PKL 2025: Built on defensive solidity, U Mumba shows early signs of title credentials
It has been an impressive start to the season for U Mumba. Looking to build on a fifth place finish in the previous season, the team opted to keep hold of most of its core from the previous season, with Anil Chaprana returning to the coach’s seat at the franchise.
The early signs are all encouraging. Third in the standings at the end of the Visakhapatnam leg, winning four matches in six games and consistency from key players will all have the U Mumba think tank breathing a little easy.
U Mumba’s formula — as the setup long wanted — is one rooted in cohesion. Only one player from the outfit is in the top tier of players for raid points and tackle points respectively. The team has hunted as a pack for the most part, much to the delight of captain Sunil Kumar.
“Both are strengths for U Mumba. The first thing is that any team that wins the trophy, has to have a strong defence. The team that has a strong defence is one that goes to the top. The second is that if you see the raiders that our coaches and management have given us are very good,” Sunil exclaimed, after the side’s crushing 48-28 win over Bengaluru Bulls.
U Mumba has impressed in its ability to shine in Super Tackles, producing 14 in its opening six games, five clear of the next best side in the area – Telugu Titans.
Lokesh Ghosliya, who represents U Mumba in the top ten tackle points tally, is also tied atop the rankings for most Super Tackles.
“To win such a big league, you always need a defence, because raiders get caught, they take two or three raids to do their job, but if the defence keeps scoring, then they won’t be able to catch, and won’t be able to get their raiders back in,” he said before adding, “So in order win such a big league, you need a [solid] defence.”
After several seasons where the ingredients haven’t quite come together perfectly, the side has just the right mix of experience and youth this season. Alongside Sunil and Lokesh, there are seasoned warhorses in Parvesh Bhainswal and Rinku Sharma also in the ranks. At the same time, the fresh blood in the raiding unit — with the likes of Ajit Chouhan and Amirmohammed Zafardanish — have revitalised the side’s offence.
“It makes me very happy, because in kabaddi, you don’t see this combination of junior and senior too often,” the skipper added. “Either you see a lot of young players, or a lot of senior players, but I have both.”
Sunil is effusive in his praise for one man in particular — all-rounder Aanil Mohan. U Mumba shelling out Rs. 78 lakh on the category D player raised many an eyebrow at the auction, but he is doing enough to justify his price tag, with 23 raid points — the second-most for the team behind Ajit Chouhan.
“I had never seen him play before, and I got to see in the camp, and I can say that he is going to become a good raider in PKL, and can play for India,” Sunil remarked.
Aanil went on to justify his captain’s praise in the side’s subsequent match against Patna Pirates. In the absence of Chouhan, who was substituted after ten minutes, the youngster combined with Amirmohammed Zafardanish to produce a combined 21 points and take the side to a thrilling 40-39 victory.
A good start is one thing. The real challenge is sustaining it and taking early form into the upcoming phases of the tournament. The hardest test of the same is the Maharashtra Derby against table-topper Puneri Paltan in Jaipur. Hopes will be high but U Mumba has shown it is well and truly up to the challenge.
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Published on Sep 16, 2025