Haryana Steelers face tough challenge against in-form Bengal Warriors

The Inter Zone Challenge Week continues to serve up some rare matchups as Haryana Steelers take on Bengal Warriors at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex in Delhi on Wednesday. This match would be just the second meeting between these two sides in VIVO Pro Kabaddi history.

The previous match occurred in Season 5 where Bengal Warriors came out victorious by a scoreline of 36-29. Ace raider Maninder Singh starred for Bengal Warriors, scoring a match-winning 14 raid points on the night.

Match 96 (Inter Zone Challenge Week): Haryana Steelers vs. Bengal Warriors

Head-to-head: Bengal Warriors 1-0 Haryana Steelers

Form Guide

Stats from the last five matches

Average Points Scored – 33.0

Average Points Conceded – 33

Best Raider – Vikash Khandola

Best Defender – Kuldeep Singh

Stats from the last five matches

Average Points Scored – 31.2

Average Points Conceded – 35.0

Best Raider- Maninder Singh

Best Defender – Ran Singh

The big battle

Vikash Khandola vs. Maninder Singh

Haryana Steelers’ Vikash Khandola has enjoyed a stellar campaign in VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 6 and currently ranks sixth in the race for Best Raider. Khandola is the only raider in Haryana Steelers’ ranks to have amassed 100 raid points, showcasing his importance to his team’s offence. Khandola has managed five Super 10s this campaign and only two have come in losses, highlighting that his team tends to play well when Khandola performs at a high level.

Speaking of performing at a high level, Bengal Warriors’ Maninder Singh has been at his stunning best this season, averaging 9.83 raid points per game in his 12 appearances. His tally of 118 raid points this campaign is bettered by only seven raiders, all of whom have played at least three more matches than Maninder. Maninder delivered a career-best 17-point performance against Bengaluru Bulls in his last outing and is seemingly in the best form of his career.

These two outstanding raiders hold the key to their team’s offence and the outcome of this fixture could boil down to a straight shootout between Khandola and Maninder’s performances.

Key Khiladi

Kuldeep Singh – Haryana Steelers

With 36 tackle points in 16 appearances, Kuldeep Singh has had a solid campaign in defence for Haryana Steelers. His tally of 18 assists is also joint third-best among Haryana Steelers’ players, an indication of his all-round contribution in defence. Kuldeep will face a tough assignment in the form of Maninder Singh and his performance against the mercurial raider will be an important factor in his team’s quest for a victory.

P.O. Surjeet Singh – Bengal Warriors

Bengal Warriors captain and Right Cover Surjeet Singh has been at his usual best in Season 6 of VIVO Pro Kabaddi and leads his team is tackle points as well as assists. He was outstanding in his team’s previous outing against Bengaluru Bulls, scoring four tackle points and helping them close the gap on second-placed Patna Pirates in Zone B. Bengal Warriors will be expecting their captain to lead them in defence with another big performance against Haryana Steelers’ potent raiding trio of Vikash Khandola, Monu Goyat and Naveen.