Pro Kabaddi 2024: Why is Siddharth Desai not playing today's Dabang Delhi vs U Mumba PKL 2024 match?
Star raider Siddharth Desai is absent from the lineup of Dabang Delhi KC for their much-anticipated clash against U Mumba on the opening day of PKL 2024.
The match, currently underway at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad, had fans buzzing, especially with the prospect of watching Desai in action alongside co-captains Naveen Kumar and Ashu Malik. However, Desai's sudden absence has raised questions about what transpired.
Dabang Delhi KC had announced just four days ago, on October 14, that Siddharth Desai would not be part of PKL 11 due to personal reasons. While the specifics behind his withdrawal remain undisclosed, this development has disappointed fans who were eager to see him form a powerful raiding trio with Naveen and Ashu.
Desai was brought into the Dabang Delhi squad during the PKL 11 Auction for INR 26 lakh, and expectations were sky-high for the combination of Desai’s power, Naveen’s agility, and Ashu’s pace. However, with his exit from the season, the team is forced to reshuffle their strategies as they face U Mumba tonight.
Siddharth Desai's PKL record
Siddharth Desai earned the nickname "Bahubali" due to his towering presence and muscular physique. Over the years, Desai has cemented his status as one of the top raiders in PKL history. In 80 games, he has amassed an impressive 693 raid points, placing him 11th on the all-time list of most raid points in the league.
Desai made his PKL debut in Season 6 with U Mumba and quickly established himself as one of the most dangerous raiders in the league. He racked up 218 raid points in 21 matches at a stellar average of 10.38 points per game.
Desai moved to Telugu Titans in PKL 7 and scored 217 raid points in 22 matches at an average of 9.86. Desai’s journey hit a major roadblock in PKL 8 when he was sidelined after just three matches due to injury. Despite the setback, he still managed to score 34 raid points in those three appearances, averaging an impressive 11.33 raid points per match.
He made a comeback in PKL 9, where he recorded 142 raid points in 17 matches at an average of 8.35. However, his form was inconsistent compared to his early years.
In PKL 10, Desai joined the Haryana Steelers but struggled to regain his top form. He managed just 82 raid points in 17 games, averaging 4.82 raid points per match. This performance fell short of expectations, raising questions about his long-term form.
Despite this, Dabang Delhi KC showed confidence in Desai by signing him for PKL 11, hoping that he could bounce back and deliver alongside Naveen Kumar and Ashu Malik. Unfortunately, with his sudden exit from the tournament, fans will have to wait to see if Siddharth Desai makes a return to the league in the future.