Jaipur Pink Panthers aim to extend unbeaten streak to five when they face Telugu Titans

A host of young raiders have made their mark in vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8, and they will all be in action on Wednesday.

In the first game, Vikash Kandola and the Haryana Steelers will take on Aslam Inamdar and the Puneri Paltan. In the second game, Arjun Deshwal and the Jaipur Pink Panthers will battle Rajnish and the Telugu Titans.

Check out our preview for both matches:

Match 64: Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan

The Haryana Steelers have had a rough run of results recently. They have lost two, tied one of their last three matches, and slipped to ninth in the vivo PKL Season 8 points table. In their previous outing, their raiding unit had a shambolic night against Dabang Delhi K.C., scoring just 15 points for their side. The Steelers raiding unit is averaging 20.6 points per game this season, which ranks fourth in the league, while their defence has averaged 10.2 tackle points per game, ranking fifth. While these are respectable numbers, both units have showcased inconsistency and have seldom played well together. The gap between them and the top six is seemingly increasing with every passing day, and they need to turn their fortunes around quickly to retain hopes of making it to the playoffs.

Puneri Paltan’s resurgence came to a screeching halt as they were beaten 50-40 by U.P. Yoddha in their previous outing. The loss ended their two-game winning streak, but there were plenty of positives for the team. Aslam Inamdar improved his odds of winning Debutant of the Year with a 16-point masterclass. Mohit Goyat scored a Super 10 as well, finishing the game with 13 points. The Paltan’s young duo has carried the team’s raiding unit and will be expected to do the same against the Haryana Steelers. They are 11th in the standings, 11 points behind U Mumba, who are currently sixth on the points table. A victory is imperative for the Paltan to keep their playoff hopes alive.    

Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan head-to-head

Puneri Paltan holds a 5-3 lead in their head-to-head games against the Haryana Steelers through eight matches.

Match 65: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Telugu Titans

The Jaipur Pink Panthers have been in spectacular form of late. They have recorded three wins and a tie in their last four outings and have climbed to fifth on the points table. The key to their resurgence has been the defence’s excellent form. They have given up just 28.25 points on average in their last four matches. Deepak Hooda’s return to form and Sahul Kumar’s emergence as one of the best defenders in the league this season has also helped the Pink Panthers’ cause. Along with U.P. Yoddha, Jaipur owns the longest active unbeaten streak in vivo PKL. They will back themselves to extend their unbeaten streak to five with a win on Wednesday and climb to fourth on the points table.

The Telugu Titans’ misery continued as they succumbed to their eighth defeat of the season in their previous outing. Their 28-27 loss against the Bengal Warriors marked the fourth time they have lost by a point in Season 8. Outside of raiders Rajnish and Ankit Beniwal, nothing has gone right for the Titans this season. They are bottom of the points table, 19 points behind the playoff spots and yet to win a game this season. The Titans are desperate to get one in the wins column and bring some joy to their fans, who have been yearning to taste victory all season long.

Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Telugu Titans head-to-head

The Jaipur Pink Panthers have won seven and lost five matches against the Telugu Titans. One game between the two teams has finished in a tie.

PKL Schedule for Wednesday, January 19

Match 64: Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan, 7:30 PM IST

Match 65: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Telugu Titans, 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.