PKL 10: Patna Pirates' road to playoffs

Three-time champions are eying their fourth title.

Patna Pirates are the most successful franchise in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). They dominated the top-flight league throughout three consecutive seasons from PKL 3-5. They’ve made it to the playoffs seven out of a possible ten times and hold the record for the joint most number of knockout qualifications.

After a forgetful outing last season, the three-time champions have bounced back strong and have qualified for the playoffs yet again. Out of 22 matches, the Pirates have won 11, lost eight and drawn three while accumulating 69 points in total. They finished sixth on the PKL 10 table after the group stage fixtures.

On that note, let us take a look at their journey to the playoffs.

First half of the season: Mixed performances

The Pirates had a good start to their campaign as they pulled off two back-to-back wins against the Telugu Titans and Gujarat Giants in their opening matches. But, things took the wrong turn after that as they lost three games on the bounce against the Bengal Warriors, U Mumba and the defending champions Jaipur Pink Panthers.

They came back stronger against the Tamil Thalaivas before losing to Puneri Paltan. The former champions won two back-to-back games against Haryana Steelers and UP Yoddhas before losing their final two games against Dabang Delhi KC and Bengaluru Bulls. In 11 matches, they won five matches and lost six.

Second half of the season: Consistent

They began their second half of the season in Jaipur with a draw against Dabang Delhi before facing a defeat against Tamil Thalaivas. Patna Pirates then completed the league doubled over the UP Yoddhas and took revenge from the Bengal Warriors. They then settled for a hard-fought draw against an in-form Puneri Paltan.

After that, they completed the league double over the Gujarat Giants at home before sharing spoils with the Bengaluru Bulls. They won three games in a row and defeated Jaipur Pink Panthers, U Mumba and Telugu Titans, but lost their final group stage fixture against the Haryana Steelers. In 11 matches, the Pirates won six, drew three and lost just two.

Home Leg: Unbeaten

The Patna Pirates had an incredible run of performance at home. They are one of the only two teams to remain undefeated in their home leg. Patna Pirates began their home leg with a statement victory over the Bengal Warriors where they won by a 16-point margin.

In the second match, they recorded a hard-fought draw against Puneri Paltan before thrashing the Gujarat Giants with a 12-point win. In their final home game, they shared points with the Bengaluru Bulls. In four home matches, the Pirates won two and drew two.

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