Arjun keen to lead Thalaivas to maiden title-triumph

Tamil Thalaivas vice-captain Arjun Deshwal aims to lead the team to their maiden PKL title. Reflecting on past performances, he focuses on fitness, teamwork, and raiding strategies alongside star players like Pawan Sehrawat.

HYDERABAD: Tamil Thalaivas star raider and vice-captain Arjun Deshwal said he had to give a lot to Jaipur Pink Panthers and learnt a lot there as well.

Speaking on “Kings of Kabaddi” show on JioHotstar, Arjun said although his team had changed there wasn’t much of a difference as the coach (Sanjeev Baliyan) is still the same.

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“It’s important to have a strong understanding between a player and coach, and I have that advantage,” he said.

On his performance in PKL Season 11, Arjun said last season he didn’t perform well. “There were many ups and downs within the team, and I had some shortcomings of my own. I even made a few errors in my tackles where I went completely low. But I’ve put last season behind me. This time, I’m focused on making amends. I’ve been asking the coach about my mistakes during practice, working on my fitness, and preparing to give my best,” he explained.

On winning the title with Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 9, Arjun said that during that time his confidence was at its peak. “Even when my body felt like I couldn’t tackle, the team’s support pushed me through. When you have that kind of backing, you automatically improve. We are preparing with the same belief right now. I’m still the same Arjun, and we have our plus points,” he said.

On teaming up with Pawan Sehrawat this season, Arjun said that there were big names in the team like Pawan and Narender. “With Pawan’s presence, our team’s strength will be much higher this season. We’ll support each other and give our 100 percent. Depending on the situation, we’ll analyse who can raid best at that particular moment,” he said.

On the possibilities of ego clashes with Pawan Sehrawat, Thalaivas vice-captain said that many people would think that since Pawan and he were both big stars, they won’t be able to play together in the same team. “But that’s only their mindset. Our mindset is very different—we are focused on performing well and making the best decisions for the team,” he said.

On his goal for this season, Arjun said their only focus was to make Tamil Thalaivas lift their first-ever trophy. “The team hasn’t won the title yet, and we’re determined to change that. We’ll give our 100 percent and play as one unit. We want to make a name for ourselves, and even our families and friends have told us the same. We have to achieve this,” he concluded.