PKL 9: Which teams have qualified for the semi-finals?

The top six advanced to the knockouts stage.

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 9 has finally got its six teams that have qualified for the playoffs. This has been one of the most competitive seasons across all the nine played so far. That the final and the sixth spot could only be decided after match number 126 showed the competitiveness of the league. Many teams lost their lead raiders and defender but still fought hard till the end and gave their best.

Jaipur Pink Panthers (1st place)

They were the first qualified team this season and have also been the most consistent side throughout the three phases. Initially, only Arjun Deshwal was leading the raiding department but at the fag end of the league stages, Ajith Kumar took over the primary raiding role scoring more points than Arjun. Currently, Arjun Deshwal tops the raiding points table. The team have also got two defenders in the top five of the tackle points list.

Sunil Kumar has led the team from the front. Ankush playing his debut season has played exceptionally well combing with Sahul Kumar.

Semifinals 1

Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Bengaluru Bulls

Puneri Paltan (2nd place)

Puneri Paltan started the season on a poor note failing to win a single game in the first three matches. But things changed once the Iranians arrived. Fazel Atrachali led the team to the playoffs and has been highly influential in supporting his raiders as always. The young trio of Aslam Inamdar, Mohit Goyat, and Akash Shinde are the pillars of the side scoring points in both attack and defence. hugely benefitting the team.

Semifinals 2

Puneri Paltan vs Tamil Thalaivas

Bengaluru Bulls (Winner of Eliminator 1)

Bengaluru Bulls put up an inspiring performance to defeat Dabang Delhi K.C. 56-24 in Eliminator 1 of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 9 to qualify for the semi-final 1 of the season.

The Bengaluru Bulls side were very unfortunate to lose out on the top two spots having spent the majority of league stages in the second spot. They lost momentum at the fag end of the league stage costing them the semifinal spot. Nevertheless, the winners of PKL season 6 performed well in the absence of lead raider Pawan Sehrawat, who was leading the side for the past three seasons. Bharat took over the responsibilities and scored more than 250 raid points in the presence of Vikash Kandola.

The defensive unit on a whole hasn't fired consistently with Saurabh Nandal leading the defensive unit. Ahead of the playoffs, Bengaluru Bulls defenders have their task cut out.

Tamil Thalaivas (Winner of Eliminator 2)

Tamil Thalaivas pulled off an enthralling encounter 6-4 in the tiebreaker (teams were tied 36-36 at full time) to defeat the U.P. Yoddhas and take their place in the Semi-Finals.

The southerners were the only side to not qualify for the playoffs even once in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League. In season 9, they have broken that unwanted record by qualifying for the first time. Tamil Thalaivas lost Pawan Sehrawat due to injury in the first game of the season. Then Sagar got injured during the crucial phase of the league with only games league games remaining. The side even changed the coach after the Bengaluru leg. In spite of all these challenges, Tamil Thalaivas made it through.

Narender Kandola and Ajinkya Pawar were the backbones of the side. Especially the former, playing in his first season, produced a stellar performance after replacing Pawan Sehrawat as the main defender is not that easy that too in a debut season.