The Jaipur Pink Panthers, the defending champions, were also the clear favorites heading into season 10 of the Pro Kabaddi League. The Pink Panthers started the season badly, winning only one of their first four games. However, they have recovered well, going 13 games without losing. With momentum in their favor, all clubs are scared of confronting the inaugural winners.
The most impressive thing about this club is their persistent effort, even in the final seconds; they had three tied games this season. Their success has been largely attributed to the continuance of the previous season. They secured their trip to Hyderabad for the semifinals after finishing with 92 points in the league stage.
Let’s take a moment to reflect on the two-time champions’ journey thus far as they aim for a third title.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers, who fell to Pune in their most recent game, had a sluggish start to the season because of their status as the reigning champions. Since they were playing in the lower section of the league, they were only able to win one of the next three games. But they made a significant comeback thanks to coach Sanjiv Baliyan’s tactics and strategy adjustment.
Even though Rahul Chaudhary was a more well-known player, the coach chose to replace him with Bhavani Rajput because he truly believed that no one is more important to the game than the game itself. Even though Arjun Deshwal was playing at his peak, the youthful combination of Ajit Kumar’s speed and towering Bhavani Rajput’s skill caused the opposition’s defenders to make mistakes, which ignited an incredible 13-match unbeaten streak.
Arjun Deshwal, who had been topping the Raiding charts, was helping the Jaipur Pink Panthers win games. However, they were exposed as their defense was unable to come up with a winning combination. It took some time for Sunil Kumar, the captain, and Ankush to settle into a groove, but once they did, they were at their unstoppable best, much as they were when they won the title in season nine.
If one could give a rationale for their favorite tag, it would be their tireless approach to winning games out of thin air. In Super Tackles, Ankush (8) and Reza Mirbagheri (7) have insured that no Raider is safe when there are three or fewer defenders. With Sunil Kumar and Sahul Kumar as their experienced match-winners, they cruised into the playoffs with 16 wins from 22 games.
The seventh leg of the caravan, which began the second part of the season, was at Jaipur. They are the only team to have won all four games on their home leg this season. The Telugu Titans pushed them to the limit, winning the opening game 38-35. The second game was a rematch of the 2023 finals, in which they defeated Puneri Paltans.
Arjun Deshwal unlocked his full potential, scoring 50 points in four games as opposing defenders had no answers for the Best Raider of Season 9. Sunil Kumar and Reza Mirbagheri were at their mercurial best as they made life difficult for the Raiders. They both made certain that at least one of them was on the mat, controlling the game with their experience.
