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Former Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) champions Bengal Warriorz have assembled a strong squad for the upcoming PKL 11 tournament. The Warriorz did not qualify for the playoffs last season.
Shedding some more light on their performance in season 10, the Kolkata-based franchise played 22 league games, registering nine wins, 11 defeats, and two ties. They finished seventh in the standings, narrowly missing out on a spot in the next round.
One of the major reasons behind Bengal's failure in the last season was the team's over-reliance on Maninder Singh. However, the team management seems to have solved that problem at the PKL 11 Auction, and here are three reasons why the Warriorz can lift the trophy in the 2024-25 season.
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#1 Captain Fazel Atrachali
The Bengal Warriorz signed veteran Iranian defender Fazel Atrachali at the Pro Kabaddi 2024 Auction and appointed him as the skipper. Fazel is among the most successful captains in PKL history and will bring in a ton of experience to the table.
Having led the Gujarat Giants to the playoffs last season, Fazel will be keen to help Bengal go all the way to the trophy in PKL 11. Fazel is not just an experienced leader but also a reliable defender.
The presence of Fazel will benefit Bengal a lot. In case Maninder Singh gets tackled down early, Fazel can revive him quickly by pulling off a successful tackle in the defense.
#2 Bengal Warriorz have a solid defensive lineup
Not just Fazel Atrachali, the Bengal Warriorz have some other game-changers in their defense as well. The biggest Indian name present in the team's defensive unit is Nitesh Kumar, who once scored 100 tackle points in a single Pro Kabaddi League season.
Nitesh struggled to perform in his last few seasons with the UP Yoddhas, but with Fazel as his corner partner now, the new vice-captain of the Bengal Warriorz should fire all cylinders. The Warriorz also have seasoned campaigner Mayur Kadam for the right cover position.
Another reliable right cover available with the Warriorz is Vaibhav Garje, who scored 53 points last season. Shreyas Umbardand and Manjeet are promising left cover options. It won't be wrong to say that the Warriorz have one of the strongest defenses in PKL 11.
#3 2 brilliant support raiders for Maninder Singh
Over the last few seasons, Maninder Singh battled like a one-man army for the Bengal Warriorz in PKL matches. However, things should change in season 11 now that the Warriorz have two talented raiders in the squad to support Mighty Mani.
Rising star Nitin Kumar will continue to represent the Kolkata-based franchise in PKL after earning 169 points in just 20 matches last season. Nitin surprised everyone by recording eight Super 10s in PKL 10.
Joining Nitin and Maninder in the raid unit of Bengal will be former U Mumba star Pranay Rane. Pranay has 50 points from 23 matches, including one Super 10. He can play the third raider's role to perfection for the Warriorz.
Bengal will start their campaign against inaugural champions Jaipur Pink Panthers on October 20. It will be exciting to see if Bengal can win the trophy this year.
