After a day’s break, spotlight shifts to intra-zonal games and northern derby

This past Sunday saw the end of the second Inter Zone Challenge Week of VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 5, and after a day’s break intra-zonal rivalries once again come to the fore on Tuesday. In today’s games, Zone B toppers Bengal Warriors will strive to garner full points against Telugu Titans, while Haryana Steelers will look to move on from the embarrassing defeat against the Titans in their last match when they play fellow north-Indian side Dabang Delhi K.C. in the second match of the evening at the Motilal Nehru School of Sports in Sonepat. Here’s the lowdown on Tuesday’s fixtures. 

Match 73 (Zone B): Bengal Warriors vs Telugu Titans

Head-to-head: Bengal Warriors 4-3 Telugu Titans (2 ties) 

Bengal Warriors would enter today’s match on the back of a satisfactory home leg in Kolkata, which has helped them strengthen their position in the Zone B points table. The raiding department of the Warriors has been in exemplary form, with Maninder Singh dismantling opposition defences at will. Surjeet Singh’s presence on the mat works as a catalyst for his team as his captaincy skills are on a par with his defending capabilities. However, with Telugu Titans finding their feet slowly, it’s important for Bengal not to make too many mistakes. 

The Titans will enter the match high on confidence after putting up a brilliant display against Haryana Steelers on Sunday. All their departments fired and ensured they stuck to their strategy. Placed fifth in Zone B and tied on 29 points with Bengaluru Bulls from 14 matches, the Titans would be inspired to take revenge for their loss to the Warriors earlier this season. Rahul Chaudhari has led the raiding department with aplomb, while the defence has seen the rise of youngsters Vishal Bhardwaj and Sombir - the duo that the Warriors raiders really need to be wary of. 

Match 74 (Zone A): Haryana Steelers vs Dabang Delhi K.C.

Head-to-head: Haryana Steelers 1-0 Dabang Delhi K.C. 

Haryana Steelers’ home leg has not been off to a good start with them managing just one win in three matches to go with one loss and one tie. However, after a day’s breather, one can expect Zone A’s second-placed team to revise their strategies and replicate their match-winning performance against Delhi earlier this season. Star defenders Surender Nada and Mohit Chhillar have looked a little unsteady in recent matches but they remain a threat to opposition raiders. Prashanth Kumar Rai and Wazir Singh have also been in good raiding touch and can prove lethal for Delhi’s shaky defence. 

Even though presently Dabang Delhi K.C. languish at the bottom of Zone A, they seemed to have learnt from their mistakes as can be witnessed in their last few performances. Though the Nilesh Shinde-led defence has lost its early promise and panache, the raiding department has been up to scratch. Meraj Sheykh’s brilliant raiding mind has been at the centre of Delhi’s two wins and one tie in their last three matches, with fellow Iranian Abolfazl Maghsodlou and youngster Anand Patil also performing their duties nicely. However, it’s the defence which needs to get its edge back. 

Catch the matches live on the Star Sports network and hotstar from 7.30 pm onwards.