PKL 12: Why did Sagar Rathee & Narender Kandola miss the clash against Jaipur Pink Panthers?

Both Sagar Rathee and Narender Kandola have played only for Tamil Thalaivas in the PKL.

The Jaipur leg of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12) is coming to an end on Saturday, September 27, with Tamil Thalaivas taking on the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the final encounter of the second leg.

Tamil Thalaivas find themselves in ninth place on the PKL 2025 points table, having managed just six points from eight outings.

With three wins and five defeats, their campaign has lacked consistency, reflected in a score difference of -26. The Jaipur leg summed up their mixed run, starting on a positive note with back-to-back victories before slipping to three consecutive losses.

On the other hand, the Jaipur Pink Panthers have enjoyed a comparatively stronger season. The two-time champions sit fifth in the standings with 10 points, having won five of their eight matches.

Tamil Thalaivas are without the services of two key players for their clash against the Pink Panthers. Defender Sagar Rathee, who returned to the squad, missed out on making it to the playing 7, while raider Narender Kandola was also missing from the lineup.

Why did Sagar Rathee & Narender Kandola not play tonight?

Tamil Thalaivas’ star defender Sagar Rathee was once again absent from the playing seven in their clash against two-time PKL champions Jaipur Pink Panthers, despite being declared fit to return.

The 25-year-old had missed the seven games of PKL 12 after sustaining an injury during the pre-season camp. It featured only briefly against the Gujarat Giants during Tamil Thalaivas’ third match this season.

While fans expected his comeback against Jaipur, the team management chose to rest him for one more match, allowing him additional time to regain full match fitness. With the Thalaivas’ home leg starting next week, Sagar is likely to return then and play a pivotal role in strengthening their defence.

His presence has been sorely missed in several tight contests, and the franchise will hope his return brings stability at the back.

Meanwhile, raider Narender Kandola also missed the clash against the Pink Panthers as he’s not feeling well. The Indian raider is down with fever, but will return before the Thalaivas’ first home leg match against U Mumba on Wednesday, October 1.

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