Taneja’s Kabaddi Insights
Jaipur
Kabaddi expert Sunil Taneja lauded the Bengaluru Bulls and UP Yoddhas for their strong performances this week while also voicing concerns about the struggles of Mohammadreza Shadloui and Tamil Thalaivas’ Arjun Deshwal.
The UP Yoddhas snapped their four-match losing streak with an emphatic 39-22 win over the Tamil Thalaivas. Meanwhile, the Bengaluru Bulls edged out the Gujarat Giants 28-24. Speaking to JioHotstar, Taneja broke down the Yoddhas’ strategy, crediting their defensive cohesion. When the defence clicks, this team wins. With captain and left-corner Sumit securing a High Five, the Yoddhas found their rhythm. Mahender led the unit brilliantly, and the coordinated tackles ensured the Thalaivas couldn’t score heavily, he said.
Taneja also praised the raiding rotation that saw Gagan Gowda, Bhawani Rajput, and Shivam share responsibilities. The over-reliance on Gagan is gone. All three raiders stepped up—7, 6, and 5 points respectively. This was their most complete performance of the season, he added.
Turning his attention to Shadloui, Taneja expressed concern about the Iranian defender’s struggles as captain. He’s leading an unsettled unit for the first time. I would urge the coach to relieve him of captaincy and let Rakesh take over. Shadloui should focus only on defence, where he excels, Taneja remarked.
On the Tamil Thalaivas, he was critical of Arjun Deshwal, pointing out both physical and mental challenges. His fitness levels have dipped slightly, but more importantly, he wasn’t prepared for captaincy. The sudden leadership role, coupled with the absence of Sagar Rathee and lack of raiding support, has left him burdened, Taneja said. For kabaddi fans, the week highlighted contrasting fortunes: the resurgence of the UP Yoddhas and Bengaluru Bulls on one hand, and the leadership struggles of key players like Shadloui and Deshwal on the other.