Day 2 of their home leg sees U.P. Yoddha battle Bengaluru Bulls

U.P. Yoddha continue their home leg and face a tough fight against Bengaluru Bulls up next on Saturday.

Bengaluru Bulls have been outstanding so far in Season 6 with four wins in five games and currently sit just two points behind Zone B leaders Patna Pirates with five additional games in hand. A win here would propel Bengaluru Bulls to the top of Zone B.

Bengaluru Bulls got the better of U.P. Yoddha twice in their debut campaign in Season 5 whereas U.P. Yoddha managed a solitary win over them. That win, however, came in Bengaluru Bulls’ packed home leg while both their defeats came at neutral venues. This time U.P. Yoddha will be playing at home, which could see Bengaluru Bulls seize the advantage as they will be coming off a break.

Match 47(Zone B): U.P. Yoddha vs. Bengaluru Bulls

Head-to-head: U.P. Yoddha 1-2 Bengaluru Bulls

Two straight wins on either side of their only defeat this season have placed Bengaluru Bulls in a strong position in Zone B early in their campaign. Led by the unstoppable Pawan Kumar Sehrawat, Bengaluru Bulls are averaging a league-high 35.8 points in Season 6. Their offence, in particular, has been extremely potent, scoring at an average of 25.6 points per game for the team. Their prowess was in full display against reigning champions Patna Pirates, as Sehrawat, captain Rohit Kumar and Kashiling Adake combined to score 28 raid points in their 43-41 victory.   

U.P. Yoddha had a mixed start to the campaign before two straight victories after a tie against Bengal Warriors suggested that the things were falling in place for them. However, a 24-46 defeat to Tamil Thalaivas in their first home game will have dented their confidence a little. They average almost 6 points less than Bengaluru Bulls in this season which gives the visitors an edge. However, the form of Prashanth Kumar Rai and Shrikant Jadhav has been a bright spark for U.P. Yoddha as the duo have combined to score 122 raid points for their team in this season. A win against zonal rivals Bengaluru Bulls will see them go to the top spot in Zone B and have a big advantage early in their home leg.

The big battle –

Pawan Kumar Sehrawat vs. Jeeva Kumar

Jeeva Kumar’s return to the U.P. Yoddha squad will do their confidence a world of good as he is one of their most experienced Covers. He was the team’s most successful defender in their first home game. He even showed just why he is so dangerous in Super Tackle situations as he added to his tally in the match. His strength in the Cover region when the team is facing an All-Out, particularly against someone like Pawan Kumar Sehrawat who has a number of skills at his disposal will be vital for U.P. Yoddha.

The kabaddi world has been awestruck by the performances of Bengaluru Bulls’ raider Sehrawat in VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6. Sehrawat has clocked 74 raid points in just five games at a ridiculous average of 14.8, comfortably placing him atop the league in that category. His eight Super Raids are twice as many as the second most by a player in the league, making him a formidable weapon in offence.

Key Khiladi –

Shrikant Jadhav – U.P. Yoddha

With 60 raid points in eight games, Shrikant Jadhav has been a revelation for U.P. Yoddha in Season 6. He also ranks joint-second in the league in Do-Or-Die points, showcasing his ability to perform in pressure situations.

Kashiling Adake – Bengaluru Bulls

Primarily a raider, Kashiling Adake has been effective on both sides of the mat for Bengaluru Bulls in Season 6. Adake has scored 11 tackle points, including two Super Tackles, in addition to his 31 raid points, making an effective all-rounder for his team. With U.P. Yoddha boasting of a trio of quality raiders, Adake’s defensive abilities will prove more than handy for his team.