In-form hosts will be keen to make their second successive final when they clash with Patna outfit in semis; Telugu Titans to take on Bengaluru Bulls in the other last four match
After 60 matches spanning 32 days, it's finally down to the business end of the second season of the Pro Kabaddi League. Knowing that a win will take them one step closer to the final, there'll be no room for error when the Telugu Titans take on the Bengaluru Bulls followed by U Mumba locking horns with the Patna Pirates in the two semifinals to be played at the NSCI stadium in Worli on Friday.
Having steam-rolled 12 of their 14 opponents in the group stage, it doesn't come as a surprise to see last year's runners-up U Mumba go into their clash against the Bulls as heavy favourites. Having beaten them by a margin of 13 (36-23 in the home leg on July 19) and four points (29-25 on July 24), the Mumbai side, playing in front of their home crowd do have every reason to feel confident.
Having gathered on the eve of the semifinal at the NSCI Stadium, each of the four captains had their eyes on the trophy. But for U Mumba skipper Anup Kumar, league form counts for nothing. "The entire country thinks that we have already lifted the trophy. Ye kabhi hua (When did that happen). We have to win two games for this. But yes, we did better than we had imagined at the start. We haven't over achieved. U Mumba's best is going to be seen in the next two matches. Tum bas dekho (You just watch). Last year's defeat to Jaipur Pink Panthers hurts. It'll hurt even more considering how well we've done this season should we lose," says the double Asian Games gold medalist with India.
The Mumbai side displayed their bench strength in the last two games (against Puneri Paltan (won 39-35 away) and Telugu Titans (lost 25-46 away)) having already been assured of a semifinal berth. Kumar doesn't see this as a selection headache. "Our superb run allowed the first team to get their rest ahead of the semis plus we got to see how eager were our bench players to make an impression," he adds before saying which team would he like to face in the final. "An ideal final would be between us and Bengaluru. The Titans will give us a proper game,"
If defeats to the U Mumba in both their group stage matches weren't enough, the Patna Pirates will have to face the vocal Mumbai crowd on Friday. But Sandeep Narwal, their captain, is positive after seeing his opponents taste defeat this season. "People know U Mumba's form and are still asking 'What if they lose?'. That's the best part of a knock-out game and it gives us every reason to cause an upset tomorrow. League leaders, home support, the pressure is on them," said Narwal.
U Mumba, Bengaluru Bulls and the Pirates Pirates know what it feels like to play in the semifinal having made the final four last season. It'll be the first time amongst the big boys for Telegu Titans, who finished second in the league standings, and their Iranian captain Meraj Shaykh. "The entire of Iran is going to be tuned in for the game tomorrow. The Titans weren't in the semis last season. They signed me, and here we are," said Shaykh, the first foreign captain in the kabaddi league that left the entire conference in splits.
Playing today (Live on Star Sports 2 & 3): Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls (8:00 pm), U Mumba vs Patna Pirates (9:00 pm)
Head to Head (this season)
U Mumba vs Patna Pirates: The Mumbai side got the better of their opponents on both occasions this season. (25-20 win at home, 32-27 in Bengaluru)
Bengaluru Bulls vs Telugu Titan: The Telegu side were handed a 14-point drubbing in both their matches against the Bulls (21-35 at Patna, 43-29 at Bengaluru)
How they got there
U Mumba: topped the league standings with 12 wins out of their 14 games (60 points)
Patna Pirates: finished fourth in the table with seven wins and six defeats (41 points)
Bengaluru Bulls: third in the table with nine wins and five losses (48 points)
Telegu Titans: second in the league standings with eight wins and three defeats
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