PKL 8: Puneri Paltan relied on young brigade as the seniors disappointed

The young raiders left a positive mark on the tournament.

Puneri Paltan’s performance in Season 8 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) was impressive. The outfit had several experienced figures, but it was the youth that took the team to the playoffs. While they could not win the title, they did ensure a place in the final six of the PKL.

The Paltan won 12 matches and lost nine from a total of 22, while one was a draw. This ensured a sixth-place finish in the points table. The beginning saw the team concede a few defeats, but it was not long before the squad found their rhythm and positive results to qualify into the playoffs.

Positives

One of the major positives from the season was the performance of the youngsters for Puneri Paltan. Players like Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat were decent in their individual areas. In defence, Sombir and Abinesh Nadarajan gave a good account of themselves.

Puneri Paltan showed that they are not dependent on star players alone. The outfit can give a strong challenge solely relying on their young players. Players like Rahul Choudhary, Nitin Tomar and Baldev Singh did not perform up to the mark and yet the team reached the semis. This is a good sign leading into the next season of the PKL.

Negatives

A common observation in Season 8 saw Puneri Paltan failing to carry on their strong start in a match. It was seen that the team started off well, but eventually lost the tie due to losing their consistency in between. During their playoffs match against UP Yoddha as well, the team gave up a big lead . This shows a lack of experience within the squad. There were many errors in advance tackling and raiding as well. 

Players that exceeded expectations

There were a few figures who delivered good performances, better than what was expected. Aslam Inamdar was particularly outstanding for the Puneri Paltan in PKL Season 8. He scored 189 points in 23 matches, becoming one of the top six raiders from the tournament. He could be a major star for the team in the future. Mohit Goyat was also a shining star, scoring 187 points in 21 matches, He established himself as the most successful do-or-die raider, scoring 49 points in those situations.

In defence, Sombir was exceptional, scoring 61 points in 19 matches. Abinesh Nadarajan also scored 44 points in 22 matches for the team. As such, several players in the Puneri Paltan team managed to deliver good performances.

Players that were disappointing

The Puneri Paltan had many high-profile players that simply did not live up to their expectations. The team were let down by figures like Rahul Chaudhari and Nitin Tomar. In the eighth season of the PKL, Rahul was particularly underwhelming, keeping in mind that he is one of the highest point-getters in the league’s history. However, he only managed 13 points in seven matches this time around. He did not play in several matches and could not make a place in the final 12. This shows the level of disappointment from the otherwise reliable player.

Nitin Tomar managed only 61 points in 18 matches. He was to lead the raiding department, but could not live up to the billing. Moreover, an experienced defender like Vishal Bhardwaj also managed only 47 points in 20 matches.

Changes for the upcoming season

Puneri Paltan must work on the defence in the upcoming season of the PKL. If the high-profile players fail to impress, then they can be released and other players should get an opportunity to leave their impact. The management can consider releasing Rahul Chaudhari. They need a couple of additions in the raiding department. Anup Kumar, the head coach, must create a good balance between youth and experience. 

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