Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: 5 Pirates from Patna opponents must be wary of

A lot of Patna fans are unaware of the rationale behind the name 'Patna Pirates' for the franchise based in the capital of Bihar. With two successive Pro Kabaddi titles in their kitty, this time would be perfect to delve a little more into the team's name. Owned by KVS Energy and Sports Limited, the team has been named so because of the owners' beliefs that the spirit of a pirate lies in the spirit of not letting go, and using the environment to their advantage to strike the enemy by catching it off guard.

Under the guidance of the veteran Dharamraj Cheralathan, the team did exhibit the spirit of a true pirate as despite beginning the season as defending champions they looked the team to beat from the initial stages. There was hardly any let up in the intensity as they steamrolled one team after another before racing to the finals. Even before the first whistle of the final, there was little doubt who would go on to lift the coveted trophy, such was their dominance in the last season.

Ahead of the 5th season, things look a lot different from how they looked before the 4th. There is no Dharamraj Cheralathan and coach Arjun Singh too has been succeeded by Ram Mer Singh, who was the mentor of the team in their two glorious seasons.

More importantly, the core of the team has undergone a transformation and in a longer fifth season, it's not easy to label this team as the favourites. What remains, however, is the 'Pirates' spirit. The following five names will be extremely crucial to the team's chances of achieving the impossible seeming task of making three in three.

#1 Pardeep Narwal

Even before attaining his reputation in season 4, Narwal was the 'Emerging Player of the Season' in the 3rd edition

When Selina Kyle uttered 'There's a storm coming, Mr. Wayne', she definitely didn't mean a young jaat whose plump face can fool one to take him lightly. But storm is exactly what Narwal proved to be in the fourth season for his opponents.

He wasn't happy showing what he was capable of and winning the 'Emerging Player of the Season' award in the third edition. Instead, he set about decimating defenders in the fourth edition as if they had threatened to steal away the youngster's freshly prepared from Buffalo's milk lassi after the match.

And with a showing that put him just second to Rahul Chaudhari in the most successful raids statistic, he established himself as the player around whom the team shall revolve in the subsequent seasons for Patna.

Complacency and injuries are the only two enemies of an encore of last season from Narwal. Besides, while Narwal was the knight in the shining armour for the franchise, the importance of the supporting cast can't be emphasised enough. It will be interesting to see if Narwal can be the same destructive raider even in their absence.

#2 Monu Goyat

Goyat will have to take care of raiding duties along with the maverick Pardeep Narwal

Nothing about Monu Goyat gives away the fact that he is a raider. In fact, if anything, his demeanour suggests that he would make a good defender if he ever decides to switch roles. Unlike most raiders on show in the league, Goyat is extremely calm and methodical in the way he goes about his task of taking a raid. And probably, that's the weakness in his game. Or probably, that's his biggest strength.

The best trait in Goyat's game is he hasn't really tried to tinker with it much all these years. There is no aggression of a Pardeep Narwal or a Jasvir Singh, yet his effectiveness can't be doubted. Goyat has matured during his time in the league and can prove to be the perfect foil to Narwal.

#3 Vishal Mane

Mane was a vital cog in the wheel of the U Mumba setup and instrumental in their success

Mane's presence in the defence is a cause of worry for any raider in the league. Forget about his game, Mane's mane itself has an air of intimidation about it. Apart from being admired by his fans for his hairstyles, Mane has time and again done the job for U Mumba along with Sachin Shingade with whom he will be seen reuniting in this season for the Patna Pirates.

The big man's thigh holds are a nightmare for any raider and a lot will depend on him this season since the team will be missing the services of Dharamraj Cheralathan. Mane, however, is an extremely different defender from the ex-captain of the Pirates in his temperament and Patna would like him to take greater responsibility this season.

#4 Sachin Shingade

Shingade made quite a reputation for hunting in pair with Mane during his U Mumba days

To be a part of a team like Dabang Delhi can take a toll on a kabaddi player of any pedigree. It comes as no surprise that Sachin Shingade looked a pale shadow of himself when he made the switch from U Mumba to Dabang Delhi. For U Mumba, he was as good a defender as any on show in the league. For Delhi, the same player failed to impress.

For Shingade, a move to a winning unit like Patna and, more importantly, a reunion with his old partner in crime Vishal Mane augurs well. There's little doubt about his abilities and it was often put on display during his time with Delhi franchise, even if for brief periods. But no support from other departments only made all that brilliance a mere footnote in another abject surrender by his team. With Patna, Shingade can be assured of not finding himself in a similar situation too often.

#5 Mohammad Maghsoudlou

After a frugal season with the Titans, the Iranian must be itching to show his wares for Patna

After their brilliant show in the World Cup last year, no Iranian can be taken lightly and definitely not a raider who already has some considerable Pro Kabaddi experience. Although, Maghsoudlou wasn't a part of the Iranian team that finished runners up in the last Kabaddi World Cup, he was an important part of the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the past.

His not so impressive Pro Kabaddi record notwithstanding, the Iranian with his long levers and fox like agility is exactly the kind of presence a team would want in its raiding department. A longer season means that unlike his last stint with Telugu Titans, the chances on the mat for him won't be far and few between.