UP Yoddha will look to get back to their winning ways when they face Bengaluru Bulls in the Pro Kabaddi Season 8 at the Sheraton Grand, Whitefield in Bengaluru on Tuesday.
After going unbeaten in five matches, UP Yoddha faltered against Haryana Steelers (36-35) and Puneri Paltan (44-38) in their last two outings. Heading into the business end of the season, a win against the Bulls can go a long way in the UP Yoddha’s quest to make the cut for the playoffs (top six) this season.
UP Yoddha are currently just outside the top six with 41 points from 14 matches but have Jaipur Pink Panthers, Tamil Thalaivas and Puneri Paltan breathing down their neck on the points table. The Bulls, meanwhile, are second on the standings with 46 points but have played two matches more.
Bengaluru Bulls are also trying to rediscover their form after four losses in their last five outings.
Fans can expect a high-scoring affair with the two teams in action topping the average team score per match charts this season. UP Yoddha’s 36 is only second to the Bulls’ 36.94.
Players to watch out for - UP Yoddha
Raiding duo Surender Gill and Pardeep Narwal have been the star performers for UP Yoddha this season. Gill has scored 119 raid points, including five Super Raids, in 13 matches while Pardeep has contributed 100 raid points from 14 powered by four Super 10s.
Captain Nitesh Kumar (34 tackle points) and Sumit (33 tackle points), meanwhile, have been UP Yoddha’s pillars in defence this season. Nitesh Kumar has one High 5 to his name already while Sumit has two.
Players to watch out for - Bengaluru Bulls
Bengaluru Bulls’ charge this season has been spearheaded by Pawan Sehrawat, who has already scored 207 raid points this season, along with a whopping 12 Super 10s. Saurabh Nandal has been their rock in defence with 47 tackle points, including two High 5s.
Bengaluru Bulls vs UP Yoddha: Head-to-head
In their 10 meetings in Pro Kabaddi, Bengaluru Bulls boast a 6-4 head-to-head record over UP Yoddha. However, in season 8’s reverse leg earlier this month, UP Yoddha rode a fine 15-point display by Shrikant Jadhav to dominate the Bulls 42-27.
Bengaluru Bulls vs UP Yoddha: Recent form
Match on the left is the latest
Bengaluru Bulls: L, L, W, L, L
UP Yoddha: L, L, W, W, W