Jaipur Pink Panthers go up against Patna Pirates in the Pro Kabaddi League at the Rajiv Gandhi Port Stadium in Vizag on Sunday.
The boys from Jaipur are favourites going into the game. In their last game, they beat Bengal Warriors very convincingly. Patna also won their last game against Puneri Paltan.
But the Pirates know that the Panthers are a much tougher opposition than Pune. The Panthers are currently in second place, while the Pirates are fourth. The boys from Patna have Bengaluru Bulls in front of them. They will be driven by the fact that they can get to third place, with a win in this encounter.
Jaipur are favourites going into the game but Patna are a pretty tough team, led by none other than star raider Rakesh Kumar. The boys from Patna will be buoyant after getting back to winning ways against Pune. They had lost against the Bulls before that. The loss to the Bulls must have been a hard one to stomach as there were times when they led the game. The defence let them down at crucial points in that game.
Patna would have fancied their chances against Dabang Delhi as well but could not throw the final punch. In the game against U Mumba, they scored in the dying minutes to ensure a tie. In their previous game against Pune, they put in a much improved showing and displayed more composure. They took their time initially but once this initial period was over, they went about their job in a very clinical manner and triumphed in the end.
Patna's defence will have to be on their toes against the dominating Jaipur attack. The Panthers have been nothing short of stupendous in this tournament. The attack has been as clinical as it can be as they have finished off teams by scoring consistently.
In most games, they have taken huge leads and have ensured other teams cannot get back. The defence too has been resolute. A stiff challenge does lie in front of them as the Pirates attack is dangerous. In attack Jasvir Singh will once again look to come good.
With the Panthers looking to dominate, and the Pirates keen on moving up the table - an exciting encounter is on the cards.
Where to Watch Live
Patna Pirates will play Jaipur Pink Panthers at 8:00 pm. Star Sports will air the match. Live coverage will comence on Star Sports HD 2. This is the link for the live streaming option on starsports.com.