Playoffs qualification in sight for four teams on final day of league stage

Three playoffs places remain up for grabs on the final day of the vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8 league stage. Five teams remain in the hunt for those three spots and four are in action tonight.

In the first game, Jaipur Pink Panthers will face Puneri Paltan, and later Gujarat Giants will battle U Mumba. In the final game of the league stage, Haryana Steelers will go head-to-head against Patna Pirates.

Check out our preview for all three games:

Match 130: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Puneri Paltan

Jaipur Pink Panthers are coming into this game on the back of two straight wins. They are currently sixth on the points table, four points behind fourth-placed Bengaluru Bulls and one point behind fifth-placed Haryana Steelers. 

The math is simple for Jaipur. If they win, they’ll qualify for the playoffs. If they tie, they’ll have to rely on U Mumba beating Gujarat Giants or holding them to a tie or hope the Patna Pirates beat the Haryana Steelers. If they lose, their season is over.

Puneri Paltan blew a 10-point halftime lead against the Bengal Warriors last night and currently sit eighth on the points table. They trail the Bulls by five points, who also have a significantly better score difference. 

The Paltan will have to beat the Pink Panthers to qualify for the playoffs. But even if they win, they could miss out. Pune need U Mumba or Patna Pirates to win or tie their game to ensure qualification. Pune can only qualify on their own accord if they beat Jaipur by 28 points and leapfrog Bengaluru Bulls on the points table, who will then have to rely on Patna or U Mumba to secure their top six spot.

Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Puneri Paltan head-to-head

The Pink Panthers hold a 10-5 lead in their head-to-head series against the Paltan. Two games between the sides have finished in a tie. Jaipur beat Pune 31-26 in their first meeting this season. 

Match 131: Gujarat Giants vs U Mumba

The Gujarat Giants are in a good spot in the race for a playoff berth, courtesy of three wins and a tie in their last four matches. The Giants simply need to beat U Mumba and they’ll finish in the top six. If their game finishes in a tie, they’ll have to rely on Patna Pirates beating Haryana Steelers to book their berth in the playoffs. 

Three defeats in their last three matches ended U Mumba’s hopes of a playoff berth. The team simply couldn’t string together a series of results to strengthen their place in the top six and eventually paid the price. U Mumba will still want to go out with a win and help neighbours Puneri Paltan in their bid for a place in the playoffs by beating the Giants. 

Gujarat Giants vs U Mumba head-to-head

The Giants have won five and lost three of their nine matches against U Mumba. The first meeting between the two sides this season finished in a tie, which was incidentally the first time the two teams have shared the spoils.

Match 132: Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates

The Haryana Steelers could either find themselves already qualified or outside the top six by the time their game against the Pirates gets underway. The Steelers’ future hinges primarily on the game between Gujarat and U Mumba. 

If the Giants win, the Steelers will also have to beat the Pirates to qualify. If Gujarat’s game against U Mumba finishes in a tie, the Steelers can qualify with a win or a tie in their game. If Gujarat loses their game by less than seven points and earns a point from the contest, the Steelers can also qualify with a loss, provided it’s by less than seven points. 

The Pirates have been in cruise mode at the top of the standings. They fielded their fringe players in their last match against Dabang Delhi and while it cost them their seven-game winning streak, coach Ram Mehar Singh won’t be too concerned about it. The Pirates will likely rest their starters ahead of their semifinal match, which could work in the Steelers’ favour.

Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates head-to-head

The Steelers hold a 3-2 lead in their head-to-head series against the Pirates. One game between the two sides has finished in a tie. The first game between them this season finished in a 42-39 win for the Pirates. 

PKL Schedule for Saturday, February 19

Match 130: Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Puneri Paltan, 7:30 PM IST

Match 131: Gujarat Giants vs U Mumba, 8:30 PM IST

Match 132: Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates, 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.