PKL: Tamil Thalaivas sacks coach Sanjeev Baliyan following allegations on team management

Pro Kabddi League (PKL) franchise Tamil Thalaivas announced on Tuesday that it has sacked its coach Sanjeev Baliyan.

Thalaivas finished 10th last season (12 points) among 12 teams and failed to make it to the top eight (play-ins).

“Tamil Thalaivas confirm that head coach Sanjeev Baliyan’s contract has been terminated with immediate effect,” the team wrote on social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter).

The team said that it will announce its new coach in due time.

During the torrid season 12, Thalaivas released its team captain Pawan Sehrawat just after the first (Vizag) leg on disciplinary grounds. The Indian national team captain later took to on social media to deny all the allegations and demanding proof. He even stated that he would quit playing Kabaddi if the Thalaivas management could prove the allegations.

Following its last game, head coach Baliyan alleged that the team management didn’t give him the freedom to select the starting seven and that unfit players were given chances over fit ones. He alongside team captain Arjun Deshwal alleged that most of the team’s decisions were made by the analyst.

After this episode, Thalaivas waited for the season to get over and then released a statement on social media.

The Chennai-based team clarified that management has given full freedom to the head coach, including team selection, player retention, training, strategy, and all his requests have been fulfilled.

Published on Nov 11, 2025