Patna Pirates Vs U Mumba 26 December 2024

Full-Time
Patna Pirates 31 - 23 U Mumba

An inspired performance from Ayan Lohchab and Gurdeep powered the Pirates into the semi-final against an inconsistent U Mumba side that was playing catch-up for most of the night.

The U Mumba defense found it hard to contain Ayan, whose movement, agility, and pace proved too sharp for them on the night, as he equaled Devank for raid points tonight. Ankit had another solid game in defense for Patna, but it was Gurdeep who starred for them. The left cover kept Ajit Chauhan quiet for most of the match, with his crunching blocks and smart challenges deflating U Mumba whenever they tried to build any momentum.

The lackluster effort from their raiders, with the lack of support for Ajit Chauhan, cost them big-time. Their defense was also not its usual solid self, with an uncharacteristically poor outing for Sunil Kumar leaving them without a defensive leader as Ayan and Devank took toll.

Patna advance to the semi-finals now, where they'll take on Dabang Delhi KC for a spot in the Final. It's the UP Yoddhas who'll face off with the Haryana Steelers in the other semi-final.

Join us again tomorrow to find out who makes it to the Final! For now, it's Shreyas signing off. Good Night!

2nd Half, 40'
Patna Pirates 31 - 23 U Mumba

Solid game management from Patna, who simply push Zafardanesh back to his own half before killing time on their raiding opportunity. With the result sealed, Devank decides to have fun in the final raid and profits from it, finishing the game with a 2-point raid.

The whistle blows to bring Eliminator 2 to a close, and it's a thoroughly professional performance from the three-time champions Patna Pirates that takes them into the semi-finals of PKL 11 as U Mumba remained second-best throughout. 

2nd Half, 39'
Patna Pirates 29 - 21 U Mumba

Third point in a row for Dhanasekar who gets an easy kick on Ayan in the Patna right corner. Devank has a do-or-die raid, and he does well to first kill time before escaping well from a reckless challenge from Sunil Kumar, who has had a poor outing!

Patna have this one in the bag now.

2nd Half, 38'
Patna Pirates 28 - 20 U Mumba

We've not seen as much of Devank tonight as we would've expected, but he delivers in a do-or-die raid against a 3-man U Mumba defense, getting away well from Rinku's attempted challenge.

M Dhanasekar, the substitute raider, pulls a couple of points back for U Mumba, but at the other end, Patna are just killing time, and the points aren't coming quick enough for U Mumba.

2nd Half, 36'
Patna Pirates 27 - 18 U Mumba

U Mumba throwing everything at the Pirates now, but it's just not sticking. Gurdeep gets to his High 5 with another block against substitute raider Satish Kannan, taking their lead to 8 points now.

Rohit Raghav has struggled to make an impact as a starter, and he's yet to score his first raid point tonight, falling once again to a well-timed ankle hold from Ankit.

U Mumba review for a bonus point, and while the replays look close, there's nothing conclusive to overturn the on-field decision. Review unsuccessful.

2nd Half, 34'
Patna Pirates 25 - 18 U Mumba

U Mumba finally send Ayan to the bench after playing on the do-or-die raid, with Parvesh Bhainswal opening his account after keeping the raider down from his attempted leap.

However, they've struggled to generate sustained momentum tonight, and Ajit Chauhan is tackled by Gurdeep, who has had a phenomenal night and is only one tackle point away from a High 5.

2nd Half, 32'
Patna Pirates 24 - 17 U Mumba

Ohh, what was the left chain doing there? Lokesh was a sitting duck for Ayan, who gets away once again in a do-or-die raid, scoring his 8th raid point of the night.

Zafardanesh is faced with a do-or-die raid now, and it's Hamid Nader, who opens his account for the night with an excellently timed diving double knee hold to stop his compatriot and send him to the bench.

2nd Half, 30'
Patna Pirates 22 - 17 U Mumba

Ayan is doing it all for the Pirates now, as he initiates a Super Tackle! Ajit Chauhan is finally sent to the bench as Ayan dives in with a well-timed knee hold that roots Ajit to the mat.

Zafardanesh pulls one back for U Mumba, using his pace to pick up a quick hand touch on the left corner.

The whistle blows for the second timeout, and this game is well-poised and set for a breakneck finish. 

2nd Half, 28'
Patna Pirates 20 - 16 U Mumba

Ayan Lohchab stepping up has been a huge bonus for the Pirates tonight, and he helps Patna avoid getting reduced to two once more, this time getting the running hand touch on the left corner.

However, the U Mumba defense strikes now, Zafardanesh on the left corner, deputizing with a well-timed ankle hold that gets the necessary support from the defense.

2nd Half, 26'
Patna Pirates 19 - 15 U Mumba

Ajit Chauhan has had the number over the Patna right corner all night, and it's Hamid Nader who mistimes the challenge on U Mumba's lead raider this time around as Patna are down to three.

Ayan, under immense pressure, delivers in a do-or-die raid, getting the running hand touch on Parvesh.

However, Ajit continues to keep U Mumba within touching distance, forcing an error from Gurdeep, who steps beyond the end-line.

2nd Half, 24'
Patna Pirates 18 - 13 U Mumba

Smart raiding that from Ajit Chauhan! He toys with Navdeep on the right corner, luring him into making an ill-advised challenge that he easily escapes from.

The crowd roars after that point, celebrating the hometown boy's in-form raids.

2nd Half, 22'
Patna Pirates 18 - 12 U Mumba

Ajit Chauhan starts the half with an empty raid and Patna returns the favor as both teams are down to five.

Zafardanesh tries to force the issue, but the in-form Ankit pounces again with a diving ankle hold to send him to the bench.

At the other end, Devank makes a rare error, stepping into the lobby without a touch, gifting a point to U Mumba.

Half-Time
Patna Pirates 17 - 11 U Mumba

Ajit Chauhan has been quiet for most of the match, but he comes to life towards the end of the match with a couple of quick touch points, bringing out the sliding toe touch in the final raid of the half to bring the deficit down to six points for U Mumba.

However, it's Patna that has the edge at half-time, with both their star raiders firing in unison, while U Mumba have struggled in that department.

Six points is a fickle lead, and the Pirates will be well aware of the perils that come with not controlling matches. Can U Mumba make a comeback or will the Pirates build on their lead? Let's find out in the 2nd half!

1st Half, 18'
Patna Pirates 16 - 9 U Mumba

With U Mumba down to three, Patna eyes another all-out, but Devank is tackled by a fierce challenge initiated by the left corner Lokesh to complete a much-needed Super Tackle. Patna opt to use their review once again, claiming that there was jersey pulling and that the raider should be safe.

This time around, the review is unsuccessful.

1st Half, 16'
Patna Pirates 16 -7 U Mumba

Ohh, Devank toys with the U Mumba defense and bides his time in a do-or-die raid with the bonus unavailable, forcing the error from the U Mumba captain Sunil Kumar, using the lobby to get away to the mid-line.

At the other end, Rohit Raghav has a do-or-die raid, and he attempts a bonus, and claims a touch on the right cover Deepak Singh while retreating, even stepping into the lobby confidently.

While the point is initially awarded, Patna review, and the decision is overturned.

1st Half, 14'
Patna Pirates 14 - 7 U Mumba

Ayan is tackled for the first time tonight, and it's a well-timed knee hold from the left corner Lokesh that does the trick in a do-or-die raid.

Wow, Zafardanesh goes so close to securing a Super Raid. However, his outstretched right hand is mere centimeters away from a potentially game-changing moment, but it wasn't to be. 

1st Half, 12'
Patna Pirates 13 - 6 U Mumba

Ayan is moving really well tonight, and he anticipates Rohit Raghav's challenge from the left-in, leaping over his block attempt to pick up another point.

Ajit Chauhan has a do-or-die raid to contend with, but he falls prey to another solid block from the left chain as the Patna captain Ankit scores his first point of the night.

U Mumba have opted to replace Manjeet with Zafardanesh as their secondary raiding option now.

1st Half, 10'
Patna Pirates 11 - 6 U Mumba

Yes, they can! This time around, the left cover Gurdeep makes no mistake with another solid block to get the Pirates a deserved all-out within ten minutes.

The U Mumba defense brings them back into it as Rinku's audacious back hold on Devank is supported well by the left chain.

They trail by five points heading into the first timeout of the match.

1st Half, 8'
Patna Pirates 8 - 4 U Mumba

It's a do-or-die raid for Rohit Raghav, and the raider, who's used to coming on as a substitute, is unable to secure a point and stumbles into the lobby.

Devank easily reduces U Mumba to one, but the substitute Zafardanesh delays the all-out, forcing the error from the right corner Navdeep.

However, Devank once again does well to reduce U Mumba to one. Can Patna complete the all-out now?

1st Half, 6'
Patna Pirates 5 - 3 U Mumba

Ayan has the U Mumba defense very confused with his pace and agility, and he makes the most of the left corner Lokesh's error, who's caught in two minds.

U Mumba down to three now.

1st Half, 4'
Patna Pirates 4 - 2 U Mumba

Ajit Chauhan opens his account in his very first raid, using his great pace to his advantage, anticipating and escaping from Ankit's dash. At the other end, Devank gets the running hand touch on Sunil Kumar, and despite the U Mumba skipper's protests, the point is awarded.

Ajit has really troubled the Pirates' defense this season, and Gurdeep's crunching block to send him to the bench will give them much joy.

Double trouble for the U-Mumba defense as Ayan Lohchab is firing on all cylinders tonight. He reduces them to four now, getting an easy hand touch on Manjeet in a 1v5 situation.

1st Half, 2'
Patna Pirates 1 - 1 U Mumba

And U Mumba start on a positive note! Rohit Raghav has this incredible habit of surprising raiders with tackles initiated from the 'in' positions, and he catches Devank off-guard with a well-timed double knee hold, sending him to the bench.

However, Ayan Lohchab, who hasn't been in the best of form off-late, starts well, reviving his partner in Patna's very next raid. There's a bit of deliberation whether it's a 1 or a 2-point raid as he gets away from Parvesh's attempted challenge, and the referees deem it to be just one.

Both teams have made their way onto the mat, and we're not far away from live action.

Devank will put in the first raid.

Here's what happened the last time these sides met earlier this season:

U Mumba captain Sunil Kumar talks about the performance of his side's lead raiders and more in this Exclusive chat with Sportskeeda:

Patna Pirates Head Coach Narender Redu opens up about a potential rivalry with the Haryana Steelers and much more in this exclusive interview with Sportskeeda:

With the lineups out, it's time to make your Dream11 teams for this stellar clash with the help of Sportskeeda's Dream11 Prediction:

Team News

Here are the starting lineups of both teams:

Patna Pirates: Ankit (C), Devank, Ayan, Navdeep, Hamid Nader, Gurdeep, and Deepak Singh.

U Mumba: Sunil Kumar (C), Ajit Chauhan, Lokesh Ghosliya, Rinku, Rohit Raghav, Manjeet, and Parvesh Bhainswal.

The Pirates make a few changes to their expected starting 7 for this clash. They've opted to play an extra defender in Iranian Hamid Nader, with Navdeep getting the nod over Shubham Shinde in the right corner.

Meanwhile, Rohit Raghav moves to the starting 7 in place of Amirmohammad Zafardanesh for U Mumba.

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of the eleventh edition of the Pro Kabaddi League. We're down to the playoffs of PKL 11, and two former PKL winners lock horns in the 2nd Eliminator as they bid to secure a spot in the semi-finals with Dabang Delhi KC here at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune.

It's the three-time winners Patna Pirates and PKL 2 champions U Mumba who face off in what should be a memorable playoff tie. The Pirates have exceeded expectations, surprising pundits and many others in the PKL fraternity, riding on the shoulders of a solid defensive unit and an exciting young raiding duo to finish 4th on the points table, with one positive result likely to have taken them into the Top 2.

U Mumba, meanwhile, encountered a few inconsistencies, injuries, and player absences in the second half of the season, but the quality in their team is evident. Led by the most successful PKL captain, Sunil Kumar, they look a complete and formidable unit, and they'll be keen to push for their second PKL title.

This should be a thrilling clash that could you keep you on the edge of your seats. So sit back and relax as we take you through all that unfolds at Pune.