PKL 12: Why was Mohammadreza Shadloui remove from Captaincy & Starting 7?

Gujarat Giants have appointed Rakesh as their new captain in place of Mohammadreza Shadloui.

It is Day 24 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12), and in Match 47, the Gujarat Giants faced Telugu Titans at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur.

The Giants are going through a tough season, having played seven matches but managed only one win, and are still struggling for form. They currently sit at the bottom of the points table and are desperately trying to build some momentum.

In a surprising move ahead of the Gujarat Giants vs Telugu Titans clash, the team made a bold decision by benching star all-rounder Mohammadreza Shadloui and removing him from the captaincy.

Why is Shadloui not part of Gujarat Giants’ starting 7 tonight?

It has come as a shock to Kabaddi fans worldwide, as last season’s Most Valuable Player, Mohammadreza Shadloui, has been benched by the Giants’ management after a string of poor performances.

Before this season, Shadloui had an average close to 4 tackle points per game, and Gujarat acquired him for a massive ₹2.23 crore, making him the highest bid of the auction.

However, he has disappointed the Gujarat fans so far, scoring only 9 tackle points in 7 matches, an average of just 1.28 tackle points per game, and managing only 6 raid points as well.

Why was Shadloui removed from captaincy?

The Gujarat Giants placed their trust in Shadloui before the season, appointing him captain of the team, knowing that he had previously led the Iran national side.

However, in this season, he has struggled badly, with his own performances dipping under the pressure of captaincy. Under his leadership, the Giants have managed only 1 win in 7 games and are currently sitting at the bottom of the table.

Removed from the starting 7 for the first time

Mohammadreza Shadloui has been a part of the Pro Kabaddi League since Season 8 and has represented four teams so far.

Ever since his debut, he has consistently found a place in the starting 7, missing matches only for some other reasons. During this period, he was the league’s best defender across three seasons.

But for the first time in five years, Shadloui is not part of a starting 7, as the Giants’ management decided to bench him ahead of the clash against the Titans, considering his poor run of form and ongoing struggles in PKL 12.

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