Oh, how the Mighty have fallen. The Gladiators from Season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League are struggling currently in Season 11. Nobody had seen this coming. Not after the way the Puneri Paltan dominated throughout last season. So much so that they were crowned as arguably the greatest Kabaddi team ever assembled. But it has all come crumbling down for the Men In Orange in the recent weeks as they have failed to win in their last 4 matches recorded 2 losses against the Telugu Titans & the Jaipur Pink Panthers and 2 draws against the Dabang Delhi & the UP Yoddhas.
Lauded for the strength and skill the Puneri Paltan side possesses in their ranks, it has faltered them now, when they need it the most. Many were critical of the Puneri Paltan for letting their rockstar in defense, Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh go before the PKL Auction after his heroics for them last season. But the Paltan did not let the absence of one man mean anything to them at the start of this season as they kept o dominating sides like they had last season.
But it was one particular game that changed everything. The one-point loss to Pawan Sehrawat’s Telugu Titans at the Gachibowli Stadium when captain Aslam Inamdar picked up a heavy injury which has now kept him sidelined for the entire season. Ever since they saw their captain exit the bench because of his injury, it became evident that without Aslam, Puneri Paltan are Sheep wearing Wolf Skin who are nothing but a shadow of their old selves.
Puneri Paltan Have Lost The Edge That Made Them Unstoppable
Many might think that it’s because there is no Shadloui and Aslam that the Puneri Paltan is struggling, but there is another reason. It is the reason why they were so difficult to defeat last season. And it isn’t the margin by which they defeated opponents, it’s the calmness, and coolness by which they did it. In the last few minutes when emotions and tensions were high on the mat, the Puneri Paltan always made sure they came out on the winning side of the mat.
This was made possible by the psychological edge the leadeship of Aslam gave them over their opponents. Now, with Aslam Inamdar not being on the mat entirely, the Puneri Paltan have been seen getting easily out-manouvered by their opponents in recent matches.
