of the Pro Kabaddi League.

In an exclusive interaction with InsideSport, Dharmaraj Cheralathan shared his insights and vision for Tamil Thalaivas.

Vision for Tamil Thalaivas

Cheralathan has led teams to victory with his acumen and performance, but this time as a coach, it will be a bigger challenge for Tamil Thalaivas. They haven’t had a good run in the league so far, as they have failed to win a trophy till now. “Tamil Thalaivas haven’t had the best of runs, except for a fifth-place finish in the penultimate edition. But once again, we are banking on the youngsters to deliver. People might see it as a setback that we haven’t retained any big names before the PKL Auction, but I take that as a positive sign. These youngsters have the zeal to prove something,” Cheralathan said.

Areas to focus on

Tamil Thalaivas have not retained any elite players. It will be interesting to see how Cheralathan lines up the squad. “Raiding is one department that we would like to focus on. In the PKL Auction, we might want to get a Category A or B raider, but it all depends on the availability of the budget and the team’s needs. So we need to be very careful. Getting a player or not is also strategy-based. We do have a couple of raiders on our radar, but of course, I won’t be able to reveal their names right now,” Cheralathan said.

“As far as our overall performance is concerned, we haven’t been bad and have played well in patches. Our defence has always been strong. So Udaykumar and I need to ensure that performances come consistently. Plus, it is the all-around game we need to be good at, and not just defence,” he added.

Plans for the playoffs

The Thalaivas have focused more on youth development and strategic player acquisitions. Yet the team needs to look for stability. The auction will be very crucial for the players. “We can dwell upon what has happened in the past. The team has certainly found it tough to make it to the next round, but that is why we are here. We will come up with plans to make it to the playoffs. But that is a long way off for now. The first focus of the team should be to get the right players at the PKL Auction” he said.

Kabaddi Pro Kabaddi League Tamil Thalaivas