What the captains of every team had to say ahead of PKL 9
All the skipper assured that they will try to give their best throughout the season.
The ninth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) kicks off tomorrow in Bengaluru. This will be the first time since 2019 that fans are allowed in the stadiums. After the entirety of the previous season was played behind closed doors and in a bio-bubble, season 9 promises to be a blockbuster return to what the fans of the sport are accustomed to seeing. The captains of the 12 franchises spoke to members of the media in the pre-tournament press conference. Here is what each of them had to say.
Maninder Singh (Bengal Warriors)
On the appointment of new head coach Bhaskaran Kasinathan, Maninder said, “I won under him in season 1. He is a top-class coach, and we are aiming for the trophy under him. Now that Deepak Hooda has also arrived to share raiding duties, our team is looking confident.”
Mahendar Singh (Bengaluru Bulls)
On Vikash Kandola’s arrival, Mahendar said, “I trust in Vikash, he is a very good player and will help us win from any situation.”
Naveen Kumar (Dabang Delhi)
On captaincy and being defending champions and if the tags attract pressure, Naveen replied, “With added responsibility of captaincy, I feel I will improve. I want to lead the team in the right direction.”
Gujarat Giants (Chandran Ranjith)
On what the biggest challenge is this season, Chandran said, “We have many new players in this team. Some of them are pretty experienced also. We will play well and aim for good results.”
Haryana Steelers (Joginder Narwal)
On the squad composition, Joginder said, “Youngsters are as important as senior players, we have a good mix of both. I have belief in the youngsters’ abilities, and they will do well for us.”
Jaipur Pink Panthers (Sunil Kumar)
On the Pink Panthers’ preparation and training, Sunil said, “We are coming fresh off a one-month camp. We formed a strong bond and practiced with intent. It is good that Rahul Chaudhari hit form just before the league.”
Patna Pirates (Neeraj Kumar)
On losing last year’s PKL final by a solitary point, Neeraj said, “We made some mistakes in that final. Our team is pretty much similar, and we have some new raiders. We will do well this time to rectify such errors.”
Puneri Paltan (Aslam Inamdar)
On the general preparations and his new skills, Aslam said, “The team is excited to perform, we have bonded well, and we will try to be champions. As for my new skills, you have to wait and see.”
Tamil Thalaivas (Pawan Sehrawat)
On the most expensive player tag, Pawan said, “I feel proud of it, there is no pressure. I will go through the processes with a clear mind and look to give it my best.”
Telugu Titans (Ravinder Pahal)
On the goals for this season, Ravinder said, “We have a very balanced team with outstanding depth across positions. I have set my eyes on the finals. “
U Mumba (Surinder Singh)
On returning to and captaining the new-look U Mumba squad, Surinder said, “The league is long, and we will focus on things match by match. Our team has good young raiders and defenders. We will show our competency in the matches.”
Nitesh Kumar (U.P. Yoddha)
On the expectations for Pardeep, Nitesh said, “This season Pardeep is fit and firing. He helps our team composition as the lead raider.”
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