Dabang Delhi K.C. and U.P. Yoddha battle to make it back-to-back wins

The penultimate game of the highly exciting Inter-Zone Challenge Week in VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 sees Dabang Delhi K.C. take on U.P. Yoddha at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium in Patna on Sunday.

Dabang Delhi K.C. delivered a clinical performance against Bengal Warriors in their previous game, handing them their first defeat of the campaign. The experienced Dabang Delhi K.C. defence was particularly splendid on the night as they managed to curtail the impact of Bengal Warriors’ raiders. The team will look to emulate that performance when they face U.P. Yoddha.

U.P. Yoddha ended their run of four straight defeats with a scintillating all-round display against Puneri Paltan. Their raiding trio of Rishank Devadiga, Shrikant Jadhav and Prashanth Kumar Rai contributed 18 points in a low-scoring affair to attain a much-needed victory for U.P. Yoddha.

Match 37(Inter-Zone Challenge Week): Dabang Delhi K.C. vs. U.P. Yoddha

Head-to-head: U.P Yoddha 1-0 Dabang Delhi K.C.

Dabang Delhi K.C.’s Corners, Joginder Narwal and Ravinder Pahal, combined to score eight tackle points in the team’s previous game as they managed to see off the undefeated Bengal Warriors. Raider Naveen managed a Super 10 and was complemented well by teammate Chandran Ranjit. With the defence and offence in good touch, Dabang Delhi K.C. will look to make good of the wind in their sails and win their second game on the trot.

U.P. Yoddha put in a quality performance against Puneri Paltan on their own turf and secured an impressive win. U.P. Yoddha’s defence was particularly impressive as they managed to hold Nitin Tomar to just five points and became the first team this season to limit Puneri Paltan to under 25 points. U.P. Yoddha’s versatile raiding trio of captain Rishank Devadiga and left raiders Jadhav and Rai has combined to score 131 raid points in their six games so far, showcasing their effectiveness as a unit. With an enviable raiding trio and an efficient defence, things are looking up for U.P. Yoddha, making them one of the most dangerous teams in the current season of VIVO Pro Kabaddi.  

The big battle-                                                                                              

Prashanth Kumar Rai vs. Ravinder Pahal

Prashanth Kumar Rai has been a top performer for U.P. Yoddha this campaign, accumulating 44 raid points in their opening six games of Season 6. The raider managed eight raid points in U.P. Yoddha’s successful outing against Puneri Paltan but, more importantly, allowed only a single tackle point against him to the opposition defence. Rai’s ability to keep chipping away with touch points as well as bonus points, while starving the opposition defenders for tackle points is going to be key against Dabang Delhi K.C.’s experienced campaigners in defence.

In Dabang Delhi K.C.’s defence, Right Corner Ravinder Pahal will be crucial to his team’s effort in neutralising Rai’s threat. Pahal has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, leading his team in defence with 15 tackle points in four appearances. With U.P. Yoddha’s starting seven boasting of two left raiders, Pahal’s role in that Right Corner position will be extremely crucial to his side’s fortunes.

Key Khiladi-

Chandran Ranjit – Dabang Delhi K.C.

Dabang Delhi K.C.’s leader in raid points, Chandran Ranjit, will yet again be the key to his team’s fortunes in offence. The team will rely on Ranjit to lead the attack against a strong U.P. Yoddha defence.

Shrikant Jadhav – U.P. Yoddha

Not only is Shrikant Jadhav leading U.P. Yoddha’s attack with 45 raid points, but he has also been a good performer in Do-Or-Die raids and leads the team in those situations with 10 raid points. With Dabang Delhi K.C.’s defence boasting of seasoned veterans who won’t give away cheap points, Jadhav’s ability to score in Do-Or-Die situations will be crucial in determining the outcome of this match.