Pune ,dec 26
Former Pro Kabaddi League star and champion Rahul Chaudhari believes the team that handles pressure best will emerge victorious in the final.The playoffs of Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 kick off on Thursday at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune, where six teams will compete for the ultimate prize.Haryana Steelers and Dabang Delhi KC have already secured their places in the semi-finals with top-two finishes, while UP Yoddhas and Jaipur Pink Panthers will face off 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, including the six teams that have made it through.”Playoffs are an amazing experience, and it’s great to see new teams emerging. All the teams are strong, but if we talk about Puneri Paltan, the defending champions, they couldn’t qualify for the playoffs. We’ve seen some ups and downs throughout the season for all teams, and the playoffs should be exciting,” he said, as quoted in a PKL press release.When asked 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’ve all played against each other this season and have had their moments. There is always some pressure in playoff games, and whoever maintains their composure will come out on top.”
“When you’re playing in the league stages and doing well, players are often without any pressure and don’t overthink mistakes. However, in the playoffs, there are no second chances, so the pressure is always there. Whoever loses is out. So, the team that handles the pressure best will win the title,” he added.The former star also highlighted three teams he believes have the right balance to go the distance. “UP, Haryana Steelers, and Dabang Delhi K.C. are all well-balanced. They have good raiders as well as solid 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.
