Can Patna Pirates Maintain Their Form and Become a Threat to Any Team?

Vizag, Sep 9 (NationPress) Former Pro Kabaddi League athlete Rishank Devadiga, while evaluating the enhanced defense of Patna Pirates, highlighted the significant influence of coach Anup Kumar on the team's success and noted their dedicated efforts in rectifying defensive errors.

On Monday night, Patna Pirates clinched their inaugural points of PKL 12 with a stunning 48-37 victory against the league leaders, Puneri Paltan, at the Vishwanadh Sports Club.

“Anup Kumar recognized the challenges faced by the team and prioritized bolstering the defense. He understood the critical need for defensive improvements, dedicating his focus entirely to that aspect. The players have diligently worked to rectify their defensive shortcomings during practice.

“Whether it’s Ankit or Deepak, they have been entrusted with significant responsibilities and have risen to the occasion. While the raiders performed admirably, it was the defense that proved vital, with each defender making valuable contributions. Navdeep’s performance stood out, and Sanket Sawant also played exceptionally well. Deepak and Ankit Jaglan were remarkable,” Rishank stated on JioHotstar.

It was a breakout performance for Ayan Lohchab, the young raider who netted an impressive 21 points, securing his team's first win after three consecutive losses.

Commenting on Ayan’s exceptional display, Rishank remarked, “Ayan Lohchab is a player who thrives on asserting dominance right from the onset, and he accomplished just that. He consistently engaged in raids, particularly in the early phases, achieving 3-4 consecutive successful raids. His tally ended at 21 points from 24 raids.

“His ability to destabilize Pune’s established defense and score will undoubtedly uplift any raider’s spirits. Should this team sustain this level of performance, they could pose a significant threat and potentially defeat any competitor in the league.”

In other developments on Monday, Naveen Kumar, a key raider for the defending champions Haryana Steelers, suffered a suspected left knee injury during the match against Bengaluru Bulls.

Having missed a substantial portion of the last season due to a knee injury, Naveen, aged 25, managed only 97 raid points in 16 matches last season, marking his second-lowest tally since his debut in PKL Season 6.

Regarding Naveen's injury, Rishank commented, “Naveen has sustained another knee injury and appears quite disheartened, but we hope he returns soon as Haryana Steelers need him.

“If Haryana has achieved victories, it has largely been thanks to Naveen’s contributions. Until his return, other players must rise to the occasion to fill the void.”