It is easy to have a look at the stats table and call the Tamil Thailvas and the Haryana Steelers as the two worst sides of the campaign. The Haryana Steelers have managed to win just 6 matches from its 21 while the Tamil Thalaivas have managed only 5.
No team in the PKL has won lesser matches than the Tamil Thalaivas.
This is not to say that there have not been successes for these sides in Pro Kabaddi 6. Monu Goyat and Vikash Khandola have been very good in the raiding department for the Haryana Steelers while Ajay Thakur has been phenomenal for the Tamil Thalaivas.
A head to head to between these high-quality raiders is going to determine the outcome of the match. There is personal glory at stake as well. Ajay Thakur is just 14 points away from 200 points and becoming just the second man in Pro Kabaddi history to have multiple seasons with over 200 points.
Monu Goyat is nearing on 150 points while Vikash Khandola has already scored more raid points than in any previous season of the Pro Kabaddi League.
We think Ajay Thakur is the kind of player that lays a lot of importance to personal milestones and will be definitely trying to achieve 14 points for the game. That is good news for the Tamil Thalaivas whose fortunes have depended on the form that Ajay Thakur has displayed.
The backup raider of both sides are pretty weak and this is why the defense will concentrate on getting the main men off the mat.
Kuldeep Singh has been very good for the Haryana Steelers in the opportunities he has got. We think he is going to play a much bigger role for the side moving forward after this season of the PKL. He will target Ajay Thakur from the outset.
Similarly successful for the Tamil Thalaivas has been Amit Hooda. He has 45 tackle points from his 17 matches and been very good for the Thalaivas in keeping them in the game.
Neither side has a very strong defense and mistakes are bound to be made. At this late stage in the PKL, we think the team that is hungrier for success will end up winning the match.
The previous two meetings between the Haryana Steelers and the Tamil Thalaivas have ended in ties. Both sides are in pretty poor recent form as well having lost four out of their previous five matches.
The Haryana Steelers have two good quality raiders as compared to just the one for the Tamil Thalaivas. We still think, though, that Ajay Thakur is going to be a major force in this match and could win the match for the Tamil Thalaivas.
Back the Tamil Thalaivas to win.