U Mumba, for the first time since the start of the Pro Kabaddi, couldn't make it to the knockout stages of the competition as their Maharashtra rivals Puneri Paltan beat them to bag the number four position in the Pro Kabaddi season 4.
The Pune side are having a consistent calendar year 2016 as they had earlier made it to the knockout stages in the Pro Kabaddi season 3 as well held earlier this year. However, they couldn't reach the final. Will this time be any different? That remains to be seen.
Both U Mumba and Puneri Paltan won their respective games on the final day of the league stage on Wednesday and both teams were once again levelled on 42 points. However, the Pune side got the edge just because they had a better score difference.
The Pro Kabaddi rule book states that in the event of a tie in league points, the "team to qualify for play-offs will be decided by the differential score calculated as the difference between total points won and total points conceded. Team with a higher differential score will qualify for play-offs."
While the score difference for Puneri Paltan was 23, U Mumba had a minus 23 score difference.
Defending champions Patna Pirates led the table once again following the end of the league stage matches with 52 points, while inaugural Pro Kabaddi champions Jaipur Pink Panthers came in second. Telugu Titans, meanwhile, became third in the league stage.
Pro Kabaddi semifinals schedule:
Date | Team A | Team B | Time | Venue | |
July 29 | Patna Pirates | v | Puneri Paltan | 8 p.m. IST | Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad |
July 29 | Telugu Titans | v | Jaipur Pink Panthers | 9 p.m. IST | Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad |
TV listings: Star Sports Network.