Fifth spot in sight for Jaipur Pink Panthers when they face Telugu Titans

Pride will be at stake for three teams in Wednesday’s vivo Pro Kabaddi doubleheader.

In the first game, Bengal Warriors will take on Tamil Thalaivas, while in the second, Telugu Titans will battle Jaipur Pink Panthers.

Check out our preview for both games:

Match 122: Bengal Warriors vs Tamil Thalaivas

The Bengal Warriors' 37-27 loss against U Mumba drew curtains on their title defence. A tame defensive effort and a lackluster raiding performance saw their winless streak extend to six matches. Skipper Maninder Singh had an uncharacteristically quiet outing, as he finished the game with only six points. With two games left, Bengal will want to finish the season strong before hitting the drawing board in the offseason. 

The Tamil Thalaivas’ 43-31 defeat to the Puneri Paltan last night eliminated them from the race for a playoff spot. The defence, that had been their strength all season, finished the night with only six tackle points. The Thalaivas were in blistering form just a couple of week ago and looked on course to ending their wait for a maiden playoff appearance. But five straight losses mean they will now have to wait for another season to end their playoff drought. The Thalaivas will want to end their losing streak and give their fans a reason to cheer in the final two games of the season. 

Bengal Warriors vs Tamil Thalaivas head-to-head

The Bengal Warriors hold an 8-1 lead in their head-to-head series against the Tamil Thalaivas. The Warriors beat Thalaivas 37-28 in their first meeting this season.

Match 123: Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers 

The Telugu Titans were on course to pulling off the upset of the season in their last match against league-leaders Patna Pirates. But a late surge from the Pirates saw them win 38-30. Despite what the league table suggests, the Titans have been fairly competitive in most of their matches this season. They have lost six games by two points or fewer and have played out four ties. Siddharth Desai’s presence may have turned a few of those close games into victories and the Titans could have been fighting for a spot in the playoffs. But the reality is that the Titans will finish at the bottom of the standings. However, they will want to go out with a win or two in their final two games of the season.

When it mattered most, Jaipur Pink Panthers brought their A-game and beat arch-rivals U Mumba by 16 points to keep their playoff dream alive. Arjun Deshwal was the star of the show yet again, finishing with 17 points against his former side to virtually eliminate them from the race for a playoff spot. Jaipur control their own destiny. If they win their next two matches, they will qualify for the playoffs. Anything less than a win tonight could prove to be detrimental to their playoff aspirations.

Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers head-to-head

The Telugu Titans have won eight and lost five of their 14 matches against Jaipur Pink Panthers. One game between the two sides has finished in a tie. The Titans’ only win this season came against the Jaipur Pink Panthers in the two teams’ first meeting this season. 

PKL Schedule for Wednesday, February 16

Match 122: Bengal Warriors vs Tamil Thalaivas, 7:30 PM IST

Match 123: Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, 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.