Star Sports Pro Kabaddi: What to expect in the Jaipur leg
Star Sports Pro Kabaddi is played in a unique way – a caravan format, as the organisers call it. In this format, all the teams play in one city before moving to another till all the 8 teams have played at home. The first leg of the second season was played in Mumbai while the Kolkata leg concluded recently. The caravan now moves to Jaipur – home of the defending champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers.
The Panthers have played two matches this season, losing both. The Navneet Gautam led side will now look to replicate their home performance from last season, where they won 3 and drew 1 to emerge undefeated at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium.
This time, they will open their home campaign against Patna Pirates, who, like Jaipur, have failed to register a single win in the two matches they have played this season. The side led by Rakesh Kumar will look to make the most of Jaipur’s indifferent form this season and get their first win of the tournament.
The two undefeated teams this season, U Mumba and Telugu Titans, will go head-to-head in a titanic clash in the second match of the day. Raiders Anup Kumar and Rahul Chaudhari have led their teams admirably this season and will want to put a stop on the other team’s juggernaut.
Panthers and Bulls to revive their rivalry
On the back of 2 consecutive wins, Dabang Delhi will face a Bengaluru Bulls side, who are without star raider Ajay Thakur. Bulls have won 3 matches and lost 1 to cement their place in the top 4 spots. The home side will face the Titans in the final match of the day.
The third day of the Jaipur leg will see the Panthers and Bulls face off in a tense clash. The teams were involved in extremely close ties last season, with both teams emerging victorious once each. The Bulls will look for inspiration from Manjeet Chhillar, while the Panthers will be guided by the able Navneet Gautam.
On the final day of the Jaipur leg, bottom of the table, Puneri Paltan will face Bengal Warriors, who are struggling with injury concerns of their own as captain Dinesh Kumar, Nilesh Shinde and Bajirao Hodage suffered injuries in the final match of the Kolkata leg. The home crowd will see their team for the last time at home this season when they lock horns with Dabang Delhi in the final match of the Jaipur leg.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers will want to repeat U Mumba’s performances at home this season and avoid an encore of the Kolkata leg, where home team Bengal Warriors disappointed.