Pro Kabaddi Match Preview: Second place at stake as Dabang Delhi take on Bengal Warriors

A fascinating Vivo Pro Kabaddi doubleheader is in the offing on Thursday.

In the first game, the defending champions Bengal Warriors will go against Dabang Delhi, and in the second game, the Puneri Paltans will take on current league-leaders Patna Pirates.

Here is our preview for both the games:

Match 106: Bengal Warriors vs Dabang Delhi

The Bengal Warriors come into this game on the back of a disappointing tie against the Telugu Titans. It was the same old story for the Warriors, as Maninder Singh led by example with a Super 10, but the rest of the team failed to follow in their captain’s lead. The defence had another weak outing, as they only scored eight tackle points and conceded 18 raid points. Bengal is winless in its last four matches and with four games left, the team will likely need to win all their remaining matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the playoffs.

Two games without a win have seen Dabang Delhi slip to third on the points table. In their previous outing, they rallied late in the game to earn a tie against the Bengaluru Bulls. Naveen Kumar had a good outing, as he finished the game with 13 raid points. The mercurial raider’s form will determine just how far Delhi goes this season. A tie or a loss by seven or under will see Delhi go level on points with second-placed Haryana Steelers, but they won’t settle for anything less than a win. 

Bengal Warriors vs Dabang Delhi head-to-head

The Bengal Warriors and Dabang Delhi’s head-to-head series is tied at 7-7. Two games between the sides have finished in ties. In their first meeting this season, Delhi trounced the Warriors 52-35.

Match 107: Puneri Paltan vs Patna Pirates

Four straight wins have seen the Puneri Paltan take control of their future in the Vivo PKL playoffs. Coach Anup Kumar’s men are nine points behind sixth-placed Jaipur Pink Panthers but have played two fewer games. The key to their resurgence has been in the incredible form of youngsters Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat. The rookie raiding duo has taken the league by storm and have established their status as game-changers. They will need to come to the fore on Thursday when their team goes up against the best defence in the league. 

The Patna Pirates are sitting pretty at the top of the points table and are increasingly looking like the team to beat this season. They have won their last four games by an average margin of 10.5 points. In their previous outing, they beat U Mumba 47-36, with Sachin and Guman Singh leading the way with Super 10s. Their defence had a quiet day by their lofty standards, but the fearsome unit, led by the herculean Mohammadreza Chiyaneh, will be itching to take on the fearless young raiding unit that the Paltan boast. 

Puneri Paltan vs Patna Pirates head-to-head

The Patna Pirates have won 12 and lost two of their 16 matches against the Puneri Paltan. Two games between the sides have finished in ties. Patna beat Pune 38-26 in their first meeting this season. 

PKL Schedule for Thursday, February 10

Match 106: Bengal Warriors vs Dabang Delhi, 7:30 PM IST

Match 107: Puneri Paltan vs Patna Pirates, 8:30 PM IST

Where to watch vivo Pro Kabaddi live?

Catch all the LIVE action from Vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8 on the Star Sports Network and LIVE streaming on Disney+Hotstar.