PKL 12: Pawan Sehrawat likely to return home mid-season; did not travel to Jaipur with Tamil Thalaivas

Tamil Thalaivas rope in Pawan Sehrawat for 59.50 lakhs in PKL 12 auction.

The first leg of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12) is about to wrap up, and it has already delivered plenty of drama, thrilling encounters, and breathtaking finishes. While some teams dominated the Vizag leg, others struggled to find their rhythm.

Unfortunately for Tamil Thalaivas, they fall into the latter category, with just one win and two defeats so far. As the league now shifts to Jaipur, an unexpected twist has created uncertainty in the Thalaivas camp. The story of ‘Hi-Flyer’ Pawan Sehrawat and Tamil Thalaivas might have taken an unexpected turn.

According to reports, the star raider did not travel to Jaipur with the Tamil Thalaivas squad and has likely been sent back home.

His absence from travel updates and training videos of Tamil Thalaivas on social media was quickly noticed. At the same time, there was no news of his injury or any other engagement, thus raising questions about his place in the team.

This can come as a shock, as the Thalaivas had named Pawan Sehrawat as their captain ahead of the PKL 12, with Arjun Deshwal chosen as vice-captain. Head coach Sanjeev Balyan even praised the raider’s leadership qualities earlier, calling him “a proven leader and one of the most feared players in the league.”

Homecoming not going as expected for Pawan Sehrawat

When Tamil Thalaivas went all out at the PKL 12 auction after a dramatic bidding war to buy Pawan Sehrawat for ₹59.50 lakh, it felt like a bold homecoming.

The Thalaivas showed great intent, beating the likes of Dabang Delhi and Bengal Warriorz to bring him back to their setup.

This wasn’t the first time he wore the yellow jersey. Back in Season 9, Pawan played briefly before a knee injury sidelined him for the rest of the campaign. Despite his limited participation, the Thalaivas reached the playoffs for the first time in their history. Supporters expected him to replicate the same impact this season.

However, things didn’t go as planned. After three matches in PKL 12, Tamil Thalaivas sit at the bottom half of the table with just one win and two losses. Pawan, too, has struggled to stamp his authority.

In three appearances, he has collected 22 raid points, averaging 7.33 raid points per game. Out of his 48 raids, just under half were successful, with a single super raid to his name. However, he has yet to score a Super 10 this season. Defensively, the numbers look worse—he attempted three tackles but earned no points.

How is Pawan Sehrawat’s absence going to affect Tamil Thalaivas?

If Pawan Sehrawat is indeed removed from the squad, the Thalaivas will have to rethink their strategy. For Tamil, losing their captain midway through the campaign could not have come at a worse time. The team heavily relied on his experience and explosive raiding to set the tone in matches.

Without their captain and key raider, the responsibility will fall heavily on Arjun Deshwal and the younger players. It could also affect the team’s morale, given how much faith they had placed in Pawan’s comeback.

Tamil Thalaivas are set for a tough stretch of matches in Jaipur. They begin the second leg against Bengal Warriorz tomorrow night before taking on Bengaluru Bulls on September 16. A quick turnaround will see them face Telugu Titans on September 19, followed by a clash with Haryana Steelers the very next day.

The challenges don’t stop there, as they meet UP Yoddhas on September 22 and wrap up the month with a high-profile battle against defending champions Jaipur Pink Panthers on September 27. This packed schedule will test their depth and resilience, especially amid the uncertainty surrounding Pawan Sehrawat’s availability.

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