Pro Kabaddi 2024: "This team would have been in 1st, 2nd, or 3rd position, not 5th or 6th"- Anup Kumar points out 1 big miss for U Mumba

Former U Mumba captain Anup Kumar recently gave his views on the Mumbai-based franchise's performance in Pro Kabaddi 2024. Anup felt that U Mumba could have been in the top three of the points table had they executed one thing better.

Speaking with media ahead of his return to the mat in the PKL Melbourne Raid, Anup Kumar talked about U Mumba's PKL 2024 campaign. The Mumbai-based franchise are yet to officially qualify for the playoffs. They need to avoid losing by 47 points or more in their last game against Bengal Warriorz to progress.

Ajit Chouhan has been the team's best raider, with 174 raid points to his name. Anup opined that had one of the other raiders supported Ajit better, U Mumba could have been in the top three.

“Ajit's performance has been excellent... If another raider had supported him even a little, this team would have been in first, second, or third position, not fifth or sixth,” Anup said.

Overall, U Mumba have won 11 out of 21 matches in Pro Kabaddi 2024 so far. Giving his opinion on the team's overall performance this season, Anup added:

"U Mumba's performance has been very good after a slow start. Though their start wasn't great, they've improved... If they win their last match, they'll qualify 100%."

"A single raider can never win the trophy for a team now" - Anup Kumar on evolution of Pro Kabaddi 2024

During the same discussion, Anup Kumar mentioned that teams previously won titles riding on just one raider's extraordinary performance. However, the same isn't the case now, thanks to the growth of defenders.

“When the PKL started, defenders didn't have much value, and there weren't many tackle points as the raiders ruled the roost. But nowadays there are more defensive moves... A single raider can never win the trophy for a team now, you need defenders,” Anup said.

Lastly, the former U Mumba captain mentioned that the Haryana Steelers were the most impressive team in PKL 2024. The Steelers hold the first position in the standings with 84 points from 22 matches.

"The Steelers have impressed the most this season, both their defenders and their raiders... Their defence especially has done tremendous work, whether you talk about (Mohammadreza) Shadloui or Rahul (Sethpal)," Anup concluded.

The Steelers have earned a direct entry into the semifinals.