Bengal Warriors Stun U Mumba 37-35 in PKL Clash at Chennai

When Bengal Warriors edged out U Mumba 37‑35 in Match 76Chennai, the drama unfolded on a balmy October evening that left fans on the edge of their seats. The victory snapped a 14‑21 halftime deficit, thanks largely to a late‑burst from raider Sukesh Hegde, who piled up eight points, and a sturdy defensive effort by Jeeva Kumar. In a league where every point can swing playoff hopes, the win mattered more than the margin.

Match Overview

The Chennai leg of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 kicked off on August 29, 2025 in Vishakhapatnam and has been a whirlwind of tight contests. Match 76, played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai, featured a classic under‑dog narrative. U Mumba stormed ahead early, posting a 14‑7 lead after the first quarter and stretching it to 21‑14 at halftime.

But the Warriors weren’t done. A tactical timeout by coach Rajesh Bhaduria refocused the side, and the second half saw them claw back point after point. The turning point came at the 22‑minute mark when Himanshu Singh executed a flawless "last‑man‑left" raid, snatching a bonus plus one. From there, the Warriors never looked back, ultimately sealing a two‑point triumph.

Key Performances

• Sukesh Hegde (Raider) – 8 points (7 touch, 1 bonus) from 18 raids; 5 successful raids, 13 empty attempts. His decisive raid in the 32nd minute, where he broke through the U Mumba defense to earn a touch, shifted momentum.
• Jeeva Kumar (Defender) – 3 tackle points, primarily on the left‑cover. His early block on U Mumba’s star raider Ajit Chauhan forced a turnover that sparked the Warriors’ comeback.
• Mayur Shivtarkar (All‑Rounder) – 0 points but contributed 2 successful tackles, providing crucial support in the middle‑zone.
• Majit Chaudhary (U Mumba) – despite a valiant effort, his raid in the third quarter fell short, leading to a turnover that U Mumba could not recover from.

The commentary team highlighted a few breath‑taking moments: the “shook the defense” raid by Ajit Chauhan early on, a near‑miss by Majit Chaudhary, and a mid‑line dash by Sandeep that showed the tactical depth of both teams.

Historical Head‑to‑Head

According to stats from myKhel.com, Bengal Warriors and U Mumba have clashed 22 times in PKL history. U Mumba dominate the ledger with 17 wins, while the Warriors have managed just five triumphs. The 37‑35 win narrows that gap, but the overall series still heavily favors U Mumba.

What makes this particular encounter noteworthy is the rarity of a Warriors comeback after a double‑digit halftime deficit. The last time they overturned a 10‑plus halftime gap was back in Season 9 against Tamil Thalaivas, a match fans still reference when discussing the team’s resilience.

Implications for the Table

Before the Chennai showdown, U Mumba sat comfortably in the upper‑half of the points table with 6 wins from 9 matches, while Bengal Warriors hovered just outside the playoff cut‑off at 4‑5. The narrow win lifts the Warriors to 5‑5, keeping their playoff hopes alive, especially with the league stage tightening as it moves to Delhi for the final six matches.

Experts from Sports Keeda suggest that the Warriors must now win at least two of their remaining three fixtures to edge into the top‑four. U Mumba, meanwhile, can afford a slip‑up but will aim to consolidate their position ahead of the knockout round.

Future Fixtures and Broadcast Information

The PKL schedule moves to Delhi’s Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium for the final leg. On October 16, the Warriors face the Bengaluru Bulls at 7:30 PM IST, while U Mumba take on the Telugu Titans at 8:30 PM IST. All matches continue to be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioCinema, ensuring fans across India can follow the drama in real time.