Chennai, Oct 2 (NationPress) U Mumba kicked off their Chennai journey with a dominant 42-24 victory over the Tamil Thalaivas at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium. The season 2 champions rebounded from three consecutive defeats, climbing to sixth place in the points table.

Commenting on the win, U Mumba's head coach Anil Chaprana remarked, “After suffering three losses, it was crucial to uplift the players. I’m confident they possess no shortcomings. If we leverage our strengths, we can triumph over any opponent. As the coach, my role is to inspire and encourage them to excel in their gameplay. During practice, they recognized their errors and addressed them. They trained with great determination and performed admirably today.”

Sandeep Kumar achieved a Super 10 during the match, while Sunil Kumar secured a High Five, leading the team to victory. As the league approaches Revenge Week, all eyes are on U Mumba and the Gujarat Giants, who are gearing up for their clash on Thursday.

In the previous encounter, U Mumba secured a gripping tie-breaker victory (6-5) after both teams ended regulation time tied at 29-29. Reflecting on that game, Sunil mentioned, “It was our inaugural match in the league and a thrilling contest. We won in the tie-breaker due to Shadloui’s mistake. Both teams performed well, which is why the match progressed to a tie-breaker.”

“It was indeed Shadloui’s error. I believe he won’t repeat it in the upcoming match. I attempted to award him one point, but he overestimated and ended up in a difficult spot. Nevertheless, I doubt he will make the same mistake again. If he does, we’ll handle him,” he cautioned.

The rivalry between Sunil Kumar and Mohammadreza Shadloui will be a focal point in this matchup. However, U Mumba’s captain downplayed the individual conflict, emphasizing the importance of teamwork in kabaddi.

“I don’t see it as Shadloui against Sunil. That was the case in the previous match, but that’s behind us now. It’s Gujarat Giants versus U Mumba. Kabaddi is not an individual sport; it’s about the team. The side that plays effectively and minimizes errors will emerge victorious.”

“Shadloui will come prepared to win, just as we will. If he seeks revenge, that’s fine. If we replicate our performance from today, victory will be ours,” Sunil concluded.

Below are the previews for the PKL Season 12 matches scheduled for Thursday, October 2:

With four victories in their last five encounters, Puneri Paltan aims to maintain their momentum as they strive for a top two position. They face a formidable challenge against the Bengaluru Bulls, who are eager to recover after their tie-breaker defeat to UP Yoddhas.

In the second match, Gujarat Giants will take on U Mumba, coinciding with Revenge Week in the PKL. While the spotlight will be on Mohammadreza Shadloui and Sunil Kumar, both teams will be eager to secure consecutive wins to enhance their standing in the points table.