Maninder Singh is fifth in the leaderboard for raid points with 731 points from just 79 matches. Instrumental in Bengal Warriors’ victorious campaign in Season 7, Maninder was their go-to man in pressure situations and always delivered when the team needed him the most. He was Bengal’s leading raid points-scorer last season with 205 points from 20 matches – including six Super Raids – and was also Jaipur Pink Panthers’ talisman in attack in the inaugural Pro Kabaddi season, which they won. Here, we have a look at Maninder’s top Super 10 performances.
Jaipur Pink Panthers VS Bengal Warriors, Match 103 (PKL 7)
The swashbuckling raider’s best Pro Kabaddi performance came against his former team Jaipur Pink Panthers and it turned out to be pivotal as his contribution helped Bengal Warriors register a tight victory. He completed one Super Raid in the match and finished the game as its top-scorer with 19 raid points to show for his efforts. His role in the closing stages of the contest, in particular, drew praise as he picked up points when his team desperately needed them and went about empty raids to kill the clock and help Bengal over the line.
Bengal Warriors VS Haryana Steelers, Match 97 (PKL 7)
A few days before his stellar display against Jaipur, Maninder wowed the crowd in a game that saw him complete his fifth Super Raid of the seventh season. This time the opponent in question were Haryana Steelers but just like the Panthers, they couldn’t do anything to stop Maninder as he went about his business in style. He was the leading points scorer in the match with 18 raid points and never allowed Haryana to get a sniff of victory thanks to his consistent and clinical raids that helped the Warriors to a comfortable 48-36 win.
Bengal Warriors VS Bengaluru Bulls, Match 88 (PKL 7)
After scoring 17 raid points against Bengaluru Bulls in the previous campaign, Maninder was at it again against the same opponent the following season. It was a close contest with neither team refusing to budge but Maninder’s temperament under pressure again proved to be Bengal’s saving grace and gave them the win. He completed a Super Raid in the match and finished with 17 raid points, including a two-point raid that included a bonus at a crucial time. The Warriors eventually edged the game 42-40 with Maninder solidifying his ability in the clutch.
Telugu Titans VS Bengal Warriors, Match 106 (PKL 7)
Season 7, in fact, saw plenty of close encounters and Telugu Titans’ clash against Bengal Warriors at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium in Jaipur was yet another. Siddharth ‘Baahubali’ Desai was the Titans’ biggest threat and managed a Super 10. However, Maninder was one step ahead of him and ended the night with 17 raid points to give Bengal a 40-39 win. Leading from the front, Maninder ensured that his side had a stranglehold on the contest from the start and kept ticking the scoreboard over to demoralize the opposition. The top-scorer in the match, Maninder contribution proved to be the difference on the night.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Bengal Warriors, Match 88 (PKL 6)
Squaring off against Bengaluru Bulls at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, the match was billed as a faceoff between two star raiders. Pawan Sehrawat was Bengaluru’s primary raiding threat, but it turned out to be Maninder’s night. He outscored Sehrawat and finished the night with 17 raid points and helped the Warriors complete a spirited comeback to beat the Bulls. Trailing 12-20 at one stage, it was Maninder’s determination and skill that helped turn things around for his team and gave them a 44-37 win.
Feature image courtesy: ProKabaddi.com
