PKL: Puneri Paltan should retain these players ahead of new season

The outfit must trust its young players in the forthcoming season for a better result.

Puneri Paltan had a very strong team when the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 started. Players like Vishal Bhardwaj and Rahul Chaudhari got the nod to represent the team. However, the latter was removed after a few bad results and Nitin Tomar was given more game-time. While he was not in good rhythm, he was a good captain nonetheless.

Pankaj Mohite and Pawan Kadian were not as impressive. Vishal Bhardwaj, Hadi Oshtorak, and Baldev were also quite wasteful. While Sombir was a good performer and his partnership was good with Baldev, but the latter was largely disappointing.

Reaching the playoffs with a relatively young side was a good outcome for the season. If compared to Season 7, then Puneri Paltan would be happy with their performance last term. To be placed in the top six was an impressive achievement. The team won 12 out of 22, lost nine and tied the odd fixture. 

Looking at the past season, there are several players that should be retained by the management. Let us look at the players that the Puneri Paltan should retain going forward:

Aslam Inamdar & Mohit Goyat deserve more chances

Rahul Chaudhari and Nitin Tomar - the two major raiders from the team did not perform at a high level. In their place, two youngsters like Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat showed their qualities. Inamdar scored 189 points from 23 fixtures and was among the top six raiders from the PKL season. He could be a star in the upcoming campaigns for the side.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vXXx-09-CI

Apart from him, Mohit Goyat was superb, scoring 187 points from 21 outings. He was the most efficient raider in do-or-die situations in PKL 8, bringing 49 points from them. Mohit and Aslam are young players who will develop with experience. They should be retained by the team in the upcoming season.

Sombir and Abinesh Nadarajan are good options in defence

The Puneri Paltan will need to make some changes in defence and mend their errors. If the experienced figures do not perform, the outfit should release them and give other players enough opportunities. Sombir and Nadarajan left their mark on the league with decent performances. The former managed 61 points in 19 matches, while the latter scored 44 in 22 appearances.

The pair of Sombir and Abinesh stepped up when the likes of Baldev and Vishal Bhardwaj did not perform. Their consistency was at the heart of several wins for the team. They should be retained by the team, as the past season's performances will have developed their confidence. Abinesh, in particular, is a good option in the right cover position. On the other hand, Sombir has a good tackle rate per match, which makes him a dangerous operator. If these players are retained, then the Puneri Paltan will reap a lot of rewards.

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