After a disappointing show in PKL 10, the Tamil Thalaivas are eager to bounce back in Season 11 of the Pro Kabaddi League. The Thalaivas couldn’t progress beyond the league stage last year, having previously reached the semi-finals in Season 9. With Sachin Tanwar’s presence the team is looking to make a strong comeback.
The Thalaivas will work under a dual-coach system this season. They have appointed Udaya Kumar as the head coach and Dharmaraj Cheralathan (a former PKL champion) as the strategy coach to guide the team collaboratively.
Core squad retained, key acquisition made
Having retained their core squad from the previous season, the Tamil Thalaivas were selective during the Season 11 Player Auction, but they did make headlines by signing raider Sachin for a remarkable INR 2.15 crores. With this in mind, let’s take a look the strengths and weaknesses of the Tamil Thalaivas before the action begins.
Strengths: Nerender and Sachin make attack strong
The biggest advantage for the Thalaivas in Season 11 lies in their retention of key players from last season. Narender, who has amassed 429 raid points in two seasons with the Thalaivas, will once again play a key role in the team’s attack.
The addition of Sachin, who has scored 952 raid points in his PKL career and holds the record for the most do-or-die raid points (233), significantly enhances the Thalaivas’ raiding strength. Additionally, backup raiders like Vishal Chahal, who scored 34 raid points in his debut season, and the seasoned Chandran Ranjit, with 534 raid points, further bolster their offensive lineup.
In defence, the Thalaivas have maintained continuity by keeping Sagar, M. Abishek, Sahil Gulia, Himanshu, Mohit, and Amirhossein Bastami. Both Sahil Gulia and Sagar ranked among the top 10 for tackle points in PKL 10, securing 69 and 66 points, respectively.
Weaknesses: Reliability on attack
However, it remains to be seen how M. Abishek, Himanshu, Mohit, and Amirhossein Bastami will perform if they face injuries or form issues with their main defenders, Sahil Gulia and Sagar.
Sagar’s absence due to injury in a few matches last season adversely affected the Thalaivas’ defensive performance and balance. Consequently, the pressure on the backup defenders will be heightened this season, making it crucial for them to step up in challenging situations.
Opportunities: Sachin Tanwar’s chance to shine
Sachin, already recognised as one of the league’s top raiders, is just 48 raid points shy of reaching 1000 in PKL. He aims to cement his status as an elite raider in Season 11 after some inconsistent performances in recent seasons.
He hopes to surpass the 200 raid points mark in a single season for the first time, finding himself in a supportive environment with young Narender to share the raiding responsibilities—something he hasn’t always had in previous seasons.
Threats: Lack of all-rounders
One area of concern for the Tamil Thalaivas is their lack of an experienced all-rounder in the team. All-rounders play a crucial role in maintaining balance, contributing points at both ends of the mat. Iranian Moein Safaghi has yet to compete in the PKL, and relying solely on him as the team’s all-rounder could prove challenging for a debutant.
If any starting player is unavailable due to injuries, having a quality all-rounder would have been the ideal solution. However, the Thalaivas will need to explore alternative strategies if such a scenario arises, especially since Season 11 marks Moein Safaghi’s debut.
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