Mumbai, Bengaluru aim for playoff berth, UP take on Gujarat in PKL 8

Sunday will see an exciting triple header in the league with six teams fighting out.

Haryana Steelers will lock horns with U Mumba on Sunday (February 13th) in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 8. Haryana suffered a humiliating defeat against Puneri Paltan in their previous outing and will be looking to bounce back against Mumbai. U Mumba have endured a difficult campaign with key injuries affecting their form. But with Rahul Sethpal and Ajith Kumar fit, they have the ability to pull off a series of wins to ensure a Playoff berth.

The second match of Triple Panga Sunday will feature Bengaluru Bulls and Jaipur Pink Panthers. Bulls have been off-colour in their last few matches despite a strong start to their campaign. They will be looking to beat Pink Panthers to remain in contention for a Top 6 finish. The third game of the night will see U.P Yoddha battle Gujarat Giants.

Bulls need a strong end to the season

Bengaluru Bulls, captained by ‘High-Flyer’ Pawan Sehrawat, was an early-season favourite to win the PKL 8. But their form dipped severely halfway into the tournament despite Pawan scoring big points. They now need a flawless end to the season to ensure they remain with a chance to challenge for the title. With just 1 win in the previous 5 matches, the Bulls certainly have no form going into the crucial encounter against Jaipur Pink Panthers.

A win will see the Panthers leapfrog Bengaluru on the points table and most importantly get into the Top 6. The key for Jaipur will be their strong defence. Sandeep Dhull, Vishal, and Sahul must ensure Pawan Sehrawat spends a lot of time away from the mat. Their inconsistency has been the big reason for Jaipur’s mixed results. And for Bengaluru, the objective must be to revive Pawan as soon as possible. Bharat and Chandran Ranjit both should start so as to not let the Pink Panthers settle into a defence pattern. They should also save Pawan from any Do-or-Die situations. A loss for Bengaluru will put them in a difficult spot and will need other results to go in their favour to gain a PKL 8 playoff berth.

Pardeep is back!

Pardeep Narwal rolled back the clock with a vintage performance in U.P. Yoddha’s last outing against Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL 8. The ‘Record Breaker’ scored 3 Super Raids to clinch a Super 10 and give Yoddha a vital win in their race for a Playoff spot. With 3 wins in 3 matches, Yoddha certainly have the momentum on their side. But Gujarat Giants have the capacity to play the spoilsport on any given day.

Yoddha’s key will once again be their attacking unit. Pardeep Narwal and Surender Gill are a potent combination capable of destroying most defences in the league. Shrikant Jadhav is also available for them to add more firepower when needed. Gujarat’s experienced defenders, including the covers Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal, have been poor throughout the season. Against U.P. they will need to be on their toes especially because Pardeep and Surender attack different sides.

 In fact, Gujarat’s best chances might be attacking from the first whistle. In Pardeep Kumar, Rakesh and Mahendra Rajput, they have three raiders with completely different skillsets. This can cause confusion in the opposition defence. All three PKL 8 matches will be held at the Sheraton Grand, Whitefield, Bengaluru.

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