Telugu Titans will hope for a second successive home win to build on the positive momentum they carry from their win on Saturday when they take on Haryana Steelers in the final match of the Inter Zone Challenge Week at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag on Sunday. With the home side still in contention for a Playoffs spot from Zone B, nothing less than a win will do for them as they look to leapfrog Bengal Warriors; the third-placed team in their zone.

The two sides’ last encounter came in Season 5 where Haryana Steelers, led by Wazir Singh, came out on top, winning 32-30 as Singh and Rahul Chaudhari, both managed Super 10s in the game.

Match 105 (Inter Zone Challenge Week): Telugu Titans vs Haryana Steelers

Head-to-head: Telugu Titans 1-1 Haryana Steelers

Form Guide:

Telugu Titans

RESULT(W-T-L)

POINTS SCORED

POINTS CONCEDED

Vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers

WON

36

26

Vs. Gujarat Fortunegiants

LOST

27

29

Vs. Dabang Delhi K.C.

LOST

29

34

Vs. Bengaluru Bulls

LOST

26

34

Vs. Tamil Thalaivas

LOST

25

31

TOTAL

1-0-4

143

154

Stats from the last five matches –

Average Points Scored – 28.6

Average Points Conceded – 30.8

Best Raider – Rahul Chaudhari

Best Defender – Vishal Bhardwaj

Haryana Steelers

RESULT(W-T-L)

POINTS SCORED

POINTS CONCEDED

Vs. U.P. Yoddha

LOST

29

30

Vs. Bengal Warriors

WON

35

33

Vs. Puneri Paltan

LOST

33

35

Vs. Dabang Delhi K.C.

WON

34

27

Vs. Gujarat Fortunegiants

LOST

31

40

TOTAL

2-0-3

162

165

Stats from the last five matches –

Average Points Scored – 32.4

Average Points Conceded – 33

Best Raider – Monu Goyat

Best Defender – Kuldeep Singh

The big battle

Vishal Bhardwaj vs Monu Goyat

The two skippers, Telugu Titans’ Vishal Bhardwaj and Haryana Steelers’ Monu Goyat, have been the cornerstones of their sides this season. While Vishal Bhardwaj has been consistent for Telugu Titans throughout the season, Goyat has just started regaining the form that saw him star in Patna Pirates title-winning campaign in Season 5.

Bhardwaj has been his team’s most successful defender with 41 tackle points, scoring them at an average of 3.73 tackle points per game. Bhardwaj has been really proficient as a Left-Corner and that he has the best strike rate amongst anyone with more than 20 tackle points is a testament to this fact.

While Goyat has been the second-most successful raider for his side, he has racked up 116 raid points in 16 games. He started the season off slowly but has breathed life into his campaign of late. In his last five outings, he has averaged nine raid points per game at a strike rate of 50.56; the best figures for his side. Goyat leads the duo’s head-to-head 5-2 and this battle will be key in determining the outcome of the game.

Key Khiladi -

Rahul Chaudhari – Telugu Titans

Telugu Titans’ lead raider Rahul Chaudhari had a slow start to the season before bouncing back to be his team’s leading point scorer over the past five matches. With 113 raid points in 15 outings so far this season, Chaudhari will hope to continue his excellent touch as he looks to lead Telugu Titans towards the Playoffs.

Vikash Khandola – Haryana Steelers

Vikash Khandola leads Haryana Steelers’ scoring charts this season with 143 raid points in 18 games at a decent average of 7.94 raid points per game. With Telugu Titans Right-Corner Abozar Mohajermighani’s yet to hit top form in his team’s home leg, Khandola could pounce on this opportunity as his team looks to upset the applecart.