February 24 2016, 19.17 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
The defending champions take on last season's runners up Bengaluru Bulls in Delhi
24th February, 2016, New Delhi: Aiming to increase their chance of a place in the semi-finals before the start of their home leg, defending champions U Mumba arrived in New Delhi full of confidence and vigour. A thumping 30-17 win over Bengal Warriors in Season 3 of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi re-established their dominance that was prevalent in Season 2, their title winning season. They will now take on Bengaluru Bulls, their opponents in the Season 2 final at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in New Delhi.
Coach Bhaskaran credits the type of training carried out by the coaching staff for the absence of injuries so far from the U Mumba camp in Season 3. Practice sessions before the league focussed on getting the starting combination right and match scenarios being played out. During the league though, match-day practice sessions have been solely building fitness and stamina while non match-day practice sessions involved polishing particular skill sets of each player.
The changes to the regular starting seven for the champions have risen from other issues - mainly the brilliance of Fazel Atrachali who grabbed the opportunity given to him by the collar and never let go. Put in place of regular corner Surender Nada when the latter was away on national duty, the Iranian continued to start with Nada feeling a bit under the weather on his return from the South Asian Games. Coach Bhaskaran believes that while he is a very talented player, his performance keeps increasing in stature with every match. "In the 2nd season, Fazel didn't get much of a chance because Mohit (Chhillar) and Surender were working well together. He also joined the team late which delayed the process of integrating him into the team. This season, we decided to start him when the four players had gone for SAG. It worked wonders but we were wondering how the Mohit-Fazel partnership would work once Mohit came back. It has been brilliant to see both of them learning from each other and adapting their game according to the other's playing style."
It is this successful and unlikely partnership that sees Fazel top the list in the number of successful tackles per match (4.2) and also the team topping the list of the percentage of successful tackles per match (48.35). While the U Mumba defence has held strong, it remains to be seen how their wall holds up against the likes of Surjeet Narwal when they come up against Bengaluru Bulls. With both teams having many players from the surrounding areas of Haryana, the encounter will hold great importance for both sides.
Photo caption: Rishank Devadiga stretches to reach the mid line in U Mumba's previous encounter against Bengaluru Bulls in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi
