2018-19 PBL final: Srikanth helps Bengaluru Raptors edge Mumbai Rockets 4-3 to win maiden title

Bengaluru Raptors edged the Mumbai Rockets 4-3 in a closely contested title clash to win their maiden Premier Badminton League title on Sunday.

Kidambi Srikanth

Bengaluru Raptors edged the Mumbai Rockets 4-3 in a closely contested title clash to win their maiden Premier Badminton League title on Sunday. The mixed doubles pair of Kim Gi Jung and Pia Zebadiah gave the early lead to Mumbai Rockets by winning the Trump match against Marcus Ellis and Lauren Smith of Bengaluru Raptors 15-8 15-14. The victory put Mumbai Rockets 2-0 up after the first tie. Bengaluru's ace singles player Kidambi Srikanth secured a hard fought win over World No. 18 Anders Antonsen to help the Raptors keep the tie alive. However, Mumbai Rockets' Sameer Verma fought back in the men's singles tie against B Sai Praneeth to regain the lead in his team's favour before the men's doubles pair of Bengaluru Raptors proved too good for their opponents in the end. Vu Ji Trang then won her women's singles tie against Shriyanshi Pardeshi in straight games. It was a Trump game for Bengaluru and the victory put them 3-2 ahead in the contest. It came down down to the final tie of the encounter where Bengaluru's men's doubles pair then beat Kim Gi Jung and Lee Yong Dae of Mumbai Rockets 15-13 15-10 in the winners-take-all contest to seal the victory. Bengaluru have become the fifth team after Chennai Smashers, Delhi Dashers, Hyderabad Hotshots and Hyderabad Hunters to win the title.