Defending Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) champions Puneri Paltan have been dealt a severe blow as their captain and star all-rounder, Aslam Inamdar, has been ruled out for the remainder of the ongoing season 11 due to a knee injury. The news was officially confirmed by the team on social media on Monday.
Aslam sustained the injury during a raid in Puneri’s recent match against Telugu Titans at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on November 9. The 24-year-old limped off the mat and did not return, watching helplessly from the sidelines as his team suffered a narrow 33-34 defeat.
The injury ends Aslam’s promising campaign in which he had already scored 38 points in seven matches. His absence leaves Puneri Paltan without their inspirational leader and a crucial player for the rest of the season.
Aslam Inamdar has been a cornerstone for Puneri Paltan. He not only led the team to their maiden PKL title last season but was also named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of Season 10. Across 70 matches in his PKL career, he has amassed an impressive 545 points, showing his consistent brilliance in both raiding and defense.
This season, Aslam’s leadership and skill were expected to guide the team in their title defense. His injury now leaves a significant gap in the lineup, forcing the team to rely heavily on other players to step up in his absence.
Aslam’s absence is a loss not just for Puneri Paltan but for the league as well. The all-rounder was part of the Indian team that clinched the gold medal at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, further solidifying his reputation as one of the brightest stars in the sport.
Puneri Paltan will now need to regroup and find a way to cope without their captain as they aim to stay competitive in the tightly contested league. The team’s depth and bench strength will be tested as they navigate the rest of the season.
It remains to be seen how Puneri adapts to this setback and whether they can maintain their status as one of the league’s top contenders without their talismanic leader.
