Pro Kabaddi 2019: Predicting the starting 7 for the Puneri Paltan

VIVO Pro Kabaddi 2019 is all set to commence from 20th July 2019. One of the original teams, featuring in the league right from the inaugural season are the Puneri Paltan. One of the most consistent teams, the Paltan qualified for the playoffs in season 3, season 4 and season 5 but failed to clinch the title.

The likes of Manjeet Chhillar, Dharmaraj Cheralathan, Ajay Thakur, Deepak Niwas Hooda, and Sandeep Narwal have represented Puneri Paltan in the previous editions. The Paltan's team management decided to rehaul the squad for Season 7 as they did not retain any players from season 6.

From the season 7 auctions, they managed to put together a competitive squad. Having re-signed the likes of Nitin Tomar, Girish Ernak and addition the might of Surjeet Singh to the defensive unit, the Paltan wear a strong outlook.

The Puneri Paltan are set to play their first league stage match versus Haryana Steelers on 22nd July 2019. The home leg of Paltan will start from 14th September 2019 and will culminate on 20th September 2019.

As the exciting tournament is about to kick off, let's have a look at the probable playing seven for Puneri Paltan as part of the VIVO Pro Kabaddi 2019.

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Right Corner: Shubham Shinde

Shubham Shinde will defend for Paltan as a permanent right corner.

One of the young finds for Puneri Paltan in season 6, Shubham Shinde replaced Sandeep Narwal in the mid-tournament last season as the team struggled in balancing their defensive approach. His decent performance inspired the team management to retain him as an NYP for the upcoming season.

Shubham Shinde is a former player for the Air India Kabaddi Team. He has also represented Maharashtra thrice from 2014-15, 2015-16, and 2016-17 in the Junior Nationals. He was a member of the winning team as part of the Puneri Paltan Kabaddi tournament through which he received his Pro Kabaddi contract last year.

Shubham Shinde scored 12 tackle points in 10 matches with three super tackles to his name. An ankle hold specialist, Shubham will be expected to improve his performance from last season as the team's permanent right corner defender.

Right In: Darshan Kadian

Darshan Kadian got signed by Puneri Paltan at ₹20 lakhs.

A young talent from the Services' team, Darshan Kadian made his first impression in U Mumba back in season 5 under the captaincy of Anup Kumar. He was a part of the Patna Pirates in Season 3 but didn't get chances to prove his caliber in the team.

Darshan emerged as U Mumba's Do or Die specialist in the offensive line-up and helped to score crucial raid points for the team. He scored 33 raid points in 16 matches in the fifth season. He improved his skill set in season 6 as he executed some brilliant running hand touches and pinched bonus points for the team.

He scored 49 raid points in 14 matches with a Super 10 to his name. Darshan Kadian could be the go-to man for Puneri Paltan in crucial situations in to revive benched players and give an essential balance to the team.

Right Cover: PO Surjeet Singh

It will be a homecoming for PO Surjeet Singh back to Puneri Paltan.

Widely regarded as one of the best right cover defenders India has ever produced, Services' player PO Surjeet Singh has built his reputation as one of the best in the business with his dashes and holds.

Surjeet had an outstanding debut with Puneri Paltan back in Season 3 when he scored 48 tackle points in just 12 matches at an outstanding average of 4 tackle points.

He moved to U Mumba in season 4 and then shifted to the Bengal Warriors in season 5. He was picked as the captain of the team and emerged as the second-best defender of season 5 with 76 tackle points in 24 matches.

He led the Bengal Warriors to the playoffs twice as the captain of the side and became a lethal defender as seasons passed on. Overall, PO Surjeet has 215 tackle points in 73 matches at an average of 2.96 tackle points.

He will be one of the rock-solid defensive pillars for his former team and is also in line to be picked as the captain of the Puneri Paltan for season 7.

Center: Nitin Tomar

Nitin Tomar was the second most expensive buy at Season 7 auctions at ₹120 lakhs.

Nitin Tomar is a calculative and talented raider who has impressed with consistent performances with each passing season. Hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Nitin Tomar has innovated his game to become one of the most valuable players in Pro Kabaddi League.

In his debut season with Bengal Warriors back in Season 3, he scored 77 raid points in 10 matches at an average of 7.7 raid points. His efforts in the raiding unit helped the Bengal Warriors to qualify for the semi-finals that season. He joined the Puneri Paltan in Season 4 but failed to prove his mettle.

The most expensive player of Season 5, Nitin Tomar joined UP Yoddha and exhibited a stellar performance with 177 raid points in just 20 matches averaging 8.85 raid points. He joined Puneri Paltan in season 6 and became the fastest raider to reach 100 raid points but picked up an injury mid-season.

Nitin Tomar has a total of 377 raid points with 13 Super 10s to his name. If he gets to play the entire season, he could become one of the best raiders from the upcoming tournament.

Left Cover: Sanket Sawant

Sanket Sawant is an exciting addition to the Paltan's defense.

Sanket Sawant is one of the newcomers who has joined Puneri Paltan for Pro Kabaddi 2019. He has played for the Air India Kabaddi team along with Vikas Kale in the cover defense and has won the national Kabaddi tournament in Maharashtra.

This young defender picked up the sport from Jijamata Nagar and is also a player for the local team, Amar Krida Mandal. He was one of the finest defenders representing Dena Bank in the local tournaments from Maharashtra.

Sanket is known for his exciting dashes and blocks from the left cover position. He is a defensive all-rounder who can execute breath-taking jumps at times and score raid points for the team as well.

In addition to the Puneri Paltan's defense, Sanket Sawant will play under the likes of PO Surjeet Singh and Girish Maruti Ernak which will be beneficial for this young defender in his debut season.

Left In: Manjeet Dahiya

Puneri Paltan signed Manjeet Dahiya at a whopping ₹63 lakhs.

Manjeet Dahiya debuted in the Pro Kabaddi League for the first time last season with the Patna Pirates. While the team's support raider Deepak Narwal failed to provide raid points for the team, Manjeet Dahiya took up the onus and assisted Pardeep Narwal in the offense.

Manjeet, in his debut season scored his first Super 10 in his ninth match of the group stage against the Bengaluru Bulls. Overall, he scored 87 raid points in 22 games for Patna Pirates last year. Blessed with a long reach to the midline that allowed him to score touch and bonus points easily, Manjeet had a fantastic debut season.

A part of the Indian kabaddi team that won the International Invitational Tournament in 2017, he contributed in his team's win at the Federation Cup in 2018 and has appeared in the finals as part of the 65th and 66th Senior Nationals.

Left Corner: Girish Maruti Ernak

Puneri Paltan signed Girish Ernak at a steal buy of ₹33 lakhs.

The Maharashtrian left corner, who had a memorable year back in 2018, Girish Ernak has been a renowned left corner defender in Indian Kabaddi at the moment. He has represented the Patna Pirates in season 1 and 2, Bengal Warriors season 3 and 4, and Puneri Paltan during seasons 5 and 6.

He has improved seasons after seasons as an ankle hold specialist who also defends with his breath-taking dashes and body blocks. He was a part of Maharashtra's winning team at the 65th Senior Nationals and also won the gold medal representing India at Dubai Kabaddi Masters 2018.

Season 5 was the memorable season for Ernak as he scored 64 tackle points in 21 matches that took the team to the playoffs. Overall, Girish has 228 tackle points in 89 games at an average of 2.56 tackle points. With 11 super tackles and 15 High 5s, Girish is the sixth-best defender in Pro Kabaddi history.

Girish will form a cover-corner duo with PO Surjeet Singh which could be one of the lethal duos of the upcoming seventh season.

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