Heading into the Kolkata leg of the Pro Kabaddi League, there was some trepidation percolating through the Bengal Warriors camp. With its place in the play-offs far from certain and a hectic schedule lined up, the Warrior clan and its followers were becoming restive.
Maninder Singh has been the leading raider for Bengal Warriors with over a 150 points this season
Kolkata:
While most players from other teams would have been tending to their tired limbs and aching bodies after a long-drawn-out season, the Bengal Warriors appeared invigorated by the challenge of a perform-or-perish situation. Bengal still has four matches remaining and there is a very real prospect of it dislodging Bengaluru Bulls from the top of Zone B.
What was particularly remarkable about its win over Patna was how it overcame an inferior head-to-head record of 2-9 with such effortless ease. It is worth recalling that after galloping to the top in its Zone last season, Bengal came unstuck against the very same Patna in the Qualifier 2 to end the season empty-handed.
The team looks dominant in defence with the duo of captain Ran Singh and Surjeet Singh complementing each other, while the raiding pair of crowd favourite Maninder Singh and South Korean Jang Kun Lee is going about its task with admirable gumption. The 28-year-old Maninder has so far racked up 488 points in 54 matches in the league with a creditable 21 Super 10s to his name.
In this season alone he has accrued 159 points in 17 matches while accumulating 7 Super 10s. There is the added incentive of breaching the 500-point barrier and given how he is going from strength to strength, there is every likelihood that he will get there in a trice. Asked about the imminent record, Maninder said his sole focus is on continuing his rich vein of form and propel his team to its maiden triumph.
“I’m not focusing on any individual milestones. It’s a team sport and I’m glad that I have contributed to the team’s progress to the knockouts. We have reached that phase of the tournament where every match matters and we can’t afford to lower our guard. I’m aware that opponents will closely analyse my game and that helps me in getting better,” said Maninder after his heroics helped his team defeat Patna.
It remains to be seen whether Bengal can lay its hands on the trophy in another two weeks, but if it fails in its endeavour, it will not be for want of effort.
Putting all those concerns to rest, the home team needed all of two matches to breeze into the knock-out stages with consummate ease. Given how it has fared against a struggling Tamil Thalaivas and a formidable foe in Patna Pirates in the first two matches of its home leg, it can be said with certitude that Bengal Warriors is peaking at the right time.
While most players from other teams would have been tending to their tired limbs and aching bodies after a long-drawn-out season, the Bengal Warriors appeared invigorated by the challenge of a perform-or-perish situation. Bengal still has four matches remaining and there is a very real prospect of it dislodging Bengaluru Bulls from the top of Zone B.
What was particularly remarkable about its win over Patna was how it overcame an inferior head-to-head record of 2-9 with such effortless ease. It is worth recalling that after galloping to the top in its Zone last season, Bengal came unstuck against the very same Patna in the Qualifier 2 to end the season empty-handed.
The team looks dominant in defence with the duo of captain Ran Singh and Surjeet Singh complementing each other, while the raiding pair of crowd favourite Maninder Singh and South Korean Jang Kun Lee is going about its task with admirable gumption. The 28-year-old Maninder has so far racked up 488 points in 54 matches in the league with a creditable 21 Super 10s to his name.
In this season alone he has accrued 159 points in 17 matches while accumulating 7 Super 10s. There is the added incentive of breaching the 500-point barrier and given how he is going from strength to strength, there is every likelihood that he will get there in a trice. Asked about the imminent record, Maninder said his sole focus is on continuing his rich vein of form and propel his team to its maiden triumph.
“I’m not focusing on any individual milestones. It’s a team sport and I’m glad that I have contributed to the team’s progress to the knockouts. We have reached that phase of the tournament where every match matters and we can’t afford to lower our guard. I’m aware that opponents will closely analyse my game and that helps me in getting better,” said Maninder after his heroics helped his team defeat Patna.
It remains to be seen whether Bengal can lay its hands on the trophy in another two weeks, but if it fails in its endeavour, it will not be for want of effort.