UP Yoddhas’ strong start to PKL 12 garners praise from rival coaches
UP Yoddhas’ positive start to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 12 campaign is drawing praise from even rival quarters, with opposition coaches acknowledging the balanced and robust look of the GMR Sports-owned unit.
So far, the Yoddhas have won twice in three games, along with producing a power-packed punch of their offensive arsenal in their last encounter. With 9.67 successful tackles per match and a 42.02% successful tackle rate, the team is fourth-best in the league in both these metrics.
They have also rounded off three super raids, which is the joint-highest in the competition thus far. It is this versatility, coupled with the talent on their roster, that has caught the eye of their adversaries.
Anup Kumar, head coach of Patna Pirates, said after his team’s 31-34 loss to the UP Yoddhas that there isn’t much to distinguish among teams in the competition, as he believes that most of them are more or less equal in strength.
However, the ‘Captain Cool’ stuck his neck out to applaud the Yoddhas for the spirited performance they delivered against the three-time league champions.
“Almost all teams are equal in the Pro Kabaddi League. In some aspects, one side has an edge over the others, and vice versa. However, UP Yoddhas seem like a tough nut to crack to me. I was pleased with the performance of my side, but you have got to admit they (Yoddhas) are a solid unit altogether,” Anup said.
Manpreet Singh, head coach of the Haryana Steelers, was similarly lavish in his praise for the Yoddhas. The tactician, who won 12 international gold medals representing India in the sport, was in awe of UP’s attacking contingent that won 19 points as opposed to the Steelers’ 14 in that game. Last season, the two teams had engaged in a thrilling semi-final encounter, and Manpreet naturally respects the depth in the Yoddhas’ ranks.
“UP Yoddhas are such a talented team. They have multiple six foot six inches tall raiders. Even if you manage to overcome one of them, two others are waiting to pounce upon your team! How many of them could you tackle? The depth in their talent is insane. The other teams will have to put in a lot of thought and effort to find a way to get past them. It’s a fantastic team. Their defence and raiding units are equally strong,” he said last week.
With admiration for their promise cutting across team lines, the UP Yoddhas will look to regroup and return to winning ways in their forthcoming fixture against the Puneri Paltan in Vizag on September 10.
