Bengaluru Bulls have now lost 12 of their 14 matches in PKL 11.
U Mumba secured a thrilling 34-32 win over Bengaluru Bulls in a high-octane Pro Kabaddi 2024 (PKL 11) encounter at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Monday.
Speaking to the media, Bengaluru Bulls captain Pardeep Narwal followed by U Mumba coach and captain Sunil Kumar shared their thoughts on the PKL 11 match.
Manjeet and Ajit Chouhan combined for an impressive 15 raid points, propelling U Mumba to second place on the PKL 11 points table. Captain Sunil Kumar also made history by equalling the record for the most wins as captain in the Pro Kabaddi League with 73 victories.
“Honestly saying it was not on my mind when I came to play, I just came to win for the team,” said U Mumba captain Sunil Kumar.
“I am very happy. Fazel is a senior player and he had come into the league way before me. So to equal his record feels really good. Now I will try to play better for the team, and want to win the PKL trophy for U Mumba as a captain,” he added.
The PKL 11 match began with U Mumba taking an early lead as Manjeet and Ajit Chouhan dominated in raids, while Sombir tackled Pardeep Narwal to keep the Bulls on the back foot.
Despite Bengaluru Bulls’ efforts to close the gap, U Mumba maintained their composure, with Ajit Chouhan’s two-point raid and an ALL OUT extending their advantage to double digits by halftime at 18-10.
On giving more chances to youngsters
In the second half, Sombir’s tackle on Pardeep Narwal and Manjeet’s two-point raid kept U Mumba in control. Defensive contributions from Bengaluru Bulls’ Arulnanthababu and Naveen brought them closer, but U Mumba stayed ahead.
“Today Sushil played really well, so the coach and I have decided that we will give more chances to the young players in the upcoming matches in PKL 11, “said Pardeep Narwal.
On his fitness and injury
A late resurgence from Bengaluru Bulls, led by Pardeep Narwal’s two-point raid and an ALL OUT, made it a nail-biting finish. With Pardeep struggling with his fitness the last couple of weeks, Bengaluru’s raiding department has been mostly unsuccessful otherwise. However, in true PKL 11 fashion, Manjeet delivered a Super Tackle and a clutch raid to seal the victory for U Mumba, showcasing their resilience and brilliance in this season of PKL 11.
“I am fit now and I am hoping I can perform better the next game, ” said Pardeep Narwal.