PBL 2017 : Mumbai Rockets - Fixtures, Schedule, Players List

12/30/2016

131

Mumbai Rockets will hope to do one better this time at the PBL 2017 after stumbling at the last hurdle last season. The runner-ups have retained the services of Sung Ji Hyun and HS Prannoy and managed to prize away Ajay Jayaram from Champions Delhi Acers for this season.

South Korean ace Sung Ji Hyun is the star signing for Mumbai this season, and she would love to carry on her international form to her franchise. Sung had a brilliant year winning three titles and was particularly excellent towards the end of the year winning all her group games at the Dubai World Superseries Finals - beating PV Sindhu and Carolina Marin in doing so. The World number 5 will be the main threat for the team from Mumbai as they try to launch a serious challenge for the 2017 Premier Badminton League title (PBL-2). Vrushali Gummadi will act as an understudy for the South Korean.

Mumbai have also roped in the very best Indian men's badminton have on offer in the form of Ajay Jayaram (India No. 2) and HS Prannoy (India No. 3). The duo were on opposite sides in the finals last season when the Delhi Acers faced off with the Mumbai Rockets, but this season they will be plying their trade at Mumbai together. Jayaram has broken into the Top-20 for the first time in his career and is playing some of the best badminton of his life and could be a major player for the Mumbai team this season. Shreyansh Jaiswal is also a part of the team but would act like an understudy to Jayaram and Prannoy.

South Korean Lee Yong Dae is the main star in the doubles and all eyes would be on the World No. 1 when he takes to the court for the Rockets. Thai Nipitphon Phuangphuapet could prove to be a worthy partner for Dae as the two could form a very stable partnership as the competition progresses. Chirag Shetty is the third men's doubles player in the Mumbai setup. As far as the women's team is concerned, Mumbai have opted for World No. 16 Nadiezda Zieba and Indian Mohita Sahdev, who could quite easily step up to the big stage if called upon.

Mumbai open their campaign on Jan 1 against the Hyderabad Hunters and the Chennai Smashers in Hyderabad.