Picture Credit: X/@ProKabaddi
Day 8 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 witnessed thrilling matches with Haryana Steelers defeating UP Yoddhas powered by Naveen Kumar’s leadership. U Mumba dominated Bengaluru Bulls, highlighted by Ajit Chouhan’s spectacular six-point raid.
Speaking exclusively on KBD Live, JioStar expert Rishank Devadiga analysed Haryana Steelers’ victory over UP Yoddhas: “I initially thought UP Yoddhas would take the win, but credit must go to Naveen Kumar for his leadership and impactful performance. Both, Rahul and Mayank contributed significantly, especially in defense. While Haryana led with tackles, UP Yoddhas excelled in raids. Naveen and Mayank secured crucial raid points, supported by a solid defense, which ultimately worked in Haryana Steelers’ favour. Although the team struggled initially, Naveen rose to the occasion, making key plays and neutralizing top defenders Sumit and Hitesh, sealing the victory for the Steelers.” On Rahul Ahri as a key defender in the left-corner position for Haryana Steelers: “We were always curious about who would take the left-corner position for Haryana Steelers after Shadloui. Rahul Ahri did that in the first match but he didn't perform well. We saw some improvement in the second match, but against the Yoddhas, Rahul made that position his own. Whenever he got a chance, he consistently stopped raiders like Gagan Gowda and Bhawani Rajput. He delivered an outstanding performance.”
On UP Yoddhas’ performance: “UP Yoddhas were unable to maintain control of the game. Initially, their raiders provided some momentum, but the defense did not deliver as expected. Captain Sumit’s leadership, which had been notable in the last two matches, was absent on the mat. The team’s raid distribution was off, and the defense lacked cohesion. While Sumit showed some promise in the first 10 minutes, the subsequent phases called for substitutions to change the dynamics. Bringing in players like Guman Singh could have helped. Although they had moments of momentum, ultimately, UP Yoddhas lost their grip.”
Puneri Paltan and U Mumba hold the lead in PKL Season 12 with six points
On U Mumba’s dominating win: “This match was quite straightforward for U Mumba. Ajit Chouhan was particularly outstanding, delivering a spectacular six-point raid—a rare sight in the Pro Kabaddi League. The entire U Mumba team played cohesively. Both sides showed strong tackling, which helped keep the match competitive.”
On Ajit Chouhan’s six-point raid: “As a raider, Ajit Chouhan touched six defenders in a single raid, crossing the mid-line just as the whistle blew, making it an extraordinary moment. That raid alone could have earned him seven points if he had taken a bonus, but it was a spectacular effort nonetheless.”
(With Inputs from Press Release)
