Five things that can define Pro Kabaddi League season 8 final

The epic encounter could be settled with fine margins.

The ultimate clash of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 8 will see Patna Pirates and Dabang Delhi play for the title. The ongoing edition of the tournament is a very successful one that has seen incredible performances. The competition made a comeback after two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic situation and took place in a secure bio-bubble in Bengaluru. 

When the final takes place on 25 February 2022, both teams will have a chance to create history. While Patna will look to add a fourth trophy in their locker, Delhi’s aim will be to secure a first-ever league triumph.  These teams finished first and second respectively in the league stage and deserve to be in the final after a gruelling season.

The whole nation will closely watch the match to see which outfit finally lifts the championship. On paper, there is little to separate the teams. On that note, here is a look at the following five things that can define the final:

Performance in pressure situations

Pro Kabaddi League Season 8 has shown how pressure situations can decide the outcome of the match. On many occasions, matches were decided in the last few minutes or during crucial events that turned the fortunes. In the final, there will be huge pressure to perform on both teams. Both camps will hope that their players can live up to the expectations and perform brilliantly one last time.

High-profile players like Naveen Kumar, Sachin Tanwar and more on both sides will be crucial. These individuals can make or break the chances of their team when the final takes place on Friday.

Coach’s impact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ppghIx76TQQ

Both Patna Pirates and Dabang Delhi have incredible coaches who have been vital to their journey to the final. Ram Meha Singh has led the Pirates to the final for the fourth time and will like to lift the title once again. On the other hand, Krishan Kumar Hooda has led Delhi to the final for the second consecutive season.

These tacticians have invaluable experience and their inputs will be vital. The impact of the coach’s on the final cannot be underestimated. Their tactics and in-game management will likely decide the course of the match. Guiding the players to exploit the weakness of the opposition and staying focused will be on the agenda.

Mohammadreza Chiyaneh

Iran’s Mohammadreza Chiyaneh will be a key player in the final. The all-rounder is an outstanding defender and often goes in for raids too. This is his debut season in the PKL and it is safe to say he took the league by storm. In terms of stats, he leads the division with the most successful tackles (84), most High 5s (10) and the most tackle points (87).

The Pirates are a defensively strong unit and Chiyaneh leads the defensive duties. It is impressive to see a foreigner dominate the league in such a manner. When the final takes place, the Iranian will be a key figure who will play an important role.

Naveen Kumar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoQ6tv-OpBw

Dabang Delhi’s reliable figure in Naveen Kumar will be their main source of points in the final. The exceptionally quick raider will lead the charge and hope to bag a lot of points for his team. During the contest against the Bulls in the semi-final, Naveen scored 14 points in a vital 40-35 win.

Despite struggling with injuries, Naveen has delivered big numbers in the league this year. He is the fourth-highest in terms of scoring raid points (194), Super 10s (11) and successful raids (167). The Pirates will be aware of his threat and will aim to silence him during the final. 

Defending performance

Patna Pirates is one of the strongest defensive teams in the PKL. Their secret to success this year has been a consistent performance by their defenders like Chiyaneh, Sandeep, etc. While raiders like Prashanth Rai and Monu Goyat score in raiding too, it is their defence that makes a huge difference.

On the other hand, Dabang Delhi’s defence is certainly not performing at the same level as Patna. Their defenders like Manjeet Chillar and Jeeva Kumar will have to roll up their sleeves and perform at a higher level in the final. Whichever team denies the other from scoring, will most likely emerge as the winner too. 

For more updates, follow Khel Now Kabaddi on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and join our community on Telegram.