PKL 11: What's going wrong for Tamil Thalaivas in Pro Kabaddi 2024?

Tamil Thalaivas are in the ninth spot in the PKL 11 points table.

The Tamil Thalaivas entered Pro Kabaddi 2024 (PKL 11) with high expectations, with a promising squad and a solid start to the season. They opened their campaign with a win over Puneri Paltan and followed it up with impressive performances against Patna Pirates and Telugu Titans.

However, the momentum didn’t last long. The Thalaivas fizzled out midway, suffering several disappointing defeats, including back-to-back losses to Haryana Steelers and UP Yoddhas, leaving them near the bottom of the points table. They currently sit at ninth place in the PKL 11 table. Their record of just five wins from 15 matches speaks volumes about their struggles.

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Absence of Sagar Rathee

One of the primary reasons for their poor run has been the absence of their defensive star and captain, Sagar Rathee. The star right-corner defender was ruled out of the season following an injury in the opening match against Telugu Titans.

Sagar’s stellar record of a 53% tackle success rate and 226 tackle points in previous seasons made him the backbone of the team’s defence. Without his leadership and presence, Thalaivas’ defence has looked disjointed, with backup defenders failing to step up in critical moments.

Sachin Tanwar’s poor form in PKL 11

Another major issue has been the underwhelming performance of Sachin Tanwar, the league’s most expensive auction pick at ₹2.15 crore. Despite being brought in for his exceptional raiding skills, Sachin has failed to live up to expectations.

With just 64 raid points from 198 attempts in 12 matches, his success rate of 32.32% is far below what the team needs from its marquee raider. While he has shown flashes of brilliance with two Super 10s, his inconsistency has left the Thalaivas struggling to maintain an offensive edge.

Compounding these issues is the lack of experienced players in the squad. The team was essentially rebuilt from scratch, and getting a cohesive unit to perform at the level required in PKL has been a daunting task. Tamil Thalaivas’ inability to gel as a team has been evident in their inconsistent performances, with players often appearing out of sync.

To turn their season around, the Tamil Thalaivas need to find stability in both defence and attack. The younger players must rise to the occasion, and Sachin Tanwar must rediscover his form in the third and the final leg in Pune if the Thalaivas hope to salvage what remains of their PKL 11 campaign.

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