Tamil Thalaivas Break Silence on Coach Sanjeev Baliyan’s Allegations After Tumultuous PKL 12 Season

The Tamil Thalaivas have officially responded to the explosive allegations made by head coach Sanjeev Baliyan following the team’s disappointing campaign in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12). The statement, released on the franchise’s social media platforms on Wednesday, sought to clarify the management’s position and address the controversy that has gripped the team since the season’s end.

Baliyan, who took charge of the Thalaivas for the 2025 season, had accused the management of interfering with team decisions, claiming he was denied the freedom to pick his starting seven and that unfit players were selected over fit ones. The remarks came during the post-match press conference after the team’s final league game, where he and captain Arjun Deshwal voiced frustration over alleged meddling by the team’s analyst and top officials.

The comments quickly spread across social media, fueling widespread speculation about internal discord within the Chennai-based franchise, which finished 10th in the standings and failed to qualify for the playoffs.

In its official response, the Thalaivas management denied all allegations of interference, asserting that Baliyan was granted full authority over team selection, player retention, training, and match strategy throughout the season. “At no point did the management interfere in these decisions,” the statement read. “All requests made by the head coach were fulfilled in good faith.”

However, the team also revealed that several players had raised concerns about the coaching staff, citing a lack of personal attention and feedback. “These concerns were communicated to the coach and addressed internally,” the statement noted.

The Thalaivas expressed disappointment over the manner in which Baliyan chose to air his grievances, pointing out that he had skipped media interactions for 16 consecutive matches before appearing after the final game to make what the management described as “unsubstantiated remarks.” The franchise called his public comments “regretful” and stated that the focus should have been on accountability and reflection following a subpar campaign.

Adding to the turbulence of the season was the earlier controversy involving captain Pawan Sehrawat, who was released mid-season on disciplinary grounds. Pawan later took to social media to deny all allegations, challenging the management to produce proof and suggesting that miscommunication may have been at the heart of the fallout.

Concluding its statement, the Thalaivas management acknowledged the team’s underwhelming performance and announced that a comprehensive review process is underway to evaluate both on-field execution and off-field management ahead of the next PKL season.