Overconfidence cost Bengal Warriors spot in playoffs, PKL 10 season review

For the second consecutive season, the Warriors failed to qualify.

2019 Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) champions Bengal Warriors had another forgetful season as they failed to reach the knockouts for the third consecutive season. However, they have improved a lot in comparison to last season and were very close to ending their playoff drought this season.

The Warriors got the best possible start to their campaign and were one of the sides to watch out for in the opening few fixtures. They went on a four-match undefeated run in their opening games, including three wins and one draw. But, they lost track after that and were trapped in a loop of inconsistent performances.

Top performers

Maninder Singh

Maninder Singh led his side from the front and did everything in his power for his side. The Indian international finished fourth in the top raiders’ list with 197 raid points to his name. He has consistently been one of the best players in the league over the past few seasons and is ranked second in the all-time points-getter of the league with 1442 points in 143 games while averaging almost 11 points per match.

Nitin Kumar

Nitin Kumar had a breathtaking debut season in the Pro Kabaddi League. The raider was Bengal Warriors’ second highest points scorer with 169 points in 20 matches. He averaged 8 raid points per match and possessed a conversion rate of 41%. He attracted everyone’s attention with his flamboyant and extraordinary playing style.

Shubham Shinde

The defender recorded his best-ever season in the PKL as he surpassed all the expectations and dropped in an awe-inspiring performance. He was formidable at the back and was the best defender for his side. He accumulated 62 tackle points and ranks 12th in the list of defenders with the number of tackle points. 

Underperformer of the season

Srikanth Jadhav

Srikanth Jadav failed to meet the expectations of the fans and the team with his disappointing performances throughout the season. The raider even failed to hit the 100-point mark and only managed to get 74 raid points. His unsatisfactory performances increased the pressure and dependency on Maninder Singh and the result is there for everyone to see.

Special mentions

The Bengal Warriors did very close to qualifying for the knockout this season. Along with top performers, players like Vaibhav Garje, Vishwas S and Aditya Shinde also played an important role for the Warriors. Vaibhav scored 53 points, Vishwas recorded 44 while Aditya scored 28 points this season.

Top performances

Bengal Warriors 60-42 Patna Pirates

Bengal Warriors 55-35 Telugu Titans

Bengal Warriors 46-34 U Mumba

Manager’s report card

K Bhaskaran is considered to be one of the best coaches that the nation has ever produced. The manager has already won the PKL title and even the World Cup for India. Bengal Warriors won nine matches, lost eleven and drew two. The team went on from finishing 11th in PKL 9 to finishing 7th in PKL 10 under Bhaskaran. The Warriors have improved leaps and bounds under their manager and will continue to do so in the upcoming season.

Lessons to be learned

Bengal Warriors were undoubtedly one of the most improved sides in the league this season, but there are a few important areas that they need to address. They had a good start but failed to qualify because of the absence of a secondary raider alongside Maninder Singh. They won three out of their first four games, but then the wins came in installments. The Warriors missed a playoff spot by 14 points which means they need to become more consistent and work upon their weaknesses.

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