U.P. Yoddha seek fourth win on the trot, while Bengaluru Bulls look to avoid fourth straight loss

Two of the vivo Pro Kabaddi’s greatest superstars will be in action on Super Sunday.

In the first game of the doubleheader, Pardeep Narwal and U.P. Yoddha will take on the Haryana Steelers. In the second, Pawan Sehrawat and the Bengaluru Bulls will battle Telugu Titans in the Southern Derby.  

Check out our preview for both matches:

Match 73: U.P. Yoddha vs Haryana Steelers

U.P. Yoddha’s impressive 40-36 win over the Bengal Warriors in their previous outing was their third on the trot and extended their unbeaten run to five games. Surender Gill and Pardeep Narwal continued their spectacular recent form, as both players picked up nine points to guide U.P. to victory. Corner duo Sumit and Nitesh combined for seven tackle points, outscoring the Bengal Warriors defence by themselves. U.P. Yoddha are currently fourth on the points table and could finish the night at the top of the table, provided the Telugu Titans beat the Bengaluru Bulls. U.P.’s recent resurgence has been spectacular to witness, and they are fast emerging as one of the frontrunners to win the vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8 title.

The Haryana Steelers registered a gritty 36-33 win over Dabang Delhi K.C. in their last match, their second victory in a row. This marked the first time in Season 8 where the Steelers have won two games on the bounce. The defence had a relatively tame outing and finished the game with just eight tackle points, but the offence had a spectacular night, as they managed 23 raid points and gave up only four tackle points to Delhi’s defence. Coach Rakesh Kumar’s men got away with a poor defensive display against Delhi but will to be at their best on both sides of the mat to beat an in-form U.P. Yoddha.

U.P. Yoddha vs Haryana Steelers head-to-head

U.P. Yoddha and Haryana Steelers have played five games against each other and have won two games each. They played out a 36-36 tie when they met earlier this season.

Match 74: Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls

Telugu Titans’ winning run lasted only one game, as they succumbed to a 42-35 loss against U Mumba on Saturday. The Titans had a horrid start to the game and trailed 14-3 midway through the first half and couldn’t recover post that. They will need to be wary of starting the game poorly against a Bengaluru Bulls side that can score any number of points. Raiders Adarsh T, Ankit Beniwal and Rajnish will need to continue their good form, while Surinder Singh and Sandeep Kandola will have to marshal a young defensive unit against a potent Bulls offence for the Titans to stand a chance of beating Bengaluru.

The Bengaluru Bulls have had a tumultuous week, as they have succumbed to three straight losses. They lost 37-35 to the Puneri Paltan on Saturday and missed out on the chance to ascend to the top of the vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8 standings. Pawan Sehrawat did manage a Super 10 but was tackled seven times by the Paltan’s defence. The Bulls’ defence was uncharacteristically poor on the night and finished the game with only eight tackle points. The Bulls need a morale boost, and a win in the Southern Derby could be precisely what they need to end their slump and kickstart a good run of results.

Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls head-to-head

The Bengaluru Bulls hold an 11-3 lead in their all-time head-to-head series against the Telugu Titans. The two teams have played out four ties, including the one from earlier this season.

PKL Schedule for Sunday, January 23

Match 73: U.P. Yoddha vs Haryana Steelers, 7:30 PM IST

Match 74: Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls, 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.