The Bengal Warriors are building up some excellent momentum at this most crucial stage of the Pro Kabaddi League. They have won their last two matches and are in an excellent position to be able to qualify for the Super Playoffs.
Winning this match will propel them into second place.
Maninder Singh has been in excellent form and has totaled 148 raid points to his name. If he can continue to play to his potential we have no doubt that he is going to rip past the Patna Pirates. The contest between him and Pardeep Narwal as two of the leading raiders in the league should motivate both players to do well.
Pardeep Narwal has 216 points to his name but would be devastated at the recent form of his side. Just when it looked like the Patna Pirates have recovered from a horrific start to their PKL campaign, they have slipped back into a losing slump.
Just one win from its last six matches has opened up the possibility of some of its competitors edging past it in the race to the Super Playoffs.
The Pirates need the best of Pardeep Narwal in this match.
With two such good raiders in the sides, the role of Jaideep on the Patna Pirates and PO Surjeet Singh on the Bengal Warriors side becomes more important. As the lead defenders of their sides, their role in stopping the opposing raider is going to be crucial.
There is no doubt in our mind that the side which plays better defense in this match is going to end up winning.
The Bengal Warriors have won their last two matches to be in good form while the Patna Pirates are suffering from an untimely slump. The Patna Pirates traditionally hold a 9-2 advantage over the Bengal Warriors with three additional matches being ties as well.
We think the Bengal Warriors have the upper hand coming into this contest. The pressure on them to win this match is less because they still have a few games in hand. They are also in better recent form.
The Patna Pirates, on the other hand, are going to be under severe pressure. A slip up in this match is going to dent its chances of qualification greatly.
Back the Bengal Warriors to win.