The Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 playoffs kick off from 26th December at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune, where six teams will battle it out for the ultimate prize. Haryana Steelers and Dabang Delhi K.C. have already confirmed their place in the semi-finals courtesy of a top-two finish, while UP Yoddhas and Jaipur Pink Panthers will fight in Eliminator 1, and Patna Pirates and U Mumba will battle it out in Eliminator 2.

Ahead of the playoffs, former PKL champion Rahul Chaudhari shared his views on the season so far, and his expectations for the remainder of the season. Expressing his views on the playoffs and the six teams that have made it through. He said, “Playoffs are an amazing experience and to see the new teams come up is great. All the teams are good but if we talk about Puneri Paltan, the defending champions, they couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. So, we’ve seen some ups and downs throughout the seasons for all teams and the playoffs should be exciting.”

When asked about which team is the strongest in the playoffs and who might come out on top, the former player stated, “All the teams in the playoffs are dangerous. They have all played against each other in the season and got the results going their way. There is always some pressure in the playoff games and whoever maintains their composure will come out on top. When you’re playing in the league stages and doing well, the players play without any sense of pressure and don’t think too much about the mistakes. However, in the playoffs, there are no second chances, so the pressure is always there. Whoever loses is out. So, whichever team handles the pressure best will win the title.”

The former star also shed some light on three teams he believes have the right balance to go the distance. “When you see UP, Haryana Steelers, Dabang Delhi K.C., they are all well balanced. They have good raiders as well as good defenders. In Haryana, Shadloui is a solid defender who picks up raid points, but they also have Vinay and Shivam Patare in the raiding unit. And if someone makes his presence felt on the defensive end, it’s Rahul Sethpal. Whenever you watch him play, he stays on the mat often. He gives his hundred percent in all matches and keeps the team together. So, all teams have amazing raiders, but defences will decide the title.”

Rahul Chaudhari also listed out the best players in the respective positions in the league this season. He said, “In terms of raiding, Devank is the highest amongst the others because he gets a lot of Super Raids, much like Pardeep Narwal. Bonus and single points keep the scoreboard ticking but when you have someone who can consistently get Super Raids, it troubles the other team’s defences. If Patna are to go through, Devank will have to do the bulk of the heavy lifting. The best defender this season has been Rahul Sethpal and Hitesh from UP Yoddhas. From the new defenders that have come in, Hitesh is the standout. In terms of the best all-rounder, it has to be Mohammadreza Shadloui.

The former PKL star also believes that the teams finishing in first and second place have an advantage. He explained, “The top two teams have a chance to see the other teams and understand how the other teams are playing. So, it’s going to be a tough run for the other four teams.”

Further elaborating on who he expects to see in the finals, Rahul Chaudhari concluded, “In the finals, I hope to see some new teams coming in. Haryana have been in and around the second place for a few seasons, so maybe this is their year. The way things are going, Delhi, Haryana and Patna. Finals between UP and Haryana. Whoever keeps their defence intact, will win the title. In the finals, it comes down to the luck factor because both teams give it their all.”

Catch all the LIVE action from Pro Kabaddi Season 11 on the Star Sports Network and on Disney+ hotstar.

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