U Mumba looking to reclaim place in top six when they take on Bengal Warriors

Triple Panga Saturday will bring three tantalising vivo Pro Kabaddi contests.

In the first game, Tamil Thalaivas will take on Dabang Delhi, and later U Mumba will go head-to-head against the Bengal Warriors. In the main event, Telugu Titans will battle Puneri Paltan.

Check out our preview for all three games:

Match 110: Tamil Thalaivas vs Dabang Delhi K.C.

Three straight losses have seen the Tamil Thalaivas slip to 11^th on the points table. The Thalaivas’ usually sturdy defence has been below par in their last three matches. On average, they have picked up a shade under 10 tackle points but have given up over 22 raid points in their past three games. The Thalaivas will likely have to win all four matches to end the franchise’s wait for a playoff spot. 

Dabang Delhi are winless in their last three matches but have played out two ties and sit second on the points table. Delhi have given up over 35 points in each of their previous three games, a stat that would concern coach Krishan Kumar Hooda. The defence averaged only 8.33 tackle points during that stretch, putting pressure on the raiding unit to carry the team to positive results. With the playoffs fast approaching, Delhi need their defence to step up if they want to go one better than last season. 

Tamil Thalaivas vs Dabang Delhi head-to-head

Dabang Delhi are undefeated against the Tamil Thalaivas in vivo PKL. They have won four out of their five matches against the Thalaivas. The two teams played out a 30-30 tie in their first meeting this season.

Match 111: U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors 

U Mumba have lost three of their last four matches and currently occupy the eighth spot on the points table. They succumbed to a 47-36 loss at the hands of the Patna Pirates in their previous outing, which saw their score difference drop to -7. Despite their poor recent form, U Mumba are still in an excellent position to finish in the top six. If they can score a few wins in their remaining five matches, they’ll find themselves in the playoffs.

A run of five games without a win has seen the Bengal Warriors fall to 10^th on the points table and the brink of elimination from the race for a playoff spot. Barring Maninder Singh, who is the league’s second-highest points scorer with 233, and Ran Singh, the rest of the roster has been subpar. Mohammad Nabibakhsh is the team’s second-highest points scorer with 86. The 147-point difference between Maninder and Nabibakhsh is the second-largest between a team’s top scorer and second highest-scorer this season. The Warriors’ defensive unit is averaging 7.89 tackle points per game, the lowest in the league. Bengal not only have to win their remaining three matches, but they have to win them by a significant margin, as their -46 score difference could become a factor. 

U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors head-to-head

U Mumba have won 10 and lost four of their 15 matches against the Bengal Warriors. The only tie between the two teams happened in their first meeting this season. 

Match 112: Telugu Titans vs Puneri Paltan

The Telugu Titans come into this game on the back of a 34-32 loss against the Gujarat Giants. Rajnish had another positive outing, as he finished the game with 10 points. Adarsh T continued to make an impact on both sides of the court, scoring four raid points and two tackle points. Six of the Titans’ 13 defeats have been by two points or fewer, and they have also played out four ties. They haven’t been able to come out on top in close games, which has been their undoing their season. The Titans have four games left this season and will want to win as many as possible.

Puneri Paltan bounced back from their 17-point loss against the Patna Pirates with an 18-point victory over the Haryana Steelers last night. Rookie raiding duo Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat combined for 20 points, while veteran Sombir picked up seven tackle points. Barring their blemish against the Pirates, Pune have been almost flawless recently. A win on Saturday, combined with a tie or a loss for U Mumba, will see the Paltan finish the night in the top six. But even if they don’t, it only seems like a matter of time before they climb into one of the playoff spots. 

Telugu Titans vs Puneri Paltan head-to-head

The Puneri Paltan hold an 8-6 lead in their head-to-head series against the Telugu Titans. The two teams have shared the spoils on one occasion. The first meeting between the two sides this season finished in a 34-33 win for the Paltan.

PKL Schedule for Saturday, February 12

Match 110: Tamil Thalaivas vs Dabang Delhi, 7:30 PM IST

Match 111: U Mumba vs Bengal Warriors, 8:30 PM IST

Match 112: Telugu Titans vs Puneri Paltan, 9:30 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.