Defending champions Bengal Warriors will face 3-time champions Patna Pirates in the 24th match of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 at the Sheraton Grand Whitefield Hotel and Convention Centre in Bengaluru on Friday.
The two teams ranked in the top half of the standings are tied on points in PKL 8 so far. However, the Pirates have played one match lesser than their opponents. After a heavy defeat against Dabang Delhi, the Warriors have a negative score difference of -10.
The match will be decided as the battle between Bengal’s raiding unit and Patna’a defense will be the one to watch out for. Patna’s team is statistically the best defensive unit on the mat as they have completed the most tackles, most successful tackles per match, most super tackles, and have a successful tackle percentage of 44.59, which is the best in the league. With 161 raid points in PKL 8 so far, Bengal Warriors are 3rd on that list and it promises to be exciting on all counts.
How have they done so far?
The Bengal Warriors started off the season with two victories but since then, they have been on the wrong side of the result. They were edged out by the Bengaluru Bulls in their 3rd match while Naveen Kumar’s 24-point effort helped Dabang Delhi trounce the blue outfit.
Dabang Delhi took a lead 33-15 in the first half and inflicted a couple of all-outs on the defending champions. In spite of a better performance in the second half, the Warriors were unable to turn the tide.
Patna Pirates have been one of the more dominant sides in the league with two wins in three matches. They were edged out by a solitary point in their only defeat of the tournament against the U.P. Yoddhas.
In the previous match, the Pirates registered a thumping victory over Puneri Paltan with all-round performance in the second half. Mohammadreza Chiyaneh and Sajin C are among the top 10 defenders in PKL 8.
Head to head record
Patna Pirates have dominated the rivalry with 10 wins in 17 matches. In the previous season, both teams won one match apiece as the bragging rights were shared in PKL Season 7.
Key Players
Maninder Singh: The skipper scored 16 points in the previous match and has been the second-best raider in PKL 8. He will expect more support from Sukesh Hegde in the raiding department.
Monu Goyat: After a 15-point effort in the opening match, Goyat has been lackluster in the following two matches with a combined 8-point tally. Sachin Tanwar and Prasanth Kumar Rai will expect him to deliver more.
Predicted Starting 7s
Patna Pirates have registered the most successful tackles in PKL 8 so far (Updated till Match 20)
Patna Pirates: Monu Goyat, Sajin C, Neeraj Kumar, Prashanth Kumar, Sachin, Sunil, Mohammadreza Chiyaneh
Bengal Warriors: Maninder Singh, Darshan J, Mohammad Nabibakhsh, Sukesh Hegde, Abozar Mighani, Rinku Narwal, Parveen Satpal
Prediction
In spite of being one of the best teams in the tournament so far, the Bengal Warriors have lacked an all-round effort which has bugged them like in their previous match against Dabang Delhi. Their opponents, the Patna Pirates have impressed in both the departments and will have an edge over the PKL 7 champions in the last match of the calendar year.