Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: Five talking points from Day 23 of PKL 5

#5 Where do the Yoddha go from here?

There's much to think about for UP Yoddha

Led big against the U Mumba with a fantastic first half, ended up losing their game. Led against the Jaipur Pink Panthers in a game without Manjeet Chhillar and spectacularly lost it in the dying stages with a strategy that played into the Pink Panthers' hands. Had a massive lead today against the Thalaivas, almost lost it in the second half, reclaimed the advantage and still came away with only a tie.

One wonders what the mood in the Yoddha camp is like right now!

This is a side that boasts two of the finest raiders in the game in Rishank Devadiga and Nitin Tomar, the man who went for the highest price in the auction. They have experienced heads in defence in Jeeva Kumar and Rajesh Narwal. They have a young defender in Sagar Krishna who has come on impressively this season. They have a coach in Udaya Kumar who has plenty of experience in Pro Kabaddi.

Yet for some reason, they are coming up short in the big moments almost every single time. They have failed to win a single game at home in five attempts with just one more home tilt remaining. Out of those five games, they have been in position to win at least three of them. And yet, they have thrown away leads and capitulated when the pressure has been on. The other teams must be licking their lips at the moment if they come up against the Yoddha, knowing that its a team with a scarred psyche and struggling to close out matches.

They have some serious thinking to do for they came into the Lucknow leg holding the top spot in Zone B. However, instead of consolidating that place, they have let slip their advantage and have failed to win in five home games.

A lot rides on how they close out their campaign tomorrow against the Telugu Titans. All eyes will be on how this team goes from here.