Jaipur Pink Panthers and U.P. Yoddha to battle for fourth spot on the points table

Commence the weekend festivities with two cracking vivo Pro Kabaddi matches. 

In the first game of tonight’s doubleheader, Haryana Steelers will take on Puneri Paltan, and in the second, Jaipur Pink Panthers will battle U.P. Yoddha. 

Check out our preview for both games:

Match 108: Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan

Three straight wins have seen the Haryana Steelers climb to third on the points table, two points behind second-placed Dabang Delhi. Coach Rakesh Kumar’s men have been brilliant defensively. They have held opponents to under 30 points and have scored 35 or more in three straight matches, which has not only seen them climb the points table but also improved their score difference. Skipper Vikash Kandola has been instrumental in the Steelers’ resurgence. The raider has scored 28 points in his last three outings and will be looking to score his fourth Super 10 in six matches later tonight.

After winning four on the spin, Puneri Paltan succumbed to a 43-26 at the hands of league-leaders Patna Pirates in their previous outing, denting their hopes of a playoff berth. The electric Aslam Inamdar had an excellent first half but wasn’t as impactful in the second, while rookie sensation Mohit Goyat was limited to only six raid points. Both raiders will be hoping for an improved showing on Friday against the Steelers, who boast the third-best defensive record in the league. The Paltan are currently 11th on the table but only 10 points behind fifth-placed U.P. Yoddha, who have played two more matches. If they recreate their magical four-game win streak, they will be back in contention to earn a playoff berth.

Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan head-to-head

The Puneri Paltan hold a narrow 5-4 lead in their head-to-head series against the Haryana Steelers. Haryana beat the Paltan 37-30 in their first meeting this season.

Match 109: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs U.P. Yoddha 

The Jaipur Pink Panthers recovered from their tough loss against the Haryana Steelers with a 36-31 win over the Gujarat Giants in their last game. All-rounder Deepak Hooda has found his groove and has scored 39 points in his last four outings. Arjun Deshwal has struggled in his last three appearances, but the raider will be raring to go on Friday. Jaipur’s defence scored 15 of the team’s 36 points against the Giants, and if they can emulate that against U.P., Jaipur will likely climb to fourth on the points table.

U.P. Yoddha’s two straight wins have seen them climb to fifth on the points table and in prime position to secure a playoff berth. Surender Gill was the star of the show, yet again, in their previous outing against the Tamil Thalaivas, but it was Pardeep Narwal’s stellar performance that probably had U.P. fans off their seats. The raider scored his fifth Super 10 of the season and looked sharper on the mat. With the playoffs fast approaching, Pardeep’s return to form might be an ominous sign for U.P.’s opponents in their upcoming matches. 

Jaipur Pink Panthers vs U.P. Yoddha head-to-head

The Jaipur Pink Panthers and U.P. Yoddha’s head-to-head series is tied at 3-3. Jaipur edged out U.P. 32-29 in their first meeting this season.

PKL Schedule for Friday, February 11

Match 108: Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan, 7:30 PM IST

Match 109: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs U.P. Yoddha, 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.