PKL 11 Season Review: Did lack of experienced raiders affect U Mumba's title hopes?

U Mumba finished fifth in PKL 11.

U Mumba suffered a shock exit from Pro Kabaddi 2024 (PKL 11) at the hands of Patna Pirates in the second semifinal. The outfit who had to wait till the last league match to qualify for the playoffs, finished fifth in the PKL 11 standings with 12 wins, eight losses and two draws from 22 matches.

U Mumba had a mixed run in PKL 11 this year. Although they put in some good performances in the league, they were still not favourites to win the title this season. Letting go of a prolific raider like Guman Singh, they did not rope in a replacement. While Ajit Chouhan has been exceptional for them this season the outfit has faltered every time he has not scored.

Also Read: PKL 11 Season Review: Should Bengal Warriorz retain inexperienced Prashant Surve as coach for next season?

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While newly appointed captain Sunil Kumar has been a standout performer for U Mumba in PKL 11, others have done just enough to keep U Mumba in the run for playoffs. The fact that one has to dig deep to find a name beyond Ajit Chouhan and Sunil Kumar who have made an impact for the season 2 champions, speaks volumes on how disjointed and incohesive the team has been.

That being said, nevertheless, let’s take a look at how the PKL 11 unfolded for the season two champions.

Top Performers:

Ajit Chouhan

Ajit Chouhan has been the standout performer for U Mumba in PKL 11, he single-handedly has taken them to the winning side quite a few times. In 23 matches, he amassed an impressive total of 186 points, with 185 coming from raids at an average of 8.04 raid points per match.

Ajit maintained a solid not-out percentage of 69.76%, reflecting his ability to stay on the mat under pressure. With 301 total raids, he achieved a remarkable success rate of 61.46%, including 9 Super Raids and 9 Super 10s. His consistent ability to break through defensive lines and deliver crucial points has made him a key player to watch this season.

Sunil Kumar

Newly appointed captain Sunil Kumar led by example for U Mumba in PKL 11. Over 23 matches, he earned 54 tackle points with an average of 2 successful tackles per match. His defensive efforts include 8 Super Tackles and 3 High 5s, emphasizing his ability to deliver in crucial moments.

With a total of 110 tackles and a success rate of 42%, Sunil has been instrumental in maintaining his team’s defensive stability. Moreover, his impressive not-out percentage of 97.26% highlights his resilience and discipline.

Rohit Raghav

If other than Ajit and Sunil, someone had impacted U Mumba’s performance this season, that has been Rohit Raghav. The all-rounder has been a reliable contributor in both attack and defense throughout Pro Kabaddi Season 11. In 21 matches, Rohit earned 79 points, including 68 raid points at an average of 3.23 per game. With a raid success rate of 43.31% and a 74.52% not-out rate, he showcased consistency and composure in high-pressure situations.

Defensively, Rohit added 11 tackle points with a 46% success rate, averaging 0.52 successful tackles per match. While he didn’t manage any Super Tackles or High 5s, his overall versatility and ability to deliver when it mattered made him a crucial player for U Mumba this season.

Also Read: PKL 11 Season Review: Over-reliance on Arjun Deshwal sink Jaipur Pink Panthers

Top Performances:

• U Mumba 43-29 Puneri Paltan (Match 90)
• U Mumba 47-31 Tamil Thalaivas (Match 106)
• U Mumba 43-37 Patna Pirates (Match 122)

Coach’s Report Card – Gholamreza Mazandarani

Gholamreza Mazandarani could have had the season go his way if not for some of his ‘not-so-right’ decisions. Letting go of a prolific raider like Guman Singh and not getting a replacement to support Ajit Chouhan. The fact that U Mumba barely edged past the opponents, is proof that the team needs to go through some changes and work “together” to perfect the cohesion.

Lessons to be learned

The most important lesson that U Mumba can take from this season is that one or two players can win you matches but not trophies. Kabaddi is a team game and all the players need to step up for an outfit to go to lengths.

Fans’ View

Honestly, the fans would not be much disappointed with the season, because U Mumba were never title contenders. They have entertained the fans with some good wins with narrow margins and kept them on the edge of their seats.

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