Will Telugu Titans finally break their title drought in PKL Season 12?

As Pro Kabaddi Season 12 begins in Visakhapatnam, Telugu Titans aim to end their title drought with a mix of youth and experience. While stars like Bharat Hooda and Shubham Shinde strengthen the squad, inexperience in cover positions remains a concern.

HYDERABAD: Will Telugu Titans make amends to win the elusive title in the Pro Kabaddi Season 12 starting from August 29 in Visakhapatnam?

For a team which finished seventh with 66 points from 22 matches in the last season, Krishna Kumar Hooda-coached Titans should be obviously looking forward to seize on playing in front of home crowds in the Port City after its strategic move to retain the core squad during the player auction even while there was equal focus on roping in fresh talent.

---

A mix of experience and young talent is projected to be the strength of Titans with a lot of options in both raiding and defensive departments.

How productive will be employing the Final Bid Match (FBM) card to retain the dynamic all-rounder Vijay Malik (for ₹51.50 lakh) who scored 172 raid points and 11 tackle points last season will be is the big question.

The acquisition of Bharat Hooda for ₹81 lakh brings a proven raiding pedigree to the squad. While his recent form has dipped, Bharat still remains a vital component with 599 career raid points. Alongside Bharat and Vijay, Jai Bhagwan – a highly-rated young raider – adds flair and unpredictability.

Retained stars Ashish Narwal and Manjeet, both retained via FBM at ₹15.17 lakh and ₹13 lakh respectively, provide bench strength and raiding options off the bench. This is expected to allow the think-tank to rotate their raiders in a given situation.

The signing of Shubham Shinde, one of the top right corners in the league, for ₹80 lakh is a massive boost to its defense. With 207 tackle points in 106 games, Shinde brings aggression, experience, and leadership at the back.

Defenders like Aman Antil and Rahul Dagar, alongside a promising group that includes AmirHossein Ejlali, Shankar Gadai, Ankit, Sagar Rawal, Ajit Pawar, Avi Duhan, and Bantu Malik are expected to shore up the defence.

Then what are the weaknesses? Experts feel that Titans might miss the former captain Pawan Kumar Sehwarat, who was the top raider in the Season 10 and 11 with 202 and 129 points respectively.

The other area of concern is the inexperience in the cover positions. On the right cover, Sagar Rawal is still finding his feet after debuting last season, while Avi Duhan is yet to feature in a single PKL match.

On the left cover, Ajit Pawar (42 matches) is the only experienced name. Bantu Malik, though promising, is yet to debut in the league. These gaps could be exploited by stronger raiding units, particularly if injuries strike during the season.

Dronacharya Hooda led Dabang Delhi K.C. to their first-ever PKL title in Season 8 and has multiple national accolades under his belt. His tactical acumen and motivational leadership have already begun shaping this team’s identity.

His familiarity with nurturing young talent could prove pivotal in unlocking the potential of Telugu Titans’ NYP (New Young Player) recruits.

For Titans, youngsters like Chetan Sahu, Rohit Rathee, Nitin, and Sagar Rawal, all retained under the Existing NYP Category, will be eager to prove themselves. Their integration could add unexpected X-factors to the Titans’ gameplay, particularly in matches where depth and energy are needed.

It is apparent that Titan’s fortunes hinge a lot on the form of Bharat Hooda and if he is inconsistent, it might have a serious impact on the progress of the team in the League.