Team effort is the focus with defenders and raiders complimenting each other, reckons Patna Pirates head coach after their dominant display

Patna Pirates decimated the Bengaluru Bulls with a scoreline of 54-31 at the Noida Indoor Stadium on Tuesday, in Match 64 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 11. The raiding duo of Ayan and Devank ran riot, scoring 12 and 16 points respectively to assert their dominance in a convincing win that helped three-time champions jump to third place on the points table.

In the post-match press conference, Patna Pirates head coach Narender Kumar Redhu spoke about his team’s comprehensive performance, praising his defenders and raiders after they delivered a clinical performance. 

“It was a good match for us, in terms of defending and raiding. Both departments did their job today. In the start of the game, the defenders kept the Bengaluru Bulls quiet and then it was our raiders who capitalized on that.  So, both of them did their bit to help us win the game. We had 8 or 9 Super Tackles today, so they deserve full credit for their effort.”

Narender Redhu was also quick to acknowledge the Bengaluru Bulls and their performance this season. He said, “Bengaluru Bulls have played well this season and have lost games by close margins. They’re a good team with big names. Pardeep is a big star, if he fires then the situation of the game can change. They have Ajinkya and Akshit too, who are good raiders. So, we had to ensure that we play with some control against these players.”

The head coach also spoke about former the Patna Pirates player, record breaker Pardeep Narwal. He mentioned that the raider is and always will be a star. “Pardeep has given three trophies to the Patna Pirates and he is one of the best raiders in the league. There are some moments in a player’s career where he can’t continuously deliver for the team. Pardeep is a star and will always be a star. However, if our defense can stay in control and get us the line, they deserve full credit for it,” he stated.

The Patna Pirates head coach played down the questions about his team’s title ambitions this season, stating that his team will go step by step as they try to make progress. His team will have a short break before they face the UP Yoddhas on 24th November. When asked about how the team will approach that game, Patna Pirates’ head coach mentioned, ”I believe that no team in the league is easy to face. Everyone comes with a set plan, and we have to react to how they play and plan accordingly.”

Preview for Matches on November 21: 

A struggling Bengal Warriorz side that are tenth on the points table will come up against the Telugu Titans, who have won four of their last five games. On the contrary, the Bengal Warriorz have only won one of their last five games. We could see a headline clash as Maninder Singh and Pawan Sehrawat potentially face each other in what might feel like a must-win game for both sides. 

The second contest of the day will see the Bengaluru Bulls and Haryana Steelers. The two teams come into this contest on the back of heavy defeats and will be eager to bounce back. Haryana Steelers remain on top of the table with the showstopper Mohammadreza Shadloui justifying his price tag, while Bengaluru Bulls will hope that Pardeep Narwal and Nitin Rawal will help them get back to winning ways.