The 3 teams with the best home record in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi
Home success is highly sought after by any team harbouring hopes of performing well in a tournament. It may be tough to win in a foreign city amid hostile conditions, but if you can balance that by taking full advantage of your own backyard, youre relatively safe.The backing of local fans has spurred many a team to do the impossible and stage inhuman comebacks; the players are inspired to perform out of their skins and bring happiness to the expectant crowd. The familiarity of hosting the opposition on a turf where you play on a daily basis is an added advantage, and its vital that a team makes full use of that.In kabaddi as well, home form plays a major role in deciding who qualifies for the semis and fights for the title. In Season 2 of the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi, Bengaluru Bulls won their last two matches at home to seal the semi-final spot. While they went on to lose in the final, those two home wins are what took them to the semis, according to coach Randhir Singh.On that note, let's take a look at the three most dominant teams at home in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi history:
#3 Patna Pirates
Pts: 39
Wins: 5
Draws: 4
Losses: 3
Patna Pirates have qualified for the semi-finals in each of the three seasons in the tournament so far. In the first season they finished 3rd, while they lost the third place playoff in the second season. This season, however, they broke the semis jinx before going one step further and winning the trophy by beating U Mumba in the final.
The reigning champions’ run to the semis in each season has been a result of their spectacular form at home. They are a formidable outfit at the Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna, having lost just three matches at home in three seasons. With a total of 39 points out of 60 on offer, Sanjiv Kumar Baliyan has ensured his team almost never disappoints the home crowd.
In the first season Patna were beaten only once at home, while they notched up two wins and a draw in Season 2. In the 2016 edition, they began well with 13 points in 3 matches at home, but suffered a loss to U Mumba in their final home game – their first of the season.
In the coming seasons, Patna Pirates will be banking on their home form to launch a stern defence of their title win.