U Mumba, Jaipur Pink Panthers and Tamil Thalaivas to fight to keep playoff aspirations alive

Tuesday’s Triple Panga could have a huge bearing in the race for a place in the vivo Pro Kabaddi playoffs.

U Mumba will take on Jaipur Pink Panthers in the first game, and later, Patna Pirates will face the Bengaluru Bulls. In the main event, Puneri Paltan will go head-to-head against the Tamil Thalaivas.

Check out our preview for all three games:

Match 119: U Mumba vs Jaipur Pink Panthers

U Mumba’s 37-26 defeat to the Haryana Steelers in their previous outing has jeopardised their playoff aspirations. They have slipped to eighth on the points table and will have to win all their remaining matches to stand a chance of finishing in the top six. U Mumba’s defence had one of their worst outings of the season against the Steelers, as they managed only four tackle points. With their hopes hanging by a thread, U Mumba’s raiding unit and defence will have to work in tandem and secure a win if they want to extend their season beyond the next three matches.

Jaipur Pink Panthers find themselves in a similar spot. They are ninth on the points table, five points behind sixth-placed Gujarat Giants, who have played a game more and have a slightly better score difference. The Pink Panthers’ two straight losses have left them on the brink of elimination from playoff contention. Jaipur are in a must-win situation and will need their stars to step up and get the job done against their arch-rivals tonight.

U Mumba vs Jaipur Pink Panthers head-to-head

U Mumba hold a 10-6 lead in their head-to-head matches against the Jaipur Pink Panthers. The two teams have shared the spoils twice. U Mumba beat the Pink Panthers 37-28 in their first meeting this season.

Match 120: Patna Pirates vs Bengaluru Bulls

The Patna Pirates’ 38-30 win over the Telugu Titans last night was their sixth on the trot. Sachin had another great outing, as he picked up his fifth Super 10 of the season, while Mohammadreza Chiyaneh continued his impeccable form and recorded his seventh High 5 of the season. The Pirates only need one point in their last three matches to ensure they finish top of the points table at the end of the league stage. But they’ll likely not focus on that and will aim to extend their winning streak to seven tonight.

The Bengaluru Bulls’ 45-37 win over the Jaipur Pink Panthers in their previous outing saw them inch closer to booking their berth in the playoffs. Bharat and Pawan Sehrawat were the key contributors to the victory, as both raiders recorded Super 10s to guide their side to a crucial win. The Bulls now have the chance to leapfrog to second on the points table with a win over Patna, and coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat will want his side to sink the Pirates to get closer to confirming their spot in the playoffs.

Patna Pirates vs Bengaluru Bulls head-to-head

Patna Pirates have won 11 and lost five of their 18 matches against the Bengaluru Bulls. The two teams have played out two ties in vivo PKL. The Pirates beat the Bulls 38-31 in their first meeting this season.

Match 121: Puneri Paltan vs Tamil Thalaivas

The Puneri Paltan’s 31-31 tie against the Gujarat Giants last night marked the first time the team shared the spoils with another team this season. It also saw them leapfrog U Mumba into sixth place on the points table. The Paltan still control their playoff destiny. Three wins in their remaining three matches will not only see them book a playoff berth but also finish second on the points table. They have spent the entirety of the league stage outside the top six but have managed to mount an incredible comeback to give themselves a chance to finish second. But the Paltan cannot be anything less than perfect in their next three matches if they want to end their long playoff drought this season.

Four straight losses have seen the Tamil Thalaivas sink to 10th on the points table. Their defence, which had been spectacular all season long, has scored only 24 tackle points in their last three outings, which has been the primary reason for their torrid form. The Thalaivas still have a minuscule chance of qualifying for the playoffs, but they will need to win all their remaining matches to stand a chance. The Thalaivas are the only team to have never played in the vivo PKL playoffs, and defeat tonight will extend that wait by another season.

Puneri Paltan vs Tamil Thalaivas head-to-head

The Tamil Thalaivas hold a 2-1 lead in their head-to-head series against the Puneri Paltan. The two teams have shared the spoils twice. The last meeting between the two sides finished in a 36-26 win for the Thalaivas.

PKL Schedule for Tuesday, February 15

Match 119: U Mumba vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, 7:30 PM IST

Match 120: Patna Pirates vs Bengaluru Bulls, 8:30 PM IST

Match 121: Puneri Paltan vs Tamil Thalaivas, 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.