Through the many years that Patna Pirates has been a part of the Pro Kabaddi League, the team’s relationship with captain Pardeep Narwal has been a constant of the game. While Narwal led all the victories for the team, this season’s less than stellar performances have also been under his captaincy. Despite being a three-time champion of the league, the recent achievements of the team have left even the most dedicated fans, somewhat shaken. The consensus of the fans right now is mostly along the lines of Pirates being a poorly chosen squad this season, riding on the brilliance of Pardeep Narwal.
Pirates’ loose footing in season 7
While the loyal fans still want the team to perform well, the reality of the declining performance cannot be ignored easily. Although they are not at the bottom anymore, Pirates’ 9th position on the leaderboard is not much of a comfort for the supporters of the team. Players like Pardeep Narwal and Monu have proved themselves by being in the top ranks consistently, the same cannot be said for the rest. Patna’s previously experienced players like Jaideep, Jawahar and Vikas Jaglan have not seemed to gel well with the younger lot of debutants. These players are known for their excellent defensive front, but this time around, the teamwork that creates the magic could not hold off the opposition raider. Even veterans acquired from other teams at the auction, like Hadi Oshtorak could not show their usual high standards of gameplay.
Team Patna’s one-man army
If any man in Pro Kabaddi history can be called a ‘one-man army’, it would most certainly be Pardeep Narwal. He alone holds the record for the highest total points, raid points, number of super raids, number of successful raids and super 10s. Recently having completed 100 matches in Pro Kabaddi, Narwal has been the ace that Patna Pirates have firmly held onto for many seasons now.
In season 7, Narwal is one of the Elite Retained Players in the team, and many of the fans’ eyes, the only one who is pushing the team forward. From a glance, it is not an entirely unfounded opinion as the statistics fall in that favour. In recent matches, the team has been incapable of holding their own after their captain was outed. Fans of the “Dubki King” are quick to claim his superiority over other players, but the overall morale of the Patna fan base is down due to this. It is clear that the amazing chemistry of the winning line-ups in the previous seasons is missing here, especially when you look for reliable players in the absence of Narwal.
Pros and cons of the current team
Although the team selection strategy in 2019 aimed to have a healthy mix of old and new players, something to keep the balance simultaneously with bringing in new moves. If everything had gone according to plan, the team would have both reliable players and the surprise element of the new players, but things have gone a bit awry.
When the team’s star raider is out, both the remaining raiders and the defence are left lost. This is a clear advantage that the other teams have identified and constantly use to their advantage. Jang Kun Lee, Monu, Hadi Oshtorak and some others try, but this mixed team seems to lose confidence or direction when the veteran players disappear.
One clear problem that stands out here is that the team is unable to function properly without someone taking the lead or showing the ropes. There is no doubt that both the team and their coach have left no stone unturned in their training, but it is undeniable that some players are painfully lacking experience. The pressure from their previous wins also affects the performance a lot. Speculations of all kinds are running wild among the fans but the team is trying its best, as one can see in some of the wins this season. There is a lot of potential and skill that the roaster possess this year. Losing faith in the team before the absolute last point does not seem the best option for these passionate fans. After all, if anyone can have a miraculous turn-about in the middle of the season, it will be the Patna Pirates!