PKL 2023/24: Who will win battle between U Mumba and Patna Pirates?
PKL (Source: Twitter)
U Mumba will be facing the challenge of Patna Pirates on the 15th of December. The two sides would be looking forward to claiming a win to stay alive at the top of the table in the ongoing league. Both the clubs are known to be two of the best in the history of the league. Patna Pirates, in particular, has been the best club in the league over the years.
U Mumba had a good start to their season, as they won the first match. However, things have not gone well for them after their first win. In their last 2 matches, they have lost both of them to see themselves with 2 losses and a win in their campaign till now. U Mumba won the first match against UP Yoddhas by 34-31 and lost their following two matches against Gujarat Giants and Puner Paltan respectively.
U Mumba lost to Gujarat Giants in a thrilling battle by a margin of 39-37. In the Maharashtra derby, U Mumba faced a tough defeat against Puneri Paltan by a margin of 43-32. Patna Pirates, on the other hand, have two wins to their name in three matches. They won the match against Telugu Titans by a huge margin of 50-28. They were the only team to beat Gujarat Giants in the home leg.
Are Patna Pirates the favourites to win?
In a thrilling match, Patna overcame the Giants by a margin of 33-30. Unfortunately, the winning streak of the Pirates came to an end with a huge defeat of 42-60 against Bengal Warriors. Despite the huge loss in their last game, Patna looks to be the favourite to win, given their team combination. U Mumba’s defence looks solid. But the same cannot be said about their raiding, where they seem to lack a class raider.
Patna Pirates have a bit of a problem in their defence. Their raiding seems very good. But the defenders often commit unforced errors. Both teams have different strengths in their lineup for the match. The team that improves in their weakest department the more efficient way is likely to be the eventual winner in the match.
