Chennai, October 6: UP Yoddhas displayed flashes of enterprise and grit in their 28-36 encounter against Patna Pirates, a match that hinged on fine margins and Patna’s ability to string together decisive streaks at crucial junctures. While the result went Pirates’ way, Yoddhas’ tactical tweaks and individual bursts of brilliance provided plenty of encouraging signs.

Both teams executed 43 raids each, but the numbers show just how tight the margins were. Yoddhas completed 12 successful raids, achieving a raid success rate of 27.91%, while Patna managed 14 successful raids at a rate of 32.56%. UP also struck with two super raids, showing their capacity to flip defensive pressure into multi-point gains, which is a key element that kept the scoreboard moving despite stretches of resistance from Patna’s backline.

Gagan Gowda stood tall with a stellar 10-point outing, leading the offensive unit with sharp footwork and calculated aggression. Shivam Chaudhary added three raid points, while Bhavani Rajput chipped in with two, ensuring the raiding burden was shared. In defence, Ashu Singh, Mahender Singh, Hitesh, and Sumit combined for seven tackle points, with Mahender and Hitesh particularly effective in halting Patna’s rhythm through well-timed interventions.

UP’s raid strike rate of 41.86% reflected moments of fluency. Yoddhas’ own longest streak was three, showing they stayed within striking distance for much of the contest.

For UP Yoddhas, tonight’s game highlighted a few clear positives despite the result. Gagan Gowda’s 10-point effort gave their attack a sharp edge, while the defence stood up in crucial phases to stall Patna’s surges. Their two super raids kept them in the contest deep into the second half, and even as Patna built a six-raid streak to pull ahead, UP showed the ability to respond with impactful moments of their own, which are signs of a side that can trouble any opponent when it clicks together.

UP Yoddhas will play the Gujarat Giants on October 9, whereas the Patna Pirates square off against the Tamil Thalaivas on October 7.

UP Yoddhas 28 – 36 Patna Pirates