Puneri Paltan aims to defend their PKL title in Season 11 with a strong core team. Can they hold off challenges from top raiders and rivals? Full schedule & analysis!
Puneri Paltan, the champions of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season, eye a title defence in Season 11.
They retain the core from the previous championship-winning campaign in most places and will expect to reassert their supremacy right from day one. Their season starts with an electrifying match against last season's runners-up, the Haryana Steelers, on 19 October. What promises to be a thriller, Puneri take on former teammate and defensive stalwart Mohammadreza Shadloui, now belonging to the Steelers.
Core retention and strategy by the team
The secret to Puneri Paltan's success last season was the fact that they managed a fine balance between defense and offense. They will look to repeat the same formula all over again as PKL 11 unfolds. The Paltan have wisely retained their defensive trio of Sanket Sawant, Abinesh Nadarajan, and Gaurav Khatri. These players are going to be the back bone in defense for them, and shutting down opposition raiders with Mohit Khaler will be a big boost in this department.
Also Read - Dabang Delhi K.C. Season 11 Preview: Full Schedule And Squad Analysis
On the attacking front, once again, Pankaj Mohite, Mohit Goyat, and captain Aslam Inamdar will drive the blitzkrieg. This gang's uninterrupted attack with coordination was why they won the title in last year's edition. Chemistry among these raiders makes them an attacking unit to be reckoned with in the league. With a focus on coordination and teamwork, Puneri will focus on a continuous winning streak in PKL 11.
Hyderabad Leg: Tough Tests In Store
Puneri Paltan would be put to test right from day one as they face some quality opposition in the Hyderabad leg. They will have to beat back some of the top raiding talents in the league:
Sachin Tanwar & Narender Tamil Thalaivas: Sachin and Narender are a dynamic duo who will test the Paltan defense pretty early.
Pardeep Narwal & Ajinkya Pawar (Bengaluru Bulls): The two most feared raiders in the league could demolish Puneri's defense with ease.
Maninder Singh: One of the most consistent raiders around, Maninder Singh will look to disrupt Puneri's game plan.
A real test for Puneri Paltan will be against their home team, Telugu Titans, that will conclude their Hyderabad leg on 9 November. Each of these games will test the title defending capabilities of Puneri, and the triumph against the strong raiding lineups will prove they will not release the PKL title so effortlessly.
Also Read - U Mumba's PKL 11 Journey: Aiming for Their Second Title | Full Schedule Of U Mumba
Noida Leg: The Battle of Champions
The torture does not end here because the Noida leg of PKL 11 is going to see far more torment for Puneri Paltan. The team plays four former PKL champions in the first five matches of this leg, including Jaipur Pink Panthers and Dabang Delhi KC, two of the most successful teams in the history of the league. The Paltan defence will need to be at their best to notch wins in those encounters. Puneri's rematch against Haryana Steelers on November 27 will be another marquee fixture, especially after their season opener.
Pune Leg: Home Advantage?
The last leg of Puneri's campaign will be played at Pune, as they play seven crucial matches there. It is here that Paltan would attempt to seal their playoff spot and carry the momentum to knockout stages. Playing in front of their home crowd will give them a much-needed boost, but the matches are not easy either. This leg, however, would see Puneri Paltan face tough competition in the form of U Mumba, UP Yoddhas, and Dabang Delhi KC.
Puneri Paltan would look to finish strong in the league stage while ensuring a qualification for themselves into the playoffs where they will perhaps look to defend their PKL title.
Key Players to Watch
Skipper of Puneri Paltan, Aslam Inamdar has again been the one to make their attack happen. Such examples of leadership that play a great deal due to his technical imagination.
Mohit Goyat & Pankaj Mohite: These raiding guts were the bread and butter of Puneri's success last season. They have immense coordination to their advantage and can fetch points at vital junctures.
Defense: Sanket Sawant, Abinesh Nadarajan & Gaurav Khatri Puneri will welcome back the defense trio that proved crucial in their title win last season. They will not be missing at any cost in stopping raiders and building up a good defense to become attack.
Mohammadreza Shadloui (Opponent): With Haryana Steelers, Shadloui is no longer a Paltan man and has to be dealt with one of the best defenders in the league by the raiders of Puneri. It will be a talking point in that battle.
Puneri Paltan Schedule for PKL 11:
Hyderabad Leg:
October 19 vs Haryana Steelers, 9:00 PM
October 21 vs Patna Pirates, 9:00 PM
October 23 vs Tamil Thalaivas, 9:00 PM
October 25 vs Bengaluru Bulls, 9:00 PM
October 29 vs Bengal Warriorz, 8:00 PM
November 3 vs U Mumba, 8:00 PM
November 4 vs Gujarat Giants, 9:00 PM
November 9 vs Telugu Titans, 8:00 PM
Noida Leg:
November 12 vs Dabang Delhi KC, 9:00 PM
November 17 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, 9:00 PM
November 19 vs UP Yoddhas, 8:00 PM
November 24 vs Bengal Warriorz, 8:00 PM
November 25 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, 9:00 PM
November 27 vs Haryana Steelers, 8:00 PM
November 29 vs Gujarat Giants, 9:00 PM
Pune Leg:
December 3 vs U Mumba, 9:00 PM
December 7 vs UP Yoddhas, 8:00 PM
December 9 vs Dabang Delhi KC, 9:00 PM
December 13 vs Bengaluru Bulls, 9:00 PM
December 16 vs Patna Pirates, 9:00 PM
December 20 vs Telugu Titans, 9:00 PM
December 23 vs Tamil Thalaivas, 9:00 PM
