PKL 8: Did Bengaluru Bulls rely too much on Pawan Sehrawat?

The outfit managed to qualify for the playoffs in the recently concluded season.

The Bengaluru Bulls are a big name when it comes to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Season 8 of the competition saw the outfit reach the business end, but they missed out on the title. The Season 6 winners showed their class in the most recent campaign, despite lacking the final edge. There were a few shortcomings in the semis that led to their elimination.

Bengaluru Bulls played a total of 22 matches in PKL Season 8, from which they won 11 matches and lost nine. The other two ended in ties as well. The league stage saw the Bulls placed fifth and managed to secure a place in the playoffs.

Positive points of the team

There were several positive signs for the Bengaluru Bulls to take away. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat took charge and scored the most points by any raider in the season. He scored 320 points in 24 matches, leading by example as the skipper. His leadership qualities were essential in helping the team reach the playoffs. 

Bharat, the youthful raider, was also important for the team in the campaign. The emerging player was a positive for the team and the defence was also decent for the outfit. 

Negative points of the team

While Pawan Sehrawat was a major positive for the Bengaluru Bulls, over-reliance on him became a major negative for the outfit. In the process of scoring 320 points, Pawan single-handedly secured multiple wins for the team.

This is a problem because a lack of support means more pressure on the skipper’s shoulders. Whenever Pawan had an off-day, the Bulls struggled to put in a good performance. The team needs other players who can perform at a high level in Sehrawat’s absence. 

Players that exceeded expectations

Some players were very impressive for the Bulls, putting in better performances than expected. One of the players falling in this category is Bharat. He scored 129 points in 23 matches, shocking many. He collected vital points on many occasions and emerged as decent support to Pawan Sehrawat in the raiding department. 

On the other hand, Saurabh Nandal was also impressive. He scored 69 points in 24 matches, delivering a performance better than what was expected of him.

Players that disappointed 

Chandran Ranjit was one of the players that let down Bengaluru Bulls a lot. He was supposed to be the second in command when it comes to raiding. However, the player could not perform that role and provide the necessary support to Pawan Kumar Sehrawat. He only managed 90 points in 19 matches.

Apart from this, Mahendra Singh was also disappointing in defence. He scored only 40 points in 20 matches. G.B. More was also underwhelming in his performances, scoring 20 points in 15 appearances. 

Changes for the upcoming season

There are a few points where the Bengaluru Bulls can improve. Defence is one of the areas that needs work. The coaches must work on the advanced tackling of their players, which was not up to the mark in the season. Another major area that needs reinforcement is the raiding department. If Pawan gets good support and the defence becomes more composed, then the Bengaluru Bulls can challenge for the title again.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Kabaddi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Telegram.