Puneri Paltan in a file photo. Image Courtesy: @PuneriPaltan
Puneri Paltan will be desperate to find consistency in the ninth season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) as they managed to qualify for the playoffs only once in the last three seasons. With a very young team, Coach Anup Kumar took Puneri Paltan to the playoffs but they failed to make the cut for the semi-finals after losing in the eliminator in Season 8.
Notably, Puneri Paltan have been a part of every PKL season played thus far, however, the Pune-based franchise have never qualified for the final of the tournament. Despite making it to the playoffs multiple times, they have failed to deliver the goods in the knockout matches.
But, this year Puneri Paltan stand a good chance of clinching their maiden title courtesy of their good squad which includes Iranian duo – Fazel Atrachali and Mohammad Nabibakhsh, who were bought for INR1.38 crores and INR87 lakhs respectively in the PKL 2022 auction. The side also retained the impressive Aslam Inamdar, Mohit Goyat, Sombir, Abinesh Nadarajan, etc.
Season-by-season results:
Season 1– Eighth
Season 2– Eighth
Season 3– Third in the group stage, lost in the semi-finals
Season 4– Fourth in the group stage, lost in the semi-finals
Season 5– Second (Zone A), lost in the Eliminator
Season 6– Fourth (Zone A)
Season 7– Tenth
Season 8– Sixth in league stage, lost in the Eliminator
Puneri Paltan Squad
Raiders: Aslam Inamdar, Mohit Goyat, Pankaj Mohite, Akash Shinde, Shubham Shelke, Aditya Shinde
Defenders: Sanket Sawant, Fazel Atrachali (overseas player), Abinesh Nadarajan, Sombir, D Mahindra Prasad, Badal Singh, Alankar Patil, Rakesh Ram, Harsh Lad
All-Rounders: Mohammad Nabibakhsh (overseas player), Balasaheb Jadhav, Govind Gurjar
Schedule:
8 October Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants