Bengal Warriors will look for the first win of the season when it takes on the defending champion Jaipur Pink Panthers in the first match when the Pro Kabaddi caravan reaches here on Wednesday.
The contest will be interesting as the reigning champion is challenged by the team that finished seventh last year.
Bengal Warriors, looking to put up a improved performance this season, has convinced former India captain Dinesh Kumar to come out of retirement and lead the side. The Warriors did give a tough fight to Bengaluru Bulls in its first outing but the effort did not prove enough to ensure a win. The Bengal side lost 25-33, which its head Raj Narain Sharma described as a good effort.
Dinesh Kumar said the team made some mistakes in the opening match and hoped to overcome the shortcomings and get into a winning rhythm.
“Our defence made some good tackles but also let go some easy points. We have to be more careful this time,” Dinesh said. In its opening outing the Warriors faltered when making raids and this is one area where the team needs improvement, felt its captain.
The Jaipur-based side lost the closest match so far in the tournament — by just one point (28-29) against host U Mumba. “We had lost our first match last year too and then went on to win the title.
“It was a narrow loss and we hope to get into a good rhythm in the second match,” said the Panthers’ captain Navneet Gautam.
The next four days of action here will see host Bengal Warriors playing four matches.
The team needs to ensure more positive results at home if it fancies a chance in the knock-out stage.
