Homecoming for U Mumba raider duo of Bapu, Adake

MUMBAI: City-based kabaddi franchise U Mumba have always been a force to reckon with in Pro Kabaddi. They reached the final in the first three seasons with a title triumph in season 2. A lot will be expected of them in the upcoming season 5 starting from July 28. On their part the team management of U Mumba have left no stone unturned by not only retaining skipper Anup Kumar but also the dynamic coaching duo of E Bhaskaran and Ravi Shetty succeeded in landing raiders Kashiling Adake and Shabeer Bapu.The pair of Adake and Bapu can unsettle any defence at will and will surely be a great asset for any team wishing to land the riches.
It is going to be a homecoming for both the raiders. Bapu played for the Mumbai team in the first three seasons before being picked up by Jaipur Pink Panthers in the last edition. Bapu, in fact, has played all the four finals so far -first three with U Mumba and with Panthers in the previous season where his team went down to Patna Pirates.
Bapu was happy to be back in Mumbai. "It is indeed homecoming for me," Bapu told TOI on Sunday. "Though as a professional I have to give my best to any team that I am part of, coming back to Mumbai side makes me feel I am in my comfort zone. I did perform well for Panthers in the last season and will certainly try to perform to the best of my potential for U Mumba this time," the 31-year-old from Kerala, who has scored 148 points in 42 matches with an average of 3.52 points per match, said. He has also landed Super 10s on four occasions.
Bapu has had issues with injuries having suffered thigh and hand injuries but he says this will not deter him from giving his best. "Injuries are bound to happen in full body contact sport like kabaddi and am not afraid of them," he stressed.
Adake, 24, has been one of the fiercest raiders in Pro Kabaddi history while leading the Dabang Delhi attack almost single handedly in the last four editions. The Maharashtra lad was picked up by U Mumba for a whopping Rs 48 lacs. A gold medallist at the 2014 Asian Games, Adake is also coming back to Mumbai where he honed his skills while playing for Mahindra team for many years before the arrival of Pro Kabaddi.
"I owe a lot to the city of Mumbai which gave me opportunity to start my career," said the best rider of season 2. "Now I consider it as payback time for me," said the Satara born who is one of the high scoring raiders in Pro Kabaddi so far.