PKL 11: 3 key players of Jaipur Pink Panthers in Pro Kabaddi League season 11

The Jaipur Pink Panthers begin their campaign on October 20.

Jaipur Pink Panthers, two-time champions of Pro Kabaddi League, will be eyeing their third title this year. So is Sanjeev Kumar Baliyan, the coach, who also has two titles under his belt. Once with Patna Pirates (Season 3) and Jaipur Pink Panthers (Season 9).

Under the guidance of Baliyan, the always youth-filled Panthers squad has changed their strategy a bit in the PKL 11 auction and added a bunch of experienced Indian players to their group. How will this change treat the Panthers’ results in PKL 11? We will get a quick hint within a few matches into the tournament.

Jaipur Pink Panthers have been one of the consistent sides in the last few seasons as they won season 9 and ended their PKL 10 journey in the semi-finals. But with the re-structured squad, it will be interesting to see the new vibe in the Pink Panthers dugout.

The management has focused on bringing pure defenders and raiders instead of emphasizing bringing all-rounders into the team. Other than that, they have also brought in a few new faces into the PKL like Aamir Wani, K. Daranidharan, and Ritik Sharma to name a few along with the other PKL veterans to give the balance they always strive for. But among these 21 quality players, which are the top three stars, the Panthers would want to play a key role in leading them to the shiny trophy at the end.

3. Vikash Kandola

Among the PKL veterans included by the Panthers in the PKL 11 auction, Kandola is one of the players to watch out for. The Indian raider started his PKL journey in season 4 for Dabang Delhi K.C. and has been a vital player for all the teams he represented.

Kandola has scored over 800 points in the PKL history in 120 matches and has the experience that Jaipur might need this year to play at their best. This season becomes even more crucial for Kandola as the previous season wasn’t the best for him where he scored just 70 points with 27% successful raids. Now, his new franchise will certainly expect him to move on from that season and bring in the OG raider for his side.

2. Ankush

An addition to the Jaipur Pink Panthers squad in season 9 which gave Pink Panthers’ defense a new vibe, is what they needed to lift the trophy in 2022. Ankush has been a part of the Panthers’ squad since 2022 and his performance in those two seasons has been outstanding.

He has kept the left corner intact and extracted 159 tackle points in just 46 matches he has played. In PKL 11 his role in defense will even become vital with the departure of their former captain, Sunil Kumar. If Pink Panther wants a chance to continue their good run, Ankush will be key in the defense.

1. Arjun Deshwal

Star raider, Arjun Deshwal, is another spectacular talent moulded by Jaipur Pink Panthers in the last few years. Deshwal began his PKL journey with U Mumba but did not get enough opportunities there. After coming into the Pink Panthers’ squad, he got the much-needed chances and is the go-to raider of the Pink Panthers team.

If the opposition needs to put pressure on Jaipur, they need to keep Deshwal out of the court as much as possible and vice versa. He has gathered a whopping 947 raid points in 91 matches. The stats speak volumes for this young man. He will be the most vital name in the Pink Panthers’ squad in PKL 11.

Kabaddi is indeed a team sport, but with magnificent individual performances, one can surely make a strong impact in the long run. What do you think about the Jaipur Pink Panthers squad? And who do you think will be the most crucial member of the team? Let us know in the comment section.

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