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One team that has consistently looked formidable on paper but has not been able to deliver on the mat, often depending fully on one player for results is the Bengaluru Bulls. In the inaugural season, the Bulls had a good start with 8 wins from 14 matches and finished fourth.
In the second season, they went all the way to the finals but lost out to U Mumba while in the third season had nothing to show as they could manage just two wins from 14 matches. Failing to qualify for the playoff stages from both of the previous seasons, the Bulls will need to put up more than just a good performance this season.
Kashling Adake joins the side as one of the biggest additions from the auctions while the re-signing of Pawan Kumar Sehrawat will form the trio of raiders for Bengaluru that consists of skipper Rohit Kumar as well. The defense unit has been beefed up with additions of Raj Lal Choudhary and Jasmer Gulia, who have experience from playing at the national level.
Ashish Kumar Sangwan's return to the team will add strength to the defence unit while Dong Ju Hong's terrific run from the Asian Games can also be a useful addition to the Bulls.
Here are five players who can make a big impact for the Bulls this season.
#5 Jasmer Gulia
Bought for a paltry sum of ₹8 lakh, Jasmer Gulia comes into the Bulls' setup, where he played his first season with a lot of experience, amassing a total of 112 points from the 46 games he has played so far.
A vital part of the defensive setup, Jasmer Gulia's dashes and blocks have often yielded positive results for him and with the Bengaluru defence lacking some big names, Jasmer will need to step up in order to give the defence unit some impetus.
#4 Pawan Kumar Sehrawat
Highly rated as one of the best raiders in the local circuit by coach Randhir Singh, Pawan Kumar's continued alliance with the Bengaluru Bulls, where he started his career in the Pro Kabaddi League could just be the missing link in the attack.
A do-or-die raid specialist, Pawan Kumar's aggressive yet mature raiding has come to the fore on more than just the one occasion and although 74 points from 32 matches do not really make a huge claim to cement his place in the squad, Pawan's ability to travel the court and diverse skill sets could hold him in good stead to enjoy a terrific season ahead.
#3 Mahender Singh
The Bulls' best defender from last season that also earned him the 'Emerging player of the season' award for his spectacular show, the Bulls opted to retain faith in their star defender which could prove to a masterstroke, given the youngster's heroics in the past.
In what was his debut season last time around with the Bulls, Mahender Singh, fondly referred to as 'The Bulldozer' picked 58 points from 22 matches to finish as the Bulls' best defender.
Last season, Mahender Singh's highlight performance was his 10-tackle point show against UP Yoddha where he picked two super tackles and if he puts up a good show this season, it could only mean a positive sign for the Bulls.
#2 Kashiling Adake
A towering figure on the court who can make optimum use of his height and good reach, Kashiling Adake's addition into the Bulls' setup could serve as a relief to skipper Rohit Kumar, who can well depend on Adake's raiding prowess in times of peril.
A constant presence in the chart of the top raiders for the season, Kashiling Adake won the 'Best Raider of the Season' award in the second season for picking up 114 raid points. Since the inception of the league, Kashi has finished on top of the raiders' charts for the team he has represented which certainly means that he could be an important part of the Bulls' setup this time around.
#1 Rohit Kumar
One of the only bright sparks in a list of dismal performances from the Bengaluru Bulls, skipper Rohit Kumar's run of form will be an imperative part of the Bengaluru Bulls' campaign this time around.
The 'Most Valuable Player' from Season 3 of the Pro Kabaddi League, Rohit's rise up the ranks earned him the role of captain of the Bulls' and in the previous season, scored 231 points from 22 matches, the most in a season for Rohit including a 30-point mammoth effort against UP Yoddha, making him the then-only player to score 30 points individually in a game.
From 48 games, Rohit has amassed 440 points and given his acres of experience while playing for the national side, he can be expected to put in an unparalleled this time as well.
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