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Jaipur Pink Panthers’ raider Arjun Deshwal has made a revelation about how effortless it felt to play under former captain Sunil Kumar.
In an exclusive conversation with Sportskeeda, Arjun didn’t shy away from admitting that the burden of captaincy has impacted his game this season, a contrast to the freedom he enjoyed under Sunil’s leadership.
“This is my first time as captain. Earlier, Sunil was the captain, and he was excellent. Under his captaincy, there was no pressure, and the team performed really well.”
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Sunil Kumar hailed as the most successful captain in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) history and has had an undeniable influence on every team he’s led. After moving from Gujarat Giants to Jaipur in PKL 9, Sunil guided the Panthers to a title and then to a playoff finish in PKL 10. Now with U Mumba, Sunil continues his legacy, steering them into the playoffs as well.
Under Sunil's captaincy, Arjun flourished, topping the raiders’ charts in PKL 9 and PKL 10 with 296 and 276 raid points, averaging nearly 12 points per match. However, with the captaincy mantle passed to Arjun this season, there has been a noticeable dip in his performance, despite the presence of experienced Surjeet Singh. He currently sits third in the raiders' leaderboard with 225 raid points, averaging 10.22.
Arjun’s first stint as a captain has not been smooth sailing. Despite his best efforts, Jaipur’s campaign has not mirrored the dominance they displayed under Sunil’s leadership in the past two seasons. This year, the Panthers barely scraped into the playoffs, finishing sixth after winning just 12 of their 22 matches.
“This season, being a captain for the first time was a big challenge for me personally. I told my team from the start that qualifying for the playoffs was non-negotiable. As a player, I already had experience, and I was performing well. Now, as a captain, my performance has remained consistent, though there have been ups and downs in some matches. The best part is that we have qualified under my captaincy, and now we aim to bring the trophy home.”
While the Panthers did make the playoffs, the road has been bumpy. This lack of consistency has raised questions about whether Arjun’s dual responsibilities as a raider and a captain are taking a toll on his game.
“Ups and downs are a part of the league, no matter how good the team is. Every team goes through different situations. This is such a big league, so obviously, we will win some matches and lose some. These experiences bring both negativity and positivity. As a captain, it is important to stay in control and help the team do the same. I always tell my players not to feel pressured and to focus on using our experience to secure wins, which is what truly matters.”
The 25-year-old also spoke about the challenges of balancing his responsibilities as a raider and captain.
“You have to approach every situation strategically. It depends on what the scenario is, which team we are facing, and what the circumstances are. I have to decide whether I should go for the raid or send someone else. As a raider, you know you will get out sometimes, but overall, my performance this season has had its highs and lows.”
Arjun further added the competitive nature of this season that saw 12 ties and despite that Jaipur managed to seal a playoff spot.
“The most important thing is that the team has qualified for the playoffs. Matches have been extremely close this season, and it’s not like there was one ‘best’ team dominating. I’m happy that under my captaincy, we’ve reached this stage. But this isn’t the end of our goal; there’s more to achieve ahead.”
Arjun Deshwal on the team's preparation for the Eliminator against UP Yoddhas
Jaipur Pink Panthers will face UP Yoddhas in Eliminator 1 on December 26. The Yoddhas, currently on a nine-match unbeaten streak, boast a well-rounded squad featuring young stars Gagan Gowda and Bhavani Rajput, who have been in red-hot form. The duo has brought balance to UP’s offense while their defense remains solid.
“UP Yoddhas are a strong team. If they’ve made it this far, they are definitely one of the best. It’s going to be a tough match,” added Arjun Deshwal.
In their two league-stage encounters, the teams were neck-and-neck. Jaipur edged out UP 33-30 in their first meeting, but the Yoddhas bounced back with a 33-29 win in the return leg. Arjun emphasized the unpredictability of players like Gagan and Bhavani, who can swing games in an instant.
“Players are unpredictable; no one performs the same way every day. UP Yoddhas are a very strong team, and their defense and offense have a great balance. In the league stage, we played two matches against them - one we won and one we lost. Both were very close matches, decided in the final moments.”
With the stakes at an all-time high, Arjun recognizes the immense pressure of a knockout game.
“This is a completely different match. It’s a do-or-die situation. We either win and move ahead or lose and exit the tournament. It’s a big match, so there will be pressure. But experience will play a crucial role. We’ll analyze everything, including their weaknesses and ours. Based on that, we’ll make our strategy. It’s going to be an intense game.”
