PKL 11: Key battles to watch out for in match 51, Gujarat Giants vs Bengal Warriorz

Gujarat Giants are coming into this game following seven consecutive losses in PKL 11.

Season 11 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 11) has seen half a century of matches and the next set begins with a battle between Gujarat Giants and Bengal Warriorz at the Noida Indoor Stadium in Noida. Most teams have found their starting seven with the new squads, with few pieces missing due to injuries and lack of form.

One team that is still searching to find the right combination in PKL 11 is the Gujarat Giants. Everybody was looking forward to their strategy right from the auction day when they went in with a huge purse and made surprise purchases. Fans were hinging their hopes on coach Ram Mehar Singh to weave some magic but things haven’t gone the way they would have wanted.

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On the other hand, things have gone more than right for Bengal Warriorz right from the day of the PKL 11 auction to 50 matches into the season. They were able to get two former captains to safeguard their defence while youngsters like Sushil Kambrekar and Nitin Dhankar continue to impress.

With a game between two teams with contrasting journeys so far, let’s look at the few battles which could decide which side will have the say at the end of the night.

Guman Singh vs Fazel Atrachali

Two shocking/surprising turns of events at the PKL 11 auction were when Fazel Atrachali’s final bid was just 50 lakhs and Gujarat Giants refused to use the Final Bid Match card option to retain him. The second event was the strategy to go for Guman Singh for 1.97 cr when many more stars were up for grabs in the auction.

These two will be up against each other in a contest. The change of colours hasn’t changed anything for Fazel who continues to pin down raiders with ease. Guman Singh seems to feel the heat of the purse and hasn’t been able to express himself in PKL 11 like he used to do for U Mumba. But, he is slowly getting into his groove and if he could outsmart the best in business in Fazel, then that could be the turning point of his season.

Maninder Singh vs Sombir

The Pro Kabaddi League always throws up youngsters in the league but the veterans keep coming back to show who they are and what they are capable of. The Mighty Maninder Singh hasn’t set the league on fire till now and has been surreptitious in the matches Bengal has played in PKL 11. It was in the game against Bengaluru Bulls he impressed everyone with a Super 10.

He would look to continue his form against a confidence-less Gujarat Giants defence. While they might be less confident but definitely high on experience with the likes of Neeraj Kumar and Sombir. The latter was a rock for the Giants last season and he has to pull up his socks for Gujarat to see them end their seven-match winning streak.

Nitin Kumar vs Jitender Yadav

One of the most exciting things about sports is how an underdog overhauls everyone to unravel his potential to become the best in the business. Last season Bengal Warriorz found a gem in Nitin Kumar Dhankar who is proving that he wasn’t a one-season wonder as he continues to better his performance. The right raider has outscored Maninder in the raid points in PKL 11.

A similar journey that has unfolded in the Gujarat Giants camp this season is with Jitender Yadav. The all-rounder was not a starter in the earlier matches but not only has he cemented his place but also has become the team’s primary defender overshadowing Sombir. These two will battle it out against each other and the winner will walk out with confidence sky-high.

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