A move up to fourth place beckons the Haryana Steelers as they get ready to take on Puneri Paltan. The last time these two sides met, which was earlier this season, Puneri Paltan beat the Haryana Steelers with ease.
Haryana, though, has recently shown some good form and is threatening to become a force to be reckoned with once again. The side has lost just one out of its last four matches and now has five wins from 15 matches.
A full five points in this game will see it leapfrog Delhi and within touching distance of Puneri Paltan.
Raiders Vikash Khandola and Monu Goyat have been leading the charge for the Haryana Steelers. Vikash Khandola has 48 raid points in his last five matches which is almost twice as good as any other raider in the Steeles during this period.
He will be crucial against a strong Puneri Paltan defense. Skipper Monu Goyat has 83 raid points from 13 matches this season including four Super-10s. If Monu and Vikash Khandola can continue to perform in the same vein as they have in the recent matches then Puneri Paltan will have a real problem on its hands.
It is no secret that Puneri Paltan depends a lot on its star raider, Nitin Tomar. His absence on the mat due to injury has been a big factor in the recent run of losses Puneri Paltan has suffered. If Tomar is going to be out of action in this match again then Puneri Paltan starts with a major disadvantage.
More GB has taken the mantle of being the lead scorer for Puneri Paltan in the meantime. No one has scored more raid points in the last five matches than More GB but there are limitations t his game and how much he can carry the side.
The defense of Girish Maruti Ernak and Sandeep Narwal is going to be very important in this game. If these two can find a way to keep Monu Goyat and Vikash Khandola quiet then that's the game for Puneri Paltan right there.
With 25 tackle points and 25 assists to his name, Sandeep Narwal has been a major factor in Puneri Paltan’s defense. The ‘beast’ as he is known because of brute strength has shown excellent awareness on the mat and avoided some of the errors that other covers are making in the league.
Girish Maruti Ernak has 42 tackle points in Pro Kabaddi 6 and is the leader of the defense for Puneri Paltan. He will set the tone as to how Puneri Paltan approaches this match. A few early tackles on the Garyana Steelers raiders could help tilt things Puneri Paltan’s way.
The Haryana Steelers hold a 4-1 advantage over Puneri Paltan in head to head matches. The Pro Kabaddi League has evolved, though, and Puneri Paltan is a much stronger side than it used to be.
Haryana Steelers have better current form and two raiders in excellent form. The question mark of Nitin Tomar’s fitness makes it very difficult to back pUneri Paltan.
Back the Haryana Steelers to win.