5 talking points from the Kolkata leg of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi Season 3

The Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium witnessed a dazzling display of kabaddi as the eight teams fought it out for four days in the Kolkata leg of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League Season 3. The hosts, the Bengal Warriors, delighted the fans with their spectacular all-round performances and finished the home leg at the top of the pile.Just as expected, there were a lot of spectacular highs and sobering lows in this period, with several teams jostling for the top position.Here are the 5 biggest talking points from the Kolkata leg:

#1 Bengal Warriors continue their remarkable turnaround

Bengal Warriors have been the surprise package this season

The Bengal Warriors, who finished the 2015 season in a dismal sixth position, continued their impressive display in the third season of the league. The Warriors regaled the home crowd with some mesmerising kabaddi as they regained their spot at the top of the table upon the completion of the leg.

The Warriors are a rejuvenated unit this time and the players’ mutual understanding has been outstanding – almost telepathic. Much of the credit for their success goes to their devastating raider Nitin Tomar, who now sits at the top of the leaderboard having amassed 49 raid points. His efforts have been perfectly complemented by the team’s star defender Girish Ernak, who has completed 21 successful tackles.

With 5 wins and just 1 loss, the Bengal Warriors are clearly one of the teams to beat this season.

#2 Patna Pirates establish title credentials

Patna Pirates have been indomitable this season

The Patna Pirates juggernaut rolls on as they keep flattening every opposition that comes their way. Even the other impressive team of this season – Bengal Warriors – could not stand up to their challenge when the two outfits faced off in the battle of the heavyweights at the City of Joy.

Sanjiv Kumar Baliyan’s men have been able to switch between their ruthless attacking mode and their patient defensive game with astonishing ease, and their all-round play has paid them rich dividends. In their much-awaited match against the Warriors, they began by playing the waiting game in the first half.

But, they were a completely different unit in the second half as they upped their aggression and launched an all-out attack through raiders Rohit Kumar and Rajesh Mondal. One of the reasons why the Pirates are unbeaten so far in five games is their vigorous tackling. They currently head the leaderboard in the successful tackles per match category with 10.2, and many of these have been effected by their brilliant all-rounder Sandeep Narwal.

#3 Dabang Delhi\'s search for maiden win continues

Dabang Delhi (Red) crashed to a heavy defeat against Bengal Warriors

A win has eluded Dabang Delhi in six outings this season despite the fact that they have a star-studded team. The Ravinder Pahal-led side showed big ambitions ahead of the third season of the league as they went on a signing spree. With the right blend of experience and exuberance, the Eagles were expected to soar high, but that hasn’t been the case so far.

Yes, their star raider Kashiling Adake has managed to consistently inflict damage on their rival teams, and is the second-best raider this season with 44 raid points. But unfortunately for Kashi, he hasn’t received able support from his teammates.

Dabang Delhi haven’t looked a cohesive unit for large parts of the 2016 season and the players' late reactions have cost them dearly. Their inability to time their attacks has spelled doom, as time and again they have let the opposition dominate the proceedings. Until and unless they revise their strategy, the road ahead seems likely to get even tougher for the Eagles.

#4 U Mumba stage an improbable comeback

A still from the match between U Mumba and Bengaluru Bulls

Belief is an important requisite for winning any match, and defending champions U Mumbai showed plenty of it as they came back from the jaws of defeat to stun the Bengaluru Bulls 29-28 in the penultimate match of the Kolkata leg. The Mumbai side had been rendered weak on the last day of the leg with four of their players, including their talismanic captain Anup Kumar, leaving to honour their national commitments at the South Asian Games.

But, the team did not let their absence affect them as Bhaskaran Edachery’s men clinched the issue dramatically in the final minute of the heart-stopping thriller. Former Indian captain Rakesh Kumar’s resolute defense coupled with Rishank Devadiga’s determined raids paved the way for a sensational comeback, which saw the team recover from an 11-point deficit at half-time.

With this win, U Mumba have now won three of their five matches at the 2016 PKL and will aim to push further up from their current fourth spot.

#5 Puneri Paltan face a do-or-die home leg

Puneri Paltan face a crunch home leg

After languishing at the seventh place at the end of the first three legs of the 2016 PKL, Puneri Paltan will be looking to their vociferous home support to boost their morale. This is a revamped Pune franchise after a disastrous 2015 season that saw them end up as the bottom-placed team. But unfortunately for Ashok Shinde’s outfit, things haven’t exactly fallen into place as they have suffered heartbreak twice in their three assignments till now.

Their newest star recruit Manjeet Chillar has been in scintillating form once again, and is the only player to have been able to effect 3 super tackles this season. But even Season 2’s MVP could not prevent the Paltan from going down by a solitary point to the Telugu Titans in the Vizag leg, and by 5 points to the Bengal Warriors in the just-concluded Kolkata leg. At Pune, the team will also miss the services of raider Deepak Hooda and defender Surjeet, who have left to join the national team for the South Asian Games.

What can work to Pune’s advantage, though, is that of all the eight franchises they have played the least number of matches this season. They will, thus, get more time and opportunities to redeem themselves in their vital home leg.