The U.P. Yoddhas - owned by the GMR Sports Group - have begun their Pro Kabaddi 2023-24 campaign doing what they do best - entertainment, entertainment and entertainment.
Close matches, breaking records, dominant performances - all these ingredients have helped the ardent UPY fans in the country enjoy, learn, and live the joy of playing on the mat.
So, who are the architects of this exciting experience? Captain Pardeep Narwal, AKA’ Dubki King’, Surender Gill, Gurdeep and Sumit - amongst the Yoddhas.
With the season’s first quarter drawing to a close, let’s dive into a small recap of how U.P. Yoddhas fared in their initial four-city tour.
Leg 1: Ahmedabad
The Yoddhas got their PKL 2023-24 campaign underway with two games in Ahmedabad. While UPY fell short by a narrow margin (31-34) against U Mumba, the team mounted a solid fightback with a 57-27 win over Haryana Steelers.
Matches played: 2
Matches won: 1
Matches lost: 1
Matches tied: 0
Top Raider performance: Surender Gill - 13 raid points vs Haryana Steelers
Top Defender performance: Sumit - 8 tackle points vs Haryana Steelers
Leg 2: Bangalore
A trip down south took the U.P. Yoddhas to play their next set of matches in Bengaluru. The form guide, well, seemed similar to the first leg - one win and one defeat. UPY opened their account in Bengaluru with a 48-33 triumph over Telugu Titans before city hosts Bengaluru Bulls stalled their new-found momentum with a close 38-36 victory.
Matches played: 2
Matches won: 1
Matches lost: 1
Matches tied: 0
Top Raider performance: Surender Gill - 14 raid points vs Telugu Titans
Top Defender performance: Nitesh Kumar - 5 tackle points vs Telugu Titans
Leg 3: Pune
The U.P. Yoddhas had a disappointing run of games in Pune, and one where they fell short of claiming a win for the first time this season. First, the Yoddhas were held to a 37-37 draw despite Surender Gill’s 18-point haul, and then later, the team would suffer a 17-point defeat against Jaipur Pink Panthers (24-41).
Matches played: 2
Matches won: 0
Matches lost: 1
Matches tied: 1
Top Raider performance: Surender Gill - 18 raid points vs Bengal Warriors
Top Defender performance: Nitesh Kumar - 3 tackle points vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Leg 4: Chennai
The final stop before the Christmas break wasn’t a merry one for the Yoddhas, as their only game in Chennai ended in a heartbreak. Gujarat Giants overturned a half-time deficit of 14-19 to get the better of U.P. Yoddhas with a 38-30 victory.
Matches played: 1
Matches won: 0
Matches lost: 1
Matches tied: 0
Top Raider performance: Surender Gill - 18 raid points vs Gujarat Giants
Top Defender performance: Nitesh Kumar - 6 tackle points vs Gujarat Giants
The U.P. Yoddhas earned a mini-break to go to the drawing table to re-assess their strategy so far and turn over a new leaf when they return home - Noida - for Leg 5 of Pro Kabaddi 2023-24.
So Yoddhas fans, are you ready to witness Pardeep Narwal, Surender Gill, Nitesh Kumar, Sumit, Gurdeep, and the UPY team set the stage ablaze at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex? So are we.
