3 most well-oiled teams in season 3 of Pro Kabaddi League

Kabaddi is a sport where the efficient teams rule the roost and not always the most extravagant ones. The Telugu Titans were by far the most expansive team in the league last season, but it was the efficiency of U Mumba that prevailed.Just like Castrol Activs purposeful presence helps provide continuous protection to the engine, the best all-round teams in Kabaddi rely on a defense that protects and an offense that is efficient and purposeful.Being well-oiled is a quality that those challenging for the Pro Kabaddi League must possess, and thus we take a look at three most well-oiled teams of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi.

#1 Patna Pirates

Patna Pirates have been the most well-oiled outfit in the Pro Kabaddi League season

The Patna Pirates this season have re-defined the word well-oiled. Starting the season with five straight wins, there seemed to be no way of stopping them. An unforgiving defence led by Sandeep Narwal coupled with the raiding exploits of Rajesh Mondal and Pardeep Narwal, the Manpreet Singh skippered side steam rolled every opponent that came their way.

Their victims this season include Champions U Mumba who fell to a 14-point defeat to the Pirates as neither of Anup Kumar, Rakesh Kumar, Rishank Devadiga or Shabeer Bapu could hold themselves against Sandep Narwal and co.

The Pirates still managed a draw without Sandeep Narwal and Rohit Baliyan against a spirited Puneri Paltan side playing at home, just showing the strength in depth that Patna Pirates possess.

#2 Bengal Warriors

Bengal Warriors have shown great reserves this season to sustain their good form

Nothing more than strugglers last year, the Bengal Warriors are a different animal this season. They have been extremely consistent in all the departments this season.

The Warriors feature among the top three raiding and tackling teams this season, with the Kolkata outfit also having the best tackle percent of 48.27 in the league, 5 per cent more than the second best team in the league. Bengal are also the second best team in terms of the raid percent and all these reflect on the table where the Warriors sit second.

Nitin Tomar has been outstanding for the Bengal Warriors in the raiding department and is the most successful raider in the tournament, while Girish Ernak is the most successful defender in the league with the most successful tackles.

#3 U Mumba

U Mumba are experts at using their strength in depth perfectly

The defending Champions U Mumba are almost synonymous with efficiency. However, that’s changed slightly this season as the well-oiled defence of U Mumba is yet to hit its rhythm. Despite the patchy form, Mumba have managed three wins in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi so far and the best is yet to come from them.

Last season, U Mumba topped the most successful tackles, tackles per match and tackle percent charts and had 23 more tackles than the second best in that category. They still have the third best tackle percent in the league and with the business end of the season still to come, they are expected to be up there sooner rather than later.