PBL 2018: 3 epic clashes to look forward to in the Mumbai leg

The Premier Badminton League is here once again as the fourth season kicks off at the National Sports Club of India in Mumbai on Saturday. With the addition of a brand new team, the league has become even bigger than before and looks to be doubly exciting.

The Mumbai leg, which will run till December 24, will witness three days of thrilling action with four matches lined up in the schedule. All three of the women’s singles superstars -- PV Sindhu, Saina Nehwal and Carolina Marin -- will be regaling the badminton aficionados in Mumbai with their shotmaking and finesse.

With a few hours to go before the action begins, let’s take a look at three of the most exciting matches in the opening leg.

#1 PV Sindhu (Hyderabad Hunters) vs Carolina Marin (Pune 7 Aces)

One of the most anticipated matches of the fourth season of the PBL will take place on the opening day when the Hyderabad Hunters take on Pune 7 Aces. While three-time world champion Carolina Marin leads PBL debutants Pune 7 Aces, the Hunters’ challenge will be spearheaded by PV Sindhu.

For Marin, it will be a tricky situation. For the last three seasons, she has been the heart and soul of the Hyderabad franchise and even led them to the title in the most recent edition. This will be the first time she will squaring off against the team with whom she has had some of her finest PBL memories.

A Marin vs Sindhu clash is always exciting simply because of the quality of aggression, competitive spirit and speed they both bring into these matches. The Spaniard leads the 7-5 head-to-head record in the international circuit but they split their two meetings this year, with the southpaw emerging victorious in the final of the World Championships.

Sindhu is the higher-ranked player in this encounter, being three places above the sixth-ranked Marin. Besides, the Indian is also coming into this match on the back of her biggest title win at the BWF World Tour Finals. The Pullela Gopichand protégé will be eager to continue in that same vein.

It is thus hard to pick the winner in this blockbuster clash. But one thing is certain -- it will be the most thrilling opening that the PBL could ever hope for.

#2 Sameer Verma (Mumbai Rockets) vs Tommy Sugiarto (Delhi Dashers)

After the kind of solid performance that India’s Sameer Verma put up at the BWF World Tour Finals in his maiden appearance, it would perhaps not be wise to expect him to be troubled by Indonesia’s Tommy Sugiarto. Sameer made short work of the Indonesian veteran in a group clash on his way to a semi-final finish at this prestigious season-ender.

It helped the 24-year-old break away from the 1-1 tie that he had with the 30-year-old Sugiarto in their head-to-head record and inch ahead to 2-1. It was also instrumental in pushing the Dhar-born Verma to his career-high ranking of No. 12.

While Sameer had a confidence-boosting finish to the season, one can’t simply count out Sugiarto, who has formerly been ranked as high as No. 3. Currently placed at No. 9 in the world rankings, he not only boasts of a vast experience in the international circuit but even in the PBL as well.

Sugiarto was the ‘Male Most Valuable Player’ in the inaugural season of the PBL when he guided the Delhi Acers to title glory. He is certainly well-versed in the pressure of playing in this format and knows what it takes to get those quick points.

No matter how confident Sameer is now, his track record in PBL does indeed pale in comparison to the Indonesian and he can’t afford to have any lapse if he aims to continue his terrific form.

#3 Carolina Marin (Pune 7 Aces) vs Beiwen Zhang (Awadhe Warriors)

Interestingly, Beiwen Zhang is one those players who has traditionally been a cause of concern for the reigning Olympic champion Carolina Marin. One look at their head-to-head record will corroborate this.

The two are tied 2-2 in their head-to-head matches. The American won their first couple of meetings in 2013 and since then the Spaniard won the next two, the latest of which was this year.

That should slightly tilt the balance in favour of the former World No. 1. Especially after the way Marin played in the second half of the season, winning the World Championships, the Japan Open and the China Open, she will indeed be having an edge in this encounter.

Having said that, it needs to be acknowledged that Zhang too had her best-ever season on the Tour and is now perched at No. 10. Her big title win at the India Open, beating PV Sindhu in the final from being match point down, shows how much determination and belief she has now.

Underestimating her would thus be foolish and anything less than her imperious best could land Marin in trouble when the two cross swords on the final day of the Mumbai leg.

Edited by Sripad