Pro Kabaddi League: Pawan Sehrawat Telugu Titans' hope for revival in season 11

After struggling in the past few seasons, Telugu Titans will be looking at Pawan Sehrawat to lead their revival in season 11 of the Pro Kabaddi League this year.

In Short

• Titans got back Sehrawat with the FBM card during auction
• Alongside Pawan, all-rounder Vijay Malik adds balance to team
• Titans will hope for stronger contributions from Jabbari and Ajit Pawar

After struggling in the last few seasons of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), the Telugu Titans are aiming for a fresh start in Season 11. Having finished at the bottom of the standings for three consecutive seasons, the team is eager to improve and deliver a more competitive performance in the upcoming campaign.

To spearhead this turnaround, the Titans have appointed Krishan Kumar Hooda as head coach. Hooda, a PKL title-winning coach with Dabang Delhi K.C. in Season 8 and a Dronacharya Award recipient, brings a wealth of experience and could be instrumental in changing the team’s fortunes.

The Titans were highly active in the Season 11 Player Auction, making strategic acquisitions to overhaul their squad. They retained Pawan Sehrawat using the Final Bid Match (FBM) card for INR 1.725 crore and secured top defender Krishan for INR 70 lakh. With these additions, let’s explore the Titans’ strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats ahead of Season 11.

Strengths

Under the leadership of Krishan Kumar Hooda, the Titans have revamped their roster, focusing on versatile all-rounders who can contribute in both attack and defence. Pawan Sehrawat, the third-highest raid points scorer in PKL history with 1,189 raid points, will lead the team on the mat. A former PKL MVP, Sehrawat is also effective in defence, having accumulated 65 tackle points in his career.

Alongside Pawan, all-rounder Vijay Malik, who has 409 raid points and 81 tackle points, adds balance to the team. Both players bring experience and versatility, making them valuable assets. The Titans also strengthened their squad with promising all-rounders like Amit Kumar, Sanjeevi S, and Shankar Gadai. Though these players have less PKL experience, they have shown potential and will benefit from the guidance of an experienced coach and captain.

Pro Kabaddi League, Season 11: Full squads

Weaknesses

One of the Titans' primary concerns is the lack of a strong support raider to assist Pawan Sehrawat. While Pawan will lead the attack, he will need help, especially during moments when he is out and needs to be revived. This was a significant issue last season, as neither Prafull Zaware nor Omkar Patil provided adequate offensive support.

In Season 10, Prafull Zaware scored 43 raid points and Omkar Patil managed only 19 raid points, numbers that will need significant improvement. Additionally, Manjeet, with 125 career raid points, will need to step up as a support raider if the Titans hope to have a successful season.

Opportunities

The addition of Krishan provides a much-needed leader in defence, something the Titans have been lacking. Krishan, who was second on the tackle points leaderboard last season with 78, will anchor the defense and look to add to his 139 career tackle points in the PKL.

The Titans will also hope for stronger contributions from other defenders like Iranian Milad Jabbari and Ajit Pawar. Last season, Milad notched 33 tackle points, and Ajit recorded 30. If they can step up their performances, it will significantly bolster the team’s defense.

Threats

The biggest threat facing the Titans is the lack of depth in their defence. Beyond Krishan, Milad Jabbari, and Ajit Pawar, the Titans’ defensive options are limited in experience. New Young Player Sagar, along with the trio of Ankit, Sunder, and Mohammad Malak, have a combined total of just 22 tackle points.

This lack of experienced backup defenders could pose a major challenge if the key defenders struggle or face injuries. How well these lesser-known players rise to the occasion will likely determine the Titans' defensive solidity and overall success in Season 11.