CHENNAI: Bengaluru Bulls have the best seat in the house in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) – view from the top, looking down at five other teams in Zone B. It’s then strange to hear Uday Sinh Wala’s comments. “I don’t think we are set as a team yet,” he tells Express. “Our journey so far has been a mixed bag. And it was expected really, lots of ups and downs, some good and bad performances.”
It’s been some journey as the Bulls, like every other side in the new format, have been clocking air miles like a greedy customer eyeing a good package deal. The Bulls, for instance, have done, ‘Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Nagpur, Ahmedabad, Lucknow,” the last three weeks. “Easily more than 4000 kms,” Uday says.
“But don’t pay much attention to the table because it’s still very days in the tournament. Until you get to the sixth or seventh leg, you would be a fool to predict who would end up where.”
It’s an interesting observation but it’s not without logic. “Only around the half-way mark can you see what the fatigue levels are doing to the players,” the Bulls’ CEO says.
“Surely the fatigue factor will be less than last year because the league is played over more time. To counter-act that, the players will now be playing more matches. When the league is over a shorter season, the body maintains a certain level of pre-season fitness. When playing over three months, that is much more harder. One wouldn’t get the same level of training, throw in constant travelling and the fitness is going to decline. Ultimately, who handles that decline the best will be near the top.”
At the other end of the spectrum are newbies Tamil Thalaivas, who are finding life a bit tough at the moment. Bottom in Zone B, one point below Telugu Titans (one of the other debutants, Fortunegiants, top Zone A). K Bhaskaran, though, prefers to look on the positive side of things. “See, we have the belief that we can turn it around. It’s not a disaster, where we are at the moment. Yes, we lost a close match and tied one but overall we are coming together as a group.”
There is a reason why Bhaskaran, who was disappointed in his players after a narrow loss against Dabang Delhi (29-30) on Thursday, still feels this season can be salvaged. “I have seen some good things in training and it’s only a matter of application. Remember, we are a new team with lots of players who are experiencing this for the first time. Plus we have still got the Chennai leg. I am convinced we will take points.” The next few weeks, when the league moves from Lucknow to Mumbai, will offer proof.
swaroop@newindianexpress.com