Jaipur Pink Panthers, two-time Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) champions, are gearing up for Season 11, which starts on October 18. After consistent performances in the last two seasons and reaching the semi-finals in Season 10, the Panthers are eager to claim the title once again.
The team will be coached by Sanjeev Baliyan, a two-time PKL winner. He previously led Patna Pirates to victory in Season 3 and guided Jaipur Pink Panthers to the trophy in Season 9.
Strengths: Good balance between raiders and defenders
Jaipur’s raiding and defensive units look strong on paper. Arjun Deshwal, ranked eighth in all-time PKL raid points (947), will lead the attack. Joining him are experienced raiders Shrikant Jadhav and Vikash Kandola, who bring a wealth of PKL experience, with 681 and 800 raid points, respectively. Neeraj Narwal, another key raider, has scored 175 raid points so far.
Defensively, the Panthers look solid with Ankush, Surjeet Singh, and Reza Mirbagheri. Surjeet, second in all-time tackle points (404), will team up with Ankush, who was the top defender in Season 9, and Reza, who has consistently delivered strong performances.
Weaknesses: Lack of leadership
The departure of former captain Sunil Kumar is not a good sign. Sunil was a key defender and a strong leader, boasting a 61% win rate as captain. While Surjeet Singh can fill the leadership role, Sunil’s consistency and leadership qualities will be hard to replace.
Opportunities: Chance for youngsters
Season 11 presents a chance for players like Neeraj Narwal, Lucky Sharma, and Ravi Kumar to shine. With the departure of Sahul Kumar, Lucky Sharma could see more playtime. Neeraj and Ravi will be eager to improve on their previous performances and make a bigger impact.
Threats: Lack of all-rounders
One concern for Jaipur Pink Panthers is their lack of all-rounders. With only one all-rounder, Aamir Wani, who is yet to debut in PKL, the team may struggle with balance in close games. Having a versatile player who can contribute both in raiding and defence can often make the difference.
