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

#4 U Mumba stall Patna Pirates juggernaut

Sandeep of Patna Pirates applies a perfect ankle hold to try and stop Rishank Devadiga of U Mumba in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi season 3 in Patna

This match was a lesson for every team that has been a victim of the Patna Pirates so far this season. On the last day of the Patna leg, the defending champions U Mumba showed how to tactfully dismantle a team that had looked virtually invincible until then.

The team led by Anup Kumar, who had returned after a gold medal-winning outing at the recently concluded South Asian Games, looked impeccable and completely nullified all the Patna attacks with precision and panache. By half-time, the hosts were trailing 9-23 and had endured two all outs.

But Patna, who were unbeaten in 10 matches prior to this, would not concede defeat so meekly. Their talismanic raider Rohit Kumar channeled his energy into his raids, bringing his team back into contention through a rich haul of 12 points.

Unfortunately for him and his team, though, Rohit’s Mumbai counterpart Rishank Devadiga was just as good and he also had the solid support of Fazel Atrachali, who manned the U Mumba box. Their combined efforts along with those of the skipper helped the team hold on to their lead and inflict a 34-28 defeat on the Patna franchise in front of a stunned home crowd.