3 reasons why Bengaluru Bulls could win PKL 11
The Bengaluru Bulls had a forgettable Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season in 2023-24. They finished eighth in the points table after winning only eight out of their 22 matches. Despite the disappointing show, the Bulls retained their head coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat for the PKL 11 tournament.
Randhir made some big decisions before the auction, releasing the likes of Bharat Hooda and Surjeet Singh, who played a major role in whatever success the Bulls achieved in season 10. The Bengaluru coach invested his funds in some other experienced players and rising stars.
Overall, the Bengaluru Bulls have formed one of their strongest squads in PKL history for season 11. Before the Bulls begin their campaign against the Telugu Titans, here are three reasons why they can win the tournament.
#1 Bengaluru Bulls have one of the best corner duos in PKL 11
The corners of any defense play a huge role in deciding the team's performance. The Bulls have one of the best corner pairs in PKL 11, with Saurabh Nandal and Nitin Rawal present in the squad.
Aman Antil, who played as the left corner in the last few seasons for the Bulls, is no longer with the franchise. But right corner Saurabh continues to be with the Bengaluru-based franchise, and this time, he has a new corner partner in Nitin Rawal.
Shedding some light on Nitin's stats in PKL, the all-rounder has earned 236 points in 81 matches. He has three High 5s to his name. He also has a couple of Super 10s, showing that he can contribute his bit to the raid unit whenever needed.
Saurabh has been one of the consistent defenders in PKL, having scored 246 tackle points in 92 matches. The duo of Saurabh and Nitin can give sleepless nights to the opposition raiders this year.
#2 Bengaluru Bulls have 4 game-changers in their raiding department
It is rare to see a team with three quality raiders in the raiding unit, but Bengaluru Bulls have managed to assemble an attacking lineup featuring four game-changers. The league's most successful raider Pardeep Narwal has returned to his home franchise Bengaluru Bulls this year.
Joining Pardeep in the raiding is Ajinkya Pawar who emerged as a match-winner for the Tamil Thalaivas in PKL 10. Sushil has been retained by the Bulls after he scored 100 points last season, while former U Mumba raider Jai Bhagwan has also joined the side. Bhagwan has 132 points to his name in just 32 matches. He can play the support raider's role for the Bulls.
#3 The 'X-factor' coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat
As mentioned ahead, the Bengaluru Bulls did not change their coach even after failing to qualify for the playoffs last season. In fact, the Bulls are the only franchise to have never changed their head coach as Randhir Singh Sehrawat has always been with the team.
The reason why the Bulls have never released Randhir is that he is a master strategist and a leader, who knows how to bring the best out of his men.
Senior players of the Bulls squad, namely Pardeep Narwal and Surinder Singh have struggled in recent PKL seasons, but with Randhir's motivation and support, they should be back to their top form. If Pardeep and Surinder get going, the Bulls will be unstoppable in PKL 11.