As we enter the business of the vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8 league stage, the competition for a place in the top six is as open as it could be. Three teams vying for a playoff spot will look to inch closer to their goal on Monday.

In the first game of today’s doubleheader, the Gujarat Giants will take on the Jaipur Pink Panthers. Later, reigning champions Bengal Warriors will battle Telugu Titans.

Check out our preview for both games.

Match 100: Gujarat Giants vs Jaipur Pink Panthers

Last night, the Gujarat Giants registered a hard-fought 40-36 win over the Bengaluru Bulls to cut the gap to fifth-placed U Mumba to five points. Pardeep Kumar was the star of the show for the Giants, as the raider finished with a game-high 14 points to lead his side to victory. Parvesh Bhainswal and Sunil Kumar combined to score nine of the Giants’ 11 tackle points and showcased why they are revered as one of the finest Cover duos in vivo Pro Kabaddi. Three wins in their last four games have given the Giants renewed hope of securing a playoff berth. They will need to be at their best to beat a dangerous Jaipur Pink Panthers side.

Speaking of the Pink Panthers, Deepak Hooda and co. come into this game on the back of a disappointing 35-28 loss against the Haryana Steelers. The game was close until the final two minutes, but a spectacular surge from the Steelers, led by Vikash Kandola, saw Haryana register a crucial win. Hooda led the team in scoring for the second game running and has tallied 20 points in the Pink Panthers’ last two outings. But Arjun Deshwal, who has had a spectacular season, has managed only 12 points in Jaipur’s previous two games. The Pink Panthers need both Hooda and Deshwal in top form in their remaining six matches to secure a spot in the playoffs. 

Gujarat Giants vs Jaipur Pink Panthers head-to-head

The Gujarat Giants hold a 6-2 lead in their head-to-head matches against the Jaipur Pink Panthers. The two teams have shared the spoils once. The first meeting between the two sides this season finished in a 34-27 victory for Jaipur.  

Match 101: Bengal Warriors vs Telugu Titans

The Bengal Warriors’ 38-29 loss last night was their third on the trot, and the reigning champions have now slumped to 11th on the points table. Skipper Maninder Singh had a rare off night, finishing with only four points. The defence had a horrendous outing, as they gave up 22 raid points while picking up only three tackle points. The Warriors’ score difference is -46, meaning they will not only have to win most, if not all, of their remaining five matches, they’ll also have to beat their opponents by a considerable margin. The signs are looking ominous for the Warriors, and they can no longer afford any slip-ups in their quest to retain their title.

The Telugu Titans succumbed to a 39-35 loss against U.P. Yoddha in their previous outing, their fourth defeat in five matches. Rajnish had a good outing and finished the game with 13 points, while Ankit Beniwal and Adarsh played good supporting roles and notched six points each. The Titans will want to give their young roster as many opportunities as possible in their remaining six games to evaluate them with an eye towards next season. While the Titans don’t have much to play for, they will want to finish the season with as many wins as possible and will likely give the Warriors a tough time on Monday. 

Bengal Warriors vs Telugu Titans head-to-head

The Bengal Warriors have won 10 and lost three of their 17 matches against the Telugu Titans. The two teams have also played out four ties. The Warriors beat the Titans 28-27 in their first meeting this season.

PKL Schedule for Monday, February 7

Match 100: Gujarat Giants vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, 7:30 PM IST

Match 101: Bengal Warriors 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.

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