Bengal Warriorz Fresh from a sensational auction held in August, the Bengal Warriorz are all set to make an impact with Pro Kabaddi League Season 11. This stellar lineup on paper has the boys in blue champing at the bit and eager to translate their bumper sale into real, on-mat performances.
They open their campaign against Jaipur Pink Panthers on 20th October. Being the champions of season seven, they will be looking forward to regaining their lost authority and perhaps, for the first time, make their way to a play-off berth this season.
A Tough Hyderabad Leg: Can Bengal Warriorz Overcome the Test?
The home leg of PKL 11 would be played by Bengal Warriorz in Hyderabad, where they will face seven matches facing four teams that shine with their defensive lines: U Mumba, Puneri Paltans, Haryana Steelers, and Dabang Delhi KC. This makes it a real test for Bengal's raiding unit as every one of them is really dominant with their defense.
However, he will be led by the army of Bengal Warriorz' biggest star man, captain Maninder Singh, who has been one of the top raiders in the league, consistently. The retained raiders Nitin Kumar and Vishwas look to prove at the highest level.
As he strives to keep pace with the likes of Tagaard and Devmani, Arjun Rathi will be one of the more interesting players to track as the somewhat under-the-radar raider that his team placed ₹41 lakhs in at the auction. Chai-Ming Chang brings a sea of excitement with international flair coupled with unpredictability to that squad.
Much may depend on the Bengal performance in this leg as they head into it. They would hope for their balanced side to click in search of vital early-season wins.
High Stakes at Mid-Season with Noida Leg
Bengal Warriorz will then travel to Noida to play out another seven matches. They have two each against Gujarat Giants and Patna Pirates, who have often proven to be Bengal's stronger opponents. Bengal have only 40% wins against Gujarat and as low as 27% against Patna. These games would surely tell a lot about the form and the mettle of the Warriorz.
The Noida leg is also important because that is where the middle season momentum is built or lost. That would mean the new coach Prasanth Surve has to ensure Bengal does not squander this opportunity to fine-tune its strategy.
"Now that the play-offs are approaching, Bengal would love to grab the momentum in Noida and not have to panic at the last minute to sneak into qualification."
Bengal Seals Chances in Pune?
The Playoff Hopes The play-offs are in touching distance and the Pune leg could be the one that seals the fate for Bengal.
In Pune, that will be the final leg of the season for Bengal Warriorz, this is the real test, as eight games lie ahead, it can make or break their playoff hopes. The interesting facet of their schedule is that Bengal will play the last match of the league stage, so they might understand what is needed to qualify for the playoffs.
Experienced rafters such as Fazel Atrachali and Nitesh Kumar strengthen the Bengal Warriorz defense. They can win games for this team by blocking raiders and may be game-changers in this leg. They will have to shut down the league's top raiders to find their way into the playoffs. Bengal Warriorz is poised for the challenge of upholding pressure in this high-stakes leg with potent attack and defense combinations.
Road Ahead for Bengal Warriorz
Bengal Warriorz team enters PKL 11 as one of the best balanced teams with a mix of experienced players along with fresh sensations. Maninder Singh will lead on from the front and deliver his A game like before but, Bengal's chances depend entirely on how well their new weapons, especially Arjun Rathi and Chai-Ming Chang merge into the starting seven. The likes of Fazel Atrachali and Nitesh Kumar at the back, Warriorz seem well-equipped to handle whatever the season has in store for them.
Though their schedule is as tight as ever, with some tough opponents on it, Bengal Warriorz have the arsenal at their disposal to ride this PKL 11 well. With two important wins in Hyderabad and Noida legs, they will go into the Pune leg feeling confident with their chances of entering the playoffs. The team of Bengal will surely be something to observe this season as it fights to regain the glory of its season seven triumph.
