Boxing Day presents a heavyweight clash in VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 as Zone B’s current leaders Bengaluru Bulls visit Kolkata to take on second-placed Bengal Warriors at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium.

Despite being at the top of their zone, Bengaluru Bulls have lost both their previous fixtures against Bengal Warriors this season and will be looking to avoid a season sweep while consolidating the top spot in Zone B. The two teams last met in Bengaluru Bulls’ home leg where a 17-point performance from Maninder Singh helped Bengal Warriors win 44-37.

Match 130 (Zone B): Bengal Warriors vs. Bengaluru Bulls

Head-to-head: Bengaluru Bulls 7-6 Bengal Warriors

Form Guide:

Bengal Warriors

RESULT(W-T-L)

POINTS SCORED

POINTS CONCEDED

Vs. Telugu Titans

WON

39

34

Vs. Dabang Delhi K.C.

LOST

31

37

Vs. Patna Pirates

WON

39

23

Vs. Tamil Thalaivas

WON

27

24

Vs. Tamil Thalaivas

WON

28

21

TOTAL

4-0-1

164

139

Stats from the last five matches –

Average Points Scored – 32.8

Average Points Conceded – 27.8

Best Raider – Maninder Singh

Best Defender – Surjeet Singh

Bengaluru Bulls

RESULT(W-T-L)

POINTS SCORED

POINTS CONCEDED

Vs. Patna Pirates

TIED

40

40

Vs. Telugu Titans

WON

44

28

Vs. Telugu Titans

WON

37

24

Vs. Dabang Delhi K.C.

LOST

31

32

Vs. Bengal Warriors

LOST

37

44

TOTAL

2-1-2

189

168

Stats from the last five matches –

Average Points Scored – 37.8

Average Points Conceded – 33.6

Best Raider – Pawan Kumar Sehrawat

Best Defender – Amit Sheoran

The big battle –

Maninder Singh vs. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat

Two among Season 6’s best raiders, Bengal Warriors’ Maninder Singh and Bengaluru Bulls’ Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, will go to head-to-head for the third and final time in the league stage of this campaign.

Both raiders have enjoyed stellar campaigns, with Sehrawat having already scored over 200 raid points and Maninder just 10 raid points away from matching his career-high of 190 in a single season.

In their two duels so far, Maninder has outscored Sehrawat 31-17, helping Bengal Warriors win on both occasions. Maninder’s 31 raid points against Bengaluru Bulls have come at a stellar strike rate of 79.48, indicating that the raider brings his A-game when he comes up against the current Zone B leaders.

If Bengaluru Bulls are to avoid a season sweep at the hands of their zone rivals, Sehrawat will have to fire and have a big night, while the key for a Bengal Warriors victory could yet again be their star raider’s performance.

Key Khiladi –

PO Surjeet Singh – Bengal Warriors

PO Surjeet Singh recorded his second straight campaign with 50 tackle points after his High 5 against Telugu Titans on Tuesday. Singh had a brilliant night in his last outing against Bengaluru Bulls, scoring four tackle points in his team’s 7-point triumph. Against a strong raiding trio of Sehrawat, Rohit Kumar and Kashiling Adake, Singh’s performance at the Cover position as well as his leadership will be crucial to Bengal Warriors’ odds of winning.

Rohit Kumar – Bengaluru Bulls

Bengaluru Bulls’ captain Rohit Kumar has played the role of a secondary raider to perfection in Season 6 and has scored 144 raid points in 20 appearances so far. With just six more raid points, Kumar will join an illustrious list of raiders to have multiple campaigns with 150 raid points, a testament to his limitless talents in offence. But from Bengaluru Bulls’ perspective, the team would be hopeful of more than just the six from the skipper, as they look to confirm their place as the Zone B toppers ahead of the Playoffs.