PKL 11: Key battles to watch in Match 80 Bengal Warriorz vs Gujarat Giants

The Giants previously dominated the Warriorz with a 47-28 win in the reverse fixture in PKL 11.

Gujarat Giants are set to take on an out-of-form Bengal Warriorz in Match 80 of Pro Kabaddi 2024 (PKL 11) at the Noida Indoor Stadium.

Bengal Warriorz have lost all seven of their previous games in PKL 11. They have three wins from 12 games, amounting to just 24 points, the third lowest in the league so far. They also have the third-worst score difference in the league.

The Fazel Atrachali-captained side has looked weak in the defensive side of the game, despite the additions of the Iranian left corner, previously with Gujarat Giants and Nitesh Kumar, previously with UP Yoddhas.

While the Yoddhas have successfully replaced Nitesh Kumar with young talent Hitesh, Bengal Warriorz have the second-lowest tackle points per game. They also have inflicted the second-least number of all-outs in the league. While Fazel Atrachali has done his job, collecting 34 points from 12 games, his teammate Nitesh has been somewhat neutralised by the opponents. He has only 21 points in 12 games. 

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The raiding, however, has been up to the mark for the Warriorz. Although Maninder Singh hasn’t performed up to the expectations, Nitin Kumar Dhankar along with youngsters like Sushil Kambrekar have done well enough. The Warriorz as a unit have the third-most raid points per game in the league. They have also inflicted the second-most all-outs this season.

Gujarat Giants on the other hand haven’t had any easy either. The raiding depth that they exhibited off the mat hasn’t matched the performances on the mat. Only Guman Singh has gotten points consistently through raids for the Giants. And while the defence started the season amicably, it didn’t take long for the complete stunting of the team’s growth in the league.

Jitender Yadav, Sombir, Neeraj Kumar and D Bala have been ineffective for most of the season. Statistically speaking, the Giants have the fifth-best defence in the league. But it hasn’t helped the team translate those points into victories as the Adani Sports Line-owned franchise have only three wins from 12 games in the league this season. They have 20 points in the league, only Bengaluru Bulls have fewer.

Of the only three wins that Gujarat Giants have this season, one came against Bengal Warriorz when they beat them 47-28 in the Hyderabad leg of PKL 11. We take a look at the battles that could decide the fate of the tie between the two teams now.

Parteek Dahiya vs Fazel Atrachali

Parteek Dahiya has shown the form that Gujarat Giants were missing from him in the first phase of the season. However, the back-to-back Super 10s in PKL 11 against the Dabang Delhi and Telugu Titans would hearten the coach Ram Mehar Singh and instil faith in the team that they can still fight back.

Letting Fazel Atrachali go hasn’t really worked out for the Giants. Fazel has continued the form he showed in the previous seasons and is still one of the best corners in the league. The duel between Parteek and Fazel may have a big say in the fate of the game.

Guman Singh vs Nitesh Kumar

It would be unfair to leave the most consistent raider for the Giants out of this piece. Guman Singh has 80 points from 12 games in PKL 11, scoring three Super 10s in the process. Also, the former U Mumba raider scored 17 points against the Warriorz in the previous game against them.

Nitesh Kumar has the second most tackle points for Bengal Warriorz this season. And this is when the player has been in and out of the starting seven of the side. A fully fit Nitesh Kumar starting will help Warriorz contain Guman Singh.

Jitender Yadav vs Nitin Dhankar

Jitender Yadav is the defender with the most tackle points for the Giants. The left corner has 35 points from 12 games, which puts him on the list of 10 defenders with the most tackle points in PKL 11.

Nitin Dhankar has been a pleasant surprise for Bengal Warriorz and their fans this season. While Maninder Singh hasn’t performed well, Nitin Dhankar has taken over the onus of scoring points consistently through raids. He has 106 points from 12 games in PKL 11, fifth most in the league.

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