Pro Kabaddi 2019: 3 players Bengal Warriors may release before next season

The champions of Pro Kabaddi 2019, Bengal Warriors surprised everyone with their consistent performances this year. The Kolkata-based franchise reached the final for the first time in the tournament's history and even though they were up against the table-toppers Dabang Delhi K.C., the Warriors showed no nerves in the grand finale.

The team management of Bengal Warriors needs to be lauded for buying the finest Iranian free agent Mohammad Nabibakhsh in the auction. Though many fans felt that the team owners had bought him at a very expensive price, the all-rounder ensured that he makes every penny of his contract count. Besides, the team even hit a masterstroke by retaining Baldev Singh and Maninder Singh ahead of the auction.

Also, the strategy to back the out-of-form Sukesh Hegde worked in Bengal's favour. While everything was perfect for Bengal Warriors in Pro Kabaddi 2019, there were a few players who could not live up to expectations.

Here are the 3 players that the BC Ramesh-coached franchise may release ahead of the next season -

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#3 Mayur Shivtarkar

Mayur Shivtarkar standing in a chain with Jeeva Kumar

Matches - 11, Tackle Points - 7, Average Successful Tackles/Match - 0.63

Despite being bought in the auction as an all-rounder, Mayur Shivtarkar played as a defender for Bengal Warriors. The cover defender featured in 11 matches for Bengal where he could aggregate only 7 tackle points at a disappointing average of 0.63 successful tackle per match.

He could not score a single High 5 in the tournament and though the team management backed him time and again, the all-rounder could not perform well.

His tackle strike rate of 21.21% shows how easily the opposition raiders got the better of him in Pro Kabaddi 2019. Also, in terms of tackle strike rate, Season 7 proved to be the worst for Shivtarkar as his tackle strike rate was 50 percent in Season 5 and last year, his strike rate was 29.21%.

Thus, Bengal Warriors may release him before next season.

#2 Adarsh T

Adarsh T was playing his second season for Bengal Warriors

Matches - 12, Tackle Points - 6, Average Successful Tackles/Match - 0.5

Another young Bengal Warriors defender who let the fans down in Season 7 was Adarsh T. The youngster formed a partnership with the right corner Baldev Singh by filling up the left corner position in the absence of Rinku Narwal. He played 12 games for the champions in Pro Kabaddi 2019 where he could score only 6 tackle points.

His average of 0.5 successful tackles per match created pressure on the other defenders while his tackle strike rate also took a dip this year. In Pro Kabaddi Season 6, Adarsh had scored 14 points in 10 matches and his tackle strike rate was 52.17%. Also, he had attempted five more tackles than what he did in Season 7.

Since the team has a formidable left corner defender in Rinku Narwal, Adarsh was never a first choice player. Besides, he lacked in confidence this season and since his performances did not help the Warriors much, the team management may release him.

As far as the backup left corner defender is concerned, the Kolkata-based franchise should look to recruit some other young talent.

#1 Viraj Vishnu Landge

Viraj Vishnu Landge committed 12 unsuccessful tackles against Patna Pirates

Matches - 9, Tackle Points - 8, Average Successful Tackles/Match - 0.88

The left cover defender of Bengal Warriors, Viraj Vishnu Landge was earlier a part of the Dabang Delhi K.C. franchise. He had played 26 matches for Delhi where he scored 22 points over two seasons. While he had decent numbers heading into this season, his unsuccessful tackles increased by leaps and bounds this year.

Landge attempted 44 tackles in Pro Kabaddi 2019 of which only 8 were successful. The raiding unit got under pressure on multiple occasions due to Landge's mistakes. He had a poor tackle strike rate of 18.18% hence, there is no reason why the Bengal Warriors should keep him in their squad for PKL 2020.

His worst outing came against Patna Pirates when the duo of Pardeep Narwal and Jang Kun Lee relentlessly attacked him. Landge committed 12 failed tackles in that match where he could finish with just 1 tackle point.

Thus, these are the three under-performers that the Season 7 winners might release before the next season of Pro Kabaddi.