Jaipur Pink Panthers captain Deepak Hooda has revealed his strategy in a do-or-die raid against U.P. Yoddha. Jaipur went on to win by 32-29 at the Sheraton Grand, Whitefield, Bengaluru on Monday.
Jaipur Pink Panthers skipper Deepak Hooda was able to score off a do-or-die raid to take his team to a victory.
Hooda revealed that he didn’t try to go for the bonus point as he knew U.P Yoddha defenders will try to tackle him as they had done the same in their previous encounter against Patna Pirates. U.P. Yoddha had won that match against Patna Pirates by a solitary point. Thus, Hooda went for the touch points and he was able to take his team over the line in a nail-biting win.
“Personally, about the do-or-die raid, I went in thinking that I will score one point because the goal was to make the team win,” he said. “It does not matter if you win by one point or 10 points, a victory is a victory. And these close victories help teams a lot in the final phase of the league stage.”
“I knew that if I go in deep for the bonus, all defenders will try to tackle me down,” he explained. “UP Yoddha used that strategy against Patna Pirates. They took the bonus in the last raid and then the raider got tackled when they had a lead. So UP Yoddha’s defenders were never going to allow me the bonus, which is why I tried for touch points.”
On the other hand, Deepak Hooda revealed that he prepared a special strategy with his coach to keep U.P. Yoddha talisman Pardeep Narwal in check.
“It was very important for us to win tonight,” he said. “Talking about Pardeep Narwal, we watched him during his last two matches. I prepared a special strategy for Pardeep Narwal along with the coach. I believe that strategy was successful in tonight’s match.”
Jaipur Pink Panthers will play their next match against U Mumba on December 30 and they will aim to continue their winning momentum.
