The Jaipur Pink Panthers have announced three player retentions ahead of the Pro-Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 auctions, which will be held from August 29 to August 31. They were the first of the 12 teams to release the list of players that had been retained.
So far, the champions of the inaugural Pro-Kabaddi League have disclosed the retention of all-rounder Vishal Lather, ace defender Amit Hooda, and teenager Nitin Rawal. Vishal Lather, an up-and-coming all-rounder from India, made his PKL debut in 2017. He played with Dabang Delhi for the first two seasons before joining the Jaipur Pink Panthers in Season 7. Vishal was given the opportunity to play in 16 games for them, which he took advantage of. He was in command of the defense, along with Sandeep Dhull.
The athlete impressed with his defensive ability, amassing 47 tackle points in 16 games at a rate of over three tackle points per game. The fact that the Jaipur Pink Panthers did not win any of the six games Vishal missed due to injury emphasizes his importance to the squad.
Amit Hooda and Nitin Rawal will continue to play for the Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Amit Hooda is a standout defender who will make an immediate impact for the Panthers. Hooda’s hard tackling technique has made him one of the league’s most valuable defenders. He quickly rose through the ranks and is currently one of the most effective defenders in the PKL. Hooda has 237 tackle points in 88 games, with an average of 2.48 successful tackles per game. The defender is recognized for his strong ankle holds and has 12 career High 5s.
Nitin Rawal, on the other hand, made a name for himself in his first PKL season with the Panthers in season 5. His ability to contribute on both sides makes him an invaluable member of the team. His consistency and dependability could be crucial for the Panthers. So far, the all-rounder has appeared in 46 games and has accumulated 122 raid points and 45 tackle points. He had a disappointing season last year, but given his skills, Rawal has the potential to be a match-winner for the Panthers.
