The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) stands as one of the premier sports leagues globally, featuring 12 franchises from various cities in India competing for the trophy in its current tenth edition. The […]
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Jan 1, 2024 4:09 pm
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) stands as one of the premier sports leagues globally, featuring 12 franchises from various cities in India competing for the trophy in its current tenth edition. The league commenced in 2014 with eight franchises: U Mumba, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Bengaluru Bulls, Bengal Warriors, Puneri Paltan, Telugu Titans, Dabang Delhi KC, and Patna Pirates.
After three years, four new teams; UP Yoddha, Gujarat Giants, Tamil Thalaivas, and Haryana Steelers – joined the PKL. Notably, the Patna Pirates have been the most successful team, securing three title victories.
PKL’s success can be attributed significantly to the abundance of closely contested matches. The introduction of concepts like super tackle and do-or-die raids has added intrigue to kabaddi, with a majority of matches being decided in the final five minutes. Nevertheless, the league’s history also includes a fair share of one-sided contests. Let us now look at the three biggest wins in the history of the league;
Dabang Delhi KC showcased an impressive performance during the initial phase of PKL 8. They remain undefeated in their first seven matches. However, they faced an unexpected setback on January 12, 2022, suffering a substantial 39-point loss to the Bengaluru Bulls.
Playing without star raider Naveen Kumar, Delhi struggled as experienced players like Joginder Narwal, Sandeep Narwal, Manjeet Chhillar, Jeeva Kumar, and Ajay Thakur faced challenges against Pawan Sehrawat and his Bengaluru team. Pawan, leading from the front, contributed 27 points to the Bulls’ dominant 61-22 victory over Delhi.
In 2017, the Patna Pirates clinched their third title, overpowering debutants Haryana Steelers in the playoffs. Led by skipper Pardeep Narwal, the Pirates secured a resounding victory with a scoreline of 69-30.
Pardeep’s standout performance included an eight-pointer raid, contributing to his total of 34 raid points as the Pirates dominated the Haryana-based franchise, winning by a significant 39-point margin.
1.40 points: Bengaluru Bulls 69-29 UP Yoddha, PKL 2017
Bengaluru Bulls (Source: Twitter)
In Season 5 of the PKL, Rohit Kumar spearheaded the Bengaluru Bulls to a historic victory against UP Yoddha, clinching a 64-24 win – the largest margin of victory in PKL history. Kumar’s outstanding performance saw him amass 32 points for the Bulls. Notably, despite the significant win, Bengaluru finished below UP Yoddha in the points table, missing out on a playoff spot that season.
