PKL 11: Key battles to watch out for in match 25, Gujarat Giants vs Tamil Thalaivas

Tamil Thalaivas are coming into the match with two consecutive wins in PKL 11.

Tamil Thalaivas are all set to take Gujarat Giants in the Pro Kabaddi League 2024 (PKL 11) game on Wednesday, October 30 in Hyderabad.

Tamil Thalaivas started the PKL 11 season with back-to-back wins against Hi-Flyer Pawan Sehrawat’s Telugu Titans and defending champions Puneri Paltan. However, the next two PKL 11 games saw J Udhayakumar’s side drop points as they first lost narrowly to Patna Pirates and then played a draw against Jaipur Pink Panthers. Thus, the Thalaivas have collected 14 points from four games, sitting third in the Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 ((PKL 11) table. 

Tamil Thalaivas have banked on the defence as the likes of Abishek, Sahil Singh and Nitesh Kumar have powered the team to the second-highest average tackle points per game so far in the (PKL 11). They are also the team with the second-highest number of all-outs inflicted in the league.

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Their raiders haven’t been found missing either. Sachin Tanwar and Neeraj Hoshiyar Kandola feature in the list of the top 10 raiders with the most points in the PKL 11 so far.

Even with the minor blip in form, the Thalaivas look like the team to beat ahead of their game against Gujarat Giants. The Giants haven’t had it easy as the Ram Mehar Singh-coached side has struggled to collect points from their raiding lineup despite having what could be seen as the team with the most quality options. T

The likes of Rakesh Sungroya, Guman Singh, and Parteek Dahiya have blanked more often than not, leaving their coach red-faced wondering what else could be done to get the best out of the squad.

Gujarat haven’t had a Super 10 scored for them in the three (PKL 11 games they have played so far. Himanshu did come close to achieving the feat in their game against UP Yoddhas when he scored nine points (five through raid, two bonus points, and two tackle points). Himanshu, thus, collected as many points in the game against the Yoddhas as star acquisition Guman Singh has from three games so far.

The defence, however, might give Ram Meher Singh some hope as they have the third-highest success rate in tackles in the league so far. Sombir, Neeraj, and Jitender Yadav have contributed whenever they can in the defence, with the former leading from the front.

Sachin Tanwar vs Jitender Yadav

For Gujarat to have any chance of coming out on top of the PKL 11 game, they would hope for their defence to get the better of Tamil Thalaivas’ raiders. Jitender Yadav had three tackle points against U Mumba and two against UP Yoddhas. 

The left corner along with left covers Vahid Rezaeimher or Bala would be key in containing the right raider Sachin Tanwar who has scored two Super 10s already this PKL 11. The former Patna Pirates raider has scored 10, 8, 6, and 11 points in the four games respectively.

Narender Kandola vs Sombir

This would perhaps be a more evenly matched contest as Gujarat Giants’ right corner Sombir will help captain Neeraj Kumar to contain the Tamil Thalaivas dangerman, Narender Kandola.

The left-raider also has two Super 10s for J Udhayakumar’s side but is coming into the game after Jaipur Pink Panthers managed to contain him for just three points. It is perhaps the right time for Sombir to play against Narender. Sombir has the most points for Gujarat through tackles.

Nitesh Kumar vs Himanshu

Himanshu is perhaps the only Gujarat Giants’ player to have scored points consistently in PKL 11 through raids. He is yet to score a Super 10, as aforementioned. He will be up against Nitesh Kumar of the Thalaivas who has fourth-highest tackle points in the league so far. 

Playing against his former team the all-rounder who raids from the right would have high hopes pinned on him by the Giants’ coach Ram Meher Singh as he goes up against the left corner.

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