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For Tamil Thalaivas captain Ajay Thakur, season 5 of the Pro Kabaddi League has been a whirlwind to say the least. While he continues to shine on the mat, his teammates have not been able to replicate the same.
While he struggled for form in the first few games, Ajay turned around his fortunes very quickly. He was wise to ensure he puts an end to the downfall before it was too late. Ajay has by far been one of the most effective raiders this season.
On Saturday, he breached the 200 raid point mark against Patna Pirates producing a sublime performance. He now has 213 points to his name from 22 matches. The only player ahead of him is Pardeep Narwal who has 267 points in 21 games.
Post their win against the Pirates, Ajay took time out to explain why Pardeep has succeeded in separating himself from the pack. He suggested that staying in good shape is vital if a player has to succeed in the Pro Kabaddi League
"Pardeep Narwal is a young player and the biggest thing that works in his favor is that he never suffers from injuries. The players that you have been comparing him with, all those players have suffered too many injuries. When a player returns after a knock, his focus is less, he is not the same player," he explained.
Despite having already been knocked out of the tournament, Tamil Thalaivas continued to cause upsets in their final games. T
hey end their campaign with just six wins but can be proud of their performance given their young squad. Ajay revealed that he was never bogged down despite the losses and wanted to give it his all till the very end.
"I had decided that I will not let any team pass by us easily. We will play to our potential till the very end. There is always pressure. Whatever be the situation, we must always try to win the game. We are like this in practice games as well," he said.
Asked if he believes he can beat Pardeep Narwal next season, Ajay chose the diplomatic route. While he is fully capable of doing so, Thakur believes that it will all depend on if he manages to stay fit.
"Nothing like that, you can never say anything in this league. Maybe I might score only 100 points next season. What if I get injured? It all depends on your fitness," he signed off.
