Pawan and Pardeep to go head-to-head when Bengaluru Bulls battle U.P. Yoddha

Two titans of the game will meet on the mat on Tuesday in vivo Pro Kabaddi.

Pawan Sehrawat and the Bengaluru Bulls will take on Pardeep Narwal and U.P. Yoddha. The other game will feature Maninder Singh and the Bengal Warriors facing off against the Gujarat Giants.

Check out our preview for both games:

Match 86: Bengal Warriors vs Gujarat Giants

Four wins and a tie in their last five matches have seen the Bengal Warriors climb to fifth on the vivo Pro Kabaddi points table. Skipper Maninder Singh has scored 68 points and four Super 10s in those five matches and has been the Warriors lynchpin throughout the campaign. The much-maligned Bengal defence had a great outing against the Jaipur Pink Panthers in their previous game. They held Jaipur’s offence to 18 raid points while scoring ten tackle points themselves. If the Warriors’ defence can hit top gear and Maninder can continue his incredible form, it’ll be hard to bet against the Warriors reclaiming their throne at the end of the campaign.

The Giants registered an impressive 32-26 win over the Haryana Steelers yesterday and closed the gap to the top sixon the points table to eight points. Ajay Kumar and Pardeep Kumar combined for 20 raid points and gave up only four tackle points to the Steelers’ defence, which proved to be the difference on the night. The Giants’ defence struggled in the first half but gave up only eight raid points in the second. This season, Gujarat’s experienced defence has been their Achilles heel, but if they can display the same discipline they did in the second half against Haryana, they could make a late surge and sneak into the playoffs.

Bengal Warriors vs Gujarat Giants head-to-head

The Warriors and Giants’ head-to-head series is tied at 2-2 after five matches. The two teams have shared the spoils once. This season's first meeting between the two sides finished in a 28-26 win for the Warriors.

Match 87: Bengaluru Bulls vs U.P. Yoddha

The Bengaluru Bulls were trounced 42-24 in their previous outing against the Tamil Thalaivas, their fifth defeat in six matches. Their only win during this stretch came against the Telugu Titans, who currently sit at the bottom of the points table. The Bulls have given up 38.3 points per game in their past six outings, a stat that showcases just how woeful their recent form has been. Bengaluru could find themselves outside the top six on the points table if they continue on their current trajectory. They desperately need a win to get their campaign back on track.

After winning three games on the trot, U.P. Yoddha have succumbed to two straight losses in their past two outings. While their offence has continued to pile points on the scoreboard, their defensive unit has been poor. In their previous outing, U.P. managed only two tackle points against the Puneri Paltan, the worst defensive display in the franchise’s history. Their overreliance on the raiding unit could be their undoing this season. Nitesh Kumar, Sumit and the rest of the defence need to up their game if U.P. are to venture deep into the playoffs this season.

Bengaluru Bulls vs U.P. Yoddha head-to-head

The Bengaluru Bulls have won six and lost four of their ten matches against the U.P. Yoddha. In their first meeting this season, U.P. set a new franchise record with 22 tackle points in a 42-27 win.

PKL Schedule for Tuesday, February 1

Match 86: Bengal Warriors vs Gujarat Giants, 7:30 PM IST

Match 87: Bengaluru Bulls vs U.P. Yoddha, 8:30 PM IST

Where to watch vivo Pro Kabaddi live?

Catch all the LIVE action from vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 8 on the Star Sports Network and LIVE streaming on Disney+Hotstar.