PKL 10: Patna Pirates' coach reveals strategies for semifinal clash against Puneri Paltan

The Pirates emerged victorious in a close contest.

Patna Pirates made their way into the semi-final after defeating Dabang Delhi K.C. in the Pro Kabaddi League season 10 (PKL 10) Eliminator 1 fixture at the GMC Balayogi Sports Complex in Gachibowli, Hyderabad on 26 February 2024. The nail-biting clash between the two sides ended 37-35 in favour of the Pirates as the Dabang Delhi K.C. crashed out from the tournament.

Despite Ashu Malik’s 19-point heroics for the Dabang Delhi K.C., the Patna Pirates took the victory thanks to valiant performances from Sachin (9) and the rest of the team. It was a collective effort that took the Pirates into the semis while Dabang Delhi were too reliant on their star raider.

The mood in the post-match press conference was contrasting, to say the least. Both camps talked candidly about the game and the season at large. Here are the excerpts from the conversation:

Overall contribution

Narender Redu, head coach of the Patna Pirates, talked about his team putting in a collective effort to secure the win. He said, “We had prepared for the match after analysing our last performances and the confidence was high in the team. Our raiders have a good combination, Sudhakar and Sandeep did well, and Ankit was strong in defence later on. It was a brilliant display from both defence and offence. We had belief in Sandeep and he got us across the line.”

Puneri Paltan is a good team – Narender Redu

The head coach expressed that the upcoming game against a polished team like Puneri Paltan will be tough but his side will plan accordingly. He said, “We will plan towards the game as we had only kept our focus for the game against Delhi and have a day for it. Previously, we played a tie with Puneri Paltan which is a good team in all departments. We will strategise for the semi-final and aim to deliver a good performance.”

Rambir Singh Khokhar on over-reliance on Ashu Malik

The tactician was honest in his assessment and admitted that Dabang Delhi K.C. was too reliant on Ashu Malik. He said, “There is no doubt that it was a one-man show but Meetu and Manjeet also contributed to the team in other matches. This game was a final in itself where we needed to perform but I would congratulate Ashu Malik as he performed well in defence too. However, he gave his 100% in raiding for the team.”

A good season – Ashu Malik

Dabang Delhi K.C.’s Ashu Malik scored 19 points in a losing cause, however, he looked back on the season fondly. “We had a good season. Despite a few early losses, the team picked up rhythm and produced some memorable wins down the line. The squad played well today too but the Patna Pirates, being a good team themselves, turned out the better side between the two,” he concluded.

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