PKL Season 10: Bengal Warriors Hit by Setback as Raider Akshay Bodake Ruled Out of Pro Kabaddi League 2023
In a major setback for the Bengal Warriors, their recently acquired star raider, Akshay Bodake, is set to miss the upcoming Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 10 due to a left knee injury that required surgery. This news comes as a blow to the Kolkata-based franchise, which had high hopes for the seasoned raider's contributions in the upcoming season.
Akshay Bodake, who featured for the Patna Pirates in the previous season, is known for his prowess as a specialist raider, coupled with the ability to play a defensive role as a left cover defender. Bengal Warriors secured his services for ₹13 lakh at the Pro Kabaddi 2023 Auction last month, signaling their belief in his capabilities on the mat.
Despite joining the team's pre-season camp at the Navi Mumbai Sports Association in Vashi, Bodake faced challenges managing his knee injury and eventually opted for surgery. The decision was revealed by the raider himself on Instagram, where he expressed his disappointment in being unable to participate in PKL Season 10.
"Despite all of my efforts and thoughts to give it a try this season without surgery, unfortunately, it won’t be possible for me to play this season," Bodake stated on his Instagram post.
His fellow kabaddi player and Puneri Paltan all-rounder, Aslam Inamdar, extended words of encouragement, commenting, "Be strong; get well soon, brother."
In the heartfelt Instagram caption, Bodake expressed gratitude to the Bengal Warriors' owners and management for their unwavering support during this challenging period. He also conveyed appreciation to his family members and assured fans of regular updates on his rehabilitation journey.
"I will be in my rehab process soon and will keep you all updated on the process to be back on the mat and play Kabaddi. Keep me in your wishes and blessings to recover soon," Bodake concluded.
With Akshay Bodake ruled out, Bengal Warriors now face the task of finding a suitable replacement to strengthen their squad for the upcoming season. The franchise, led by their coach and management, will likely be on the lookout for a player who can seamlessly integrate into the team dynamics ahead of their PKL 10 campaign kick-off against Bengaluru Bulls on December 4.
The absence of Bodake adds a layer of complexity to the Bengal Warriors' strategy, and the team will need to adapt quickly to fill the void left by the talented raider. As the PKL Season 10 draws near, fans eagerly await further developments and announcements from the Bengal Warriors camp regarding their plans to address this unexpected setback.
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