Revisiting Patna Pirates' meek surrender in the semi-final of PKL 2023-24

Now that a week has gone by, and enough time has passed for ruminations to erode memory's time-bound recollections, one has good reason to revisit the meek way Patna Pirates surrendered in the first PKL 2023-24 semi-final played in Hyderabad on February 28.

The Pirates, one of the favorites to lift the Pro Kabaddi League title this season, put up a showing that would have thoroughly disappointed those who had turned up at Gachibowli wearing their colors.

Their morale seemed to be in tatters, and it seemingly took a lot from their coach Narender Singh Redu to motivate them and impress upon them the fact that they were playing in a semi-final.

At times, the spirit that the Pirates had displayed all season seemed to be one from a forgotten era, one in which the sun still rose in the east and the team that got the most points from a kabaddi game was still declared its winner.

Eventual winners Puneri Paltan showed their appreciation for the Pirates' lack of creativity by wasting as much time as they could in their half, with only the call for 'Do or Die' spurring Aslam Inamdar's men into action.

The Pirates waited and watched, and waited and watched until there was no waiting and watching to be done, and the big screen unhelpfully displayed the scoreline of 37-21 to the Paltan.

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The crowd at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium were left dejected by Patna Pirates' performance

The Pirates were listless against eventual winners Puneri Paltan. [PKL]

The faithful who had turned up in huge numbers at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium were left in dismay. A few who were sentimental enough to try and rouse strong emotions from the players were seen in tears in the parking lot.

Captain Sachin and raiders Manjeet and Sudhakar tried their best to pick up the pieces of whatever was left of the game long after it had been deemed shut by the Paltan, but their efforts were futile, and came far too late.

If right-cover Mayur Kadam's showing was one of apparent indifference, Babu, Krishan and Ankit matched it with the helplessness they showed in the face of difficulty.

Sandeep Kumar and Sanjay, coming off the bench, were brought on to give the side a boost, but what coach Redu would have hoped to provide special effect turned into one of mere formality.

The Pirates have a lot of thinking to do before the next season of PKL gets underway. Most of all, they need to learn how to be courageous and show some spirit under pressure, and not surrender as meekly as they did.

Coach Redu will now try to impart as much wisdom as he can upon his wards, in the hope that they develop more fortitude for the matches to come.