PKL 11: Key battles to watch out for in match 32, Puneri Paltan vs U Mumba

The much-awaited Maharashtra Derby is set to take place on Sunday in PKL 11.

The Puneri Paltan are set to take on U Mumba in the 32nd match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 (PKL 11) at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. The upcoming battle has an interesting context. While U Mumba were the most dominant team in the first three seasons, comprising some of the greats of the game, the Paltan have revolutionized the sport with their aggression in the last few seasons.

The defending champions have won three matches, lost one and played out a tie in one in PKL 11. After starting off with dominant wins against the Haryana Steelers and the Patna Pirates, they lost their third match to the Tamil Thalaivas. This was followed by a demolition of the Bengaluru Bulls.

In their previous PKL 11 match, Puneri Paltan played out a tie against the Warriorz, with both teams scoring 32 points apiece. It was a slightly disappointing performance for the Paltan, considering they had a handy lead at one point.

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On the other hand, U Mumba have come back strongly after their loss on the PKL 11 opening night against the Dabang Delhi. Out of their four matches in PKL 11, they have won two and lost one. The first win for the season 2 champions came against the Gujarat Giants.

They then came from behind to secure a draw against the Warriorz. In the last match, they defeated nemesis Jaipur Pink Panthers 39-37. It was a strong performance for U Mumba in PKL 11, as they kept the various stars in the opposition team quiet.

With both the Puneri Paltan and U Mumba looking to maintain their unbeaten streak, here are three battles which could decide which way the match goes:

Aslam Inamdar vs Sunil Kumar

The battle between the two skippers could be one of the most interesting ones to watch out for. Aslam, who is now playing in his fourth season for the Paltan, has played by the team philosophy of ‘the whole being greater than the sum of the parts’ with everyone making small contributions, rather than one or two players scoring big. The Indian international has scored 20 raid points in 5 matches, thus playing his part well.

The right raider will go up against right cover Sunil Kumar, who has led the defence very well in the last few matches. Having not opened his account in the first match, he has got decent returns of 7 tackle points in the next 3 matches. Importantly, the cover duo of Sunil and Parvesh Bhainswal has continued to be as solid as ever.

Mohit Goyat vs Sombir

The speed of Mohit Goyat will face off with the might of Sombir. Mohit Goyat continues to impress with his quick feet and has scored 27 raid points in 5 matches, including a super 10 against the Thalaivas. Just like his skipper, he is also playing in his fourth season for the defending champions and has well and truly adjusted to the playing style of the team.

Mohit will have to contend with a tough challenge in the form of Sombir. The left corner, who had a decent debut season for Mumbai last time, had a rough opening night. Ever since, he has been on fire, scoring a total of 10 tackle points in the next 3 matches. His high 5 against the Warriorz was a treat to watch, as he pulled off a number of audacious solo tackles.

Ajit Chavan vs Gaurav Khatri

Ajit Chavan was highly rated before the season began. Four matches into his debut PKL, he has justified that. He has already scored 29 raid points in 4 matches. After a Super 10 on the opening night against Delhi, he had a whopping tally of 14 raid points in the previous match against a star-studded Jaipur Pink Panthers defence. With his pace and thrust, the left raider has already impressed many pundits.

Ajit, though, will be up against an aggressive Gaurav Khatri. Having joined the Paltan in the ninth edition, he has already become irreplaceable in the side. After playing a vital role in his team’s title-winning campaign last time, he has started off from exactly where he had left. The right corner has been unstoppable, with 21 tackle points in 4 matches, which includes two high 5s.

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