What’s the Score?
In a World Pickleball League (WPBL) fixture defined by high tension and shifting momentum, the Bengaluru Jawans defeated the Mumbai Pickle Power 3-2 at the Jio World Garden. The match was a showcase of individual brilliance versus team depth. Mumbai’s Brandon Lane delivered a masterclass performance, winning both his mixed doubles and men’s doubles matches to keep his team alive. However, Bengaluru’s consistency across the other categories ultimately secured them the victory, leaving the home team to reflect on what might have been.
Hit it deeper!
Brandon Lane was the undeniable engine for Mumbai throughout the evening. Adapting to a new role this season that focuses heavily on doubles play, Lane first took the court in mixed doubles alongside Glauka Carvajal Lane. The pair displayed electrifying chemistry, dismantling the Bengaluru duo of Eunggwon Kim and Molly O’Donoghue with a 16-7 scoreline. Their performance was characterised by tenacious defence and powerful overheads that delighted the home crowd and leveled the fixture at 1-1 early in the night.
Despite Lane’s efforts, Mumbai faltered in the men’s singles and women’s doubles categories, putting them in a precarious position. Lane returned for the final match of the day—men’s doubles—partnering with Santhosh Narayanan. Once again, Lane was at his “breezy best,” dominating Kim and Mauro Garcia 17-8 to put another point on the board for Mumbai. While these two victories highlighted Lane’s immense value as a “lynchpin” for the franchise, the math didn’t add up for Mumbai, as the Jawans secured the necessary three wins to take the overall tie.
The World Pickleball Verdict
This WPBL fixture illustrated a classic sports truism: superstars win matches, but teams win championships. Brandon Lane proved he is one of the league’s elite assets, successfully transitioning from a singles specialist to a doubles powerhouse. However, Mumbai Pickle Power cannot rely solely on his heroics to carry the franchise. The Bengaluru Jawans demonstrated that a balanced attack across all five categories is the superior strategy. With a quick turnaround before their next match against the Hyderabad Superstars on February 2, Mumbai must find a way to support their star player, or risk falling further behind in the league standings.