The excitement continues in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 as Puneri Paltan take on Bengal Warriors in Match 73 on Sunday, November 24, 2024. This thrilling encounter is set to take place at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, located in the Noida Indoor Stadium, Noida.

Recent Form: A Mixed Bag for Both Teams

Puneri Paltan are coming off a tightly fought 29-29 tie against UP Yoddhas, showing resilience in a match that went down to the wire. Bengal Warriors, on the other hand, faced a narrow 29-31 defeat at the hands of the Telugu Titans in their last match, highlighting their recent struggles. In the current standings, Puneri Paltan occupy the 5th spot with 37 points from 11 matches (5 wins, 3 losses, and 3 ties), while Bengal Warriors are 10th with 24 points from 11 matches (3 wins, 6 losses, and 2 ties).

Rivalry and Past Encounters

Puneri Paltan and Bengal Warriors share a storied rivalry, having clashed 21 times in the history of the PKL. Puneri holds a slight edge with 11 victories, while Bengal has managed to secure 8 wins. The two teams have also drawn twice, including their last face-off earlier this season, which ended 32-32. Notably, Puneri Paltan are unbeaten in their last five encounters against the Warriors, with four wins and one tie. The games between these teams are often low-scoring and tactical.

Team Previews: Key Performers and Strategies

Puneri Paltan
Puneri Paltan's recent tie with UP Yoddhas highlighted some defensive gaps, especially after a change in their left corner, where Mohit Khaler stepped in for Aman and delivered 4 tackle points. Pankaj Mohite, the team captain, led the attack, scoring 8 raid points, while V Ajit Kumar added 5 raid points. However, the team has struggled with consistency, particularly after Aslam Inamdar's injury, impacting their raiding depth.

Puneri’s defense remains a strong point, ranking second-best this season with an average of 12.45 tackle points per match. Key players include Pankaj Mohite with 50 raid points and Gaurav Khatri with 43 tackle points. Their defense will need to step up, as they face a Bengal team hungry for redemption.

Probable Starting 7: Pankaj Mohite, Akash Shinde, V Ajith Kumar, Sanket Sawant, Abinesh Nadarajan, Gaurav Khatri, Mohit Khaler.

Bengal Warriors

Bengal Warriors are aiming to bounce back from a frustrating 29-31 loss to Telugu Titans. Despite a promising start to the season, the Warriors have struggled, particularly in defense, which ranks the lowest in the league with just 9.73 tackle points per game. In the absence of star player Maninder Singh, who has been out of form, the team has relied heavily on Nitin Dhankar, their top raider with 93 points this season.

To turn their fortunes around, Bengal's defense must tighten up, especially the cover defenders, who have been vulnerable in recent matches. If they can reduce their failed tackle attempts and capitalize on scoring opportunities, they have a shot at causing an upset against Puneri.

Probable Starting 7: Nitin Kumar Dhankar, Pranay Rane, Hem Raj, Vaibhav Garje, Fazel Atrachali, Manjeet, Vishwas S.

Key Insights for the Match

Puneri’s Strength: A strong defensive unit, ranking second in tackle points this season.
Bengal’s Challenge: Improving their defense, currently the weakest in the league, to restrict Puneri’s raiders.
Players to Watch: Pankaj Mohite (Puneri) and Nitin Dhankar (Bengal) are key raiders who could dictate the game's outcome.

What to Expect

This match is expected to be another closely contested battle, with Puneri aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak against the Warriors and Bengal fighting to keep their playoff hopes alive. Both teams have struggled with consistency, making this game crucial for climbing the PKL points table.

Neeraj Chopra Teams Up with Czech Legend Jan Zelezny as Coach for 2025 Season