PKL 12 Play-Ins: Which two teams are favourites to win tonight's matches?

The winners progress to the next round in PKL 12.

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12) league stage has concluded after 108 thrilling matches, and the action now shifts to the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi for the high-stakes playoffs. The competition begins with the Play-Ins, where four teams will battle for the remaining two spots in the Eliminators.

In the first Play-In, Haryana Steelers will face Jaipur Pink Panthers, who are currently eighth-placed. In the second Play-In, the sixth-placed U Mumba will take on the league’s most successful team, the seventh-placed Patna Pirates.

Also Read: PKL 12 Playoffs: Where & how to watch knockout stage for free in India?

On that note, let’s predict the winners of PKL 12 Play-Ins.

Play-In 1: Haryana Steelers vs Jaipur Pink Panthers

In the initial Play-In, the Haryana Steelers take on the Jaipur Pink Panthers in a traditional offense vs defense clash. The Steelers finished 5th with 10 wins from a total of 18 matches, while the Pink Panthers secured the final spot in 8th place, winning 8 games.

The last time these two teams battled it out in the league stage (Match 57), the Jaipur Pink Panthers narrowly defeated the Steelers 37-36 in a last-minute thriller. Jaipur will take some confidence from that win, but this is a playoff game, and both teams will be under pressure.

The Haryana team’s identity throughout the season has been their approach to defense, combined with their best player in the league on defense, Jaideep Dahiya, who has collected an astounding 67 tackle points in 18 matches.

However, the Steelers are facing a major blow as their main raider, Shivam Patare, was stretched off the mat with an injury in his last game and is doubtful for this crucial match. This puts immense pressure on their other raider, Vinay, to deliver.

Pink Panthers are being carried by their star raider Nitin Dhankhar, who enters the playoffs after three consecutive Super 10s. This match will be a direct test of whether Jaipur’s in-form offense can overcome Haryana’s elite defense.

Current Form

Haryana Steelers: W – L – W – W – W

Jaipur Pink Panthers: L – L – W – W – L

Match Prediction

While the Pink Panthers have the offensive momentum and the psychological edge from their last win, the adage says, “Defense wins championships.” The Haryana Steelers are the favorites to win this match.

Their formidable defensive unit, led by Jaideep, is arguably the best in the league and should have the strength and strategy to contain Nitin Dhankhar, even if their own offense is not at full strength.

Play-In 2: U Mumba vs Patna Pirates

U Mumba will take on the Patna Pirates in the second Play-In. These two teams faced each other once already this season (Match 27), in which U Mumba completed a thrilling last-raid win by a score of 40-39. 

The storyline for this match will be Patna’s hot form, as they arrived in the playoffs on a five-match winning streak after a poor start to the season. This surge has been led by the amazing raider Ayan, who has tallied 12 Super 10s and has looked virtually unbeatable. 

However, U Mumba are a powerful and well-rounded team that was unfortunate to finish outside the top four after a narrow loss to UP Yoddhas in their final league game. They boast a potent raiding unit with Ajit Chouhan and Sandeep Kumar, who can both change the game.

More importantly, their experienced defensive duo, captain Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal, provides a solid foundation that can counter Patna’s aggressive attack.

Current Form

U Mumba: L – W – W – W – L

Patna Pirates: W – W – W – W – W

Match Prediction

This is a battle of momentum versus a balanced, experienced team. While Patna Pirates are in incredible form, U Mumba have a slight advantage in this match. Sunil and Parvesh’s defensive experience provides them a psychological advantage to slow down Ayan and manage the game.

U Mumba’s balanced squad, combined with their previous head-to-head victory, gives them the advantage in breaking Patna’s win streak.

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