PKL 12: Sanjeev Baliyan appointed as new head coach of Tamil Thalaivas

Sanjeev Baliyan is a two-time PKL trophy-winning coach.
In a recent turn of events, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) outfit Tamil Thalaivas have appointed two-time PKL winning head coach Sanjeev Baliyan as their new head coach, the club announced through its social media handles on Friday. Baliyan takes over the hot seat from the outgoing duo of Dharmaraj Cheralathan and J. Udaya Kumar.
The appointment of Sanjeev Baliyan comes after the Thalaivas let go of their coaching duo following a disappointing PKL 11 campaign. Tamil Thalaivas are not the only team who have pulled back from their head coach from the last edition as three more PKL outfits have followed suit. Following this move, the Chennai-based franchise have made their intentions very clear for the upcoming season.
Also Read: PKL 12: Anup Kumar appointed as new head coach of Patna Pirates
About Sanjeev Baliyan
Sanjeev Baliyan is one of the most established and renowned players in the domestic Kabaddi circuit. He won the gold medal in four national championships before leading India to its first-ever Kabaddi World Cup in 2004. The former Indian skipper also led India to a Gold Medal finish at the 2002 Asian Games, 2004 SAF Games, and the Test Series against Bangladesh.
He was one of the best raiders during his days and dropped multiple match-winning performances for India and the railways. After calling it a day in his playing career, Baliyan took the coaching role and led the Patna Pirates and the Jaipur Pink Panthers to a PKL title.
Also Read: Tamil Thalaivas release coaches Dharmaraj Cheralathan & J Udaya Kumar ahead of PKL 12
In PKL 11, the Pink Panthers reached the playoffs under the coaching of Baliyan PKL. His appointment is a relief for all the fans of Tamil Thalaivas, as he will bring with him a winning mentality and experience.
Tamil Thalaivas’ journey in PKL 11
The Tamil Thalaivas had a forgetful campaign in PKL 11 as all their planning went out of the window. Despite assembling a good squad on paper, the Thalauvas struggled to get results on the board and ended up in the ninth position with 50 points from 22 games.
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