Pro Kabaddi PKL 8: Deepak Hooda, the current skipper of the Indian Kabaddi team was on a poor run of form when the eighth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League kickstarted this year, after a gap nearly two years due to the pandemic. But after relinquishing captaincy, Hooda has roared back in form and is firing from all cylinders. Follow PKL 2022 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN
Deepak led the Jaipur Pink Panthers this year and was inconsistent with his form. He managed to score just a Super 10 in Jaipur Panther’s second game of the season against Gujarat Giants. But from then on, he put up a dismal show scoring just 28 points in five games.
Pro Kabaddi PKL 8: Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Deepak Hooda roars back to form after shedding captaincy
With Jaipur dependent on Hooda and youngster Arjun Deshwal in the raids, Hooda’s lack of form directly affected the team’s performance as the Men in Pink managed just two wins in their first five matches and were dwelling at the bottom half of the table.
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It was at this moment, the team opted for a change in leadership. Deepak Hooda decided to shed his captaincy and the responsibility was given to defender Sandeep Dhull.
Without the burden of captaincy on his shoulders anymore, the multi-skilled Hooda, started playing his natural game and it provided a fillip to not only his confidence, but the entire Panthers unit became a rejuvenated one.
The team started off by winning against Puneri Paltan and in the next match they did what no other team has managed to do this season. They handed over the mighty Dabang Delhi their first defeat of this season by winning a nail-biting contest 30-28. Hooda was the star raider in that game scoring 9 raid points, outscoring his teammate Arjun Deshwal.
Pro Kabaddi PKL 8: Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Deepak Hooda roars back to form after shedding captaincy
Congratulations on your 900th raid point @DeepakHooda5555! 🥳 There’s a reason why you are the third-highest all-time raid points scorer in @ProKabaddi Keep it up! 🙏🏻🙌🏻#DeepakHooda#JPPvDEL #SuperHitPanga #PantherSquad #JaiHanuman #TopCats #JaipurPinkPanthers #vivoProKabaddi pic.twitter.com/AgbzF22DVU
— Jaipur Pink Panthers (@JaipurPanthers) January 10, 2022
Against Patna Pirates in their last game, Deepak Hooda was once again on a rampaging hot form, picking up a Super 10 that helped the Panthers snatch a comprehensive victory against one of the strongest teams in the league. Deepak Hooda, who has the third-highest raid points in PKL history is now back and he is showing why he is considered amongst the best raiders in the country.
During the post-match conference after the Patna Pirates game, Deepak Hooda said that his ultimate goal is to see the team get more victories and hence the decision to change the team’s captaincy was taken collectively.
Pro Kabaddi PKL 8: Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Deepak Hooda roars back to form after shedding captaincy
“The responsibility of a captain is to manage the team in pressure situations and score points while also making the players understand the situation. For me the ultimate goal is to make the team win. So we took a collective decision (to change the captain) and after that my performance has been good,” Deepak Hooda said.
Deepak Hooda hopes to continue his form and along with Arjun Deshwal, now suddenly Jaipur have a formidable raiding duo. Having already beaten two top teams in the league the Panthers would look to keep the winning momentum going in the subsequent matches.
Pro Kabaddi PKL 8: Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Deepak Hooda roars back to form after shedding captaincy
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