PKL 11 Eliminator 2: Top five players to watch out for in Patna Pirates vs U Mumba

The winner will take on Dabang Delhi in the PKL 11 semifinal on Friday.

After 66 days of intense action on the mat, the Pro Kabaddi 2024 (PKL 11) is set for its climax. The Patna Pirates will face off against U Mumba in the PKL 11 Eliminator 2.

The Pirates finished fourth on the table, with 77 points, playing out thirteen wins, seven losses and two ties. U Mumba ended a rung below, with 71 points, winning twelve matches and losing eight, with two games ending in ties in PKL 11. Both the teams will now be looking for a fresh start, in a match where the journey of one team will come to a cruel end.

While cohesion and composure are necessary during big matches, the importance of a player stepping up and taking responsibility can never be understated. Here are five players, who can dictate which way the match goes tomorrow.

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Ankit (Patna Pirates)

Patna Pirates skipper Ankit Jaglan has been brilliant this season, scoring 70 tackle points, which has been the fifth-highest for a defender this season. He has secured 4 high fives overall this season. Interestingly though, the left corner could just score a tackle point each, in the two fixtures against U Mumba.

While right raiders Manjeet and Amirmohammad Zafardanesh would directly go up against him, the team would require Ankit to initiate chain tackles to stop the marauding Ajit Chouhan.

Sunil Kumar (U Mumba)

Sunil Kumar, the most successful skipper in PKL history, would be aiming to use his experience against a young Pirates unit. Having lifted the trophy with the Jaipur Pink Panthers in season 9, he would be hoping he can handle his team’s nerves well.

On an individual note, the right cover has secured 54 tackle points. More importantly, he has the highest number of assists this season, making him U Mumba‘s best defender. He will come in with a lot of confidence, having secured a high 5 in the last match against the Bengal Warriorz.

Ayan Lohchab (Patna Pirates)

Drafted in as a New Young Player, Ayan Lohchab has been a revelation this season. Despite being the second raider of the side, he is currently placed at number #6 in the list of most raid points this season, with 165 raid points (including seven super 10s).

The raider has shown quick feet and used his reach to good effect, raiding well even when the opposition has four or five defenders on the mat. Ayan has also played a crucial role in defence, forming a strong chain with Shubham and Ankit, and providing assists.

Ajit Chouhan (U Mumba)

Ajit Chouhan is one man the entire Pirates defence would have set their eyes upon. Another New Young Player, Ajit has done a brilliant job this season, being the fourth-best raider with 180 raid points. This is commendable, especially considering that Manjeet and Zafardanesh have struggled for form.

He has nine Super 10s and nine Super raids too, depicting his capability to make an impact. Patna is one team that has struggled to find answers against Ajit, considering he scored 19 and 15 in the two earlier fixtures.

Devank Dalal (Patna Pirates)

Devank Dalal has been in a league of his own this season, scoring 280 raid points, 27 more than the second-placed Ashu Malik. Tall, quick and powerful, the raider has been a menace for all defensive units, having secured the joint highest number of super 10s (18).

In the last four matches, teams seem to have found a way to stop Devank by trying to pounce on him from the front, but the raider has still scored super 10s in all of them. He has scored 15 and 12 raid points in the two matches against U Mumba, and his side would be hoping he has one more big night.

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