PKL 2018: Tamil Thalaivas hopes for winning start under captain Ajay Thakur

We have a balanced squad for the forthcoming season. If we can get some wins under our belt early, it will help us inch closer to the Super Playoffs, says Thalaivas head coach

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After an unimpressive home run in the previous season of Pro-Kabaddi League, Tamil Thalaivas head coach Edachery Bhaskaran is confident of the team doing well in the PKL 2018 beginning on October 7.

The aim was to win the maximum number of games, Bhaskaran said.

"We have a balanced squad for the forthcoming season. If we can get some wins under our belt early, it will help us inch closer to the Super Playoffs," Bhaskaran said at an event to launch the team jersey here.

The players were optimistic of winning all the home matches, he said.
 

About the difficulties a franchise faces when its home leg is scheduled in the final half of the tournament, Baskaran said, "by the time we had our home leg last year, teams had worked out our strategies.

Few players succumbed to injuries as well. These factors could dent a teams chances. It is good that we have it early this time."

While the Thalaivas jersey was predominantly yellow in colour during its debut season, the franchise has opted for a makeover, to dark blue.

Popular Tamil film star Vijay Sethupathi has been roped in as the face of PKL in Tamil Nadu.

"I have played the sport at a very young age. This is our game. I am thankful (to the organisers) for getting me on board. I hope kabaddi will receive a strong backing in the coming years from the fans," the actor said.

A spokesperson of Star Sports, the official broadcaster, said PKL season five had seen record viewership numbers and they were looking to attract more audience this time.

Here is the full squad of Tamil Thalaivas in PKL 2018:
 

Player Name	Defender/All rounder/Raider
Ajay Thakur ©	Raider
Abhinandan Chandel	Raider
Anand	Raider
Anil Kumar	raider
Athul MS	Raider
Jasvir Singh	Raider
K Jayaseelan	Raider
Sukesh Hegde	Raider
Surjeet Singh	Raider
Darshan J	Defender, right cover
Amit Hooda	Defender, right corner
D Gopu	Defender, right and left corner
C Arun	Defender, left cover
Jae Min Lee	Defender, left corner
Sunil	Defender, left corner
Chan Sik Park	All rounder
D Pradap	All rounder
Manjeet Chhillar	All rounder
Vimal Raj V	All rounder