Season 6 champions Bengaluru Bulls will face reigning champions Dabang Delhi KC in eliminator 1 of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 9 at the Dome, NSCI SVP Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday (December 13). The Bengaluru-based side sealed their playoff spot as the third-placed team with 74 points, while Delhi secured their spot in their final match to finish sixth with 63 points at the end of the league phase.
Both teams will pin their hopes on the raiding department led by the two of the top three raiders of the ongoing season. Bengaluru Bulls’ Bharat has stepped up from being in shadows as a support raider with 257 raid points in 21 matches this season.
The winners of the eliminator 1 will face table-toppers Jaipur Pink Panthers in the first semifinal of PKL 2022 on Thursday (December 15).
Match Details:
- Match: Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C.
- Date: 13 December, 2022
- Time: 7:30 P.M
- Venue: Dome, NSCI, SVP Stadium, Mumbai
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Preview
One of the most consistent sides of the season, the Bengaluru Bulls have remained in the top 3 on the points table almost through the season. They notched 13 victories from 22 matches earning 74 points to qualify for the playoff. Their plan was to finish in the top 2 so that they could get a direct entry to the semi-finals.
But they lost a few games in the later half of the tournament which forced them to take the eliminator route. The Bulls have one of the best attacks on the circuit with raiders like Bharat Hooda, Vikash Kandola, and Neeraj Narwal. Though Neeraj Narwal was injured in the last league game against U Mumba, he looks fit to play the eliminator.
The defending champion will consider themselves lucky to have bagged a spot in the eliminators. They were fighting for the last spot with the Haryana Steelers and Gujarat Fortune Giants in the last few league matches. They forced a TIE in their last league match against the Bengal Warriors which helped them squeeze into the next round.
Dabang Delhi started the season with a bang winning their first 5 matches. But they were shocked by the Patna Pirates and thus began a maverick journey for the defending champions. They lost the next 6 matches which surprised many. Even their fans were in tears watching their team go down to lower-ranked teams. The major concern was a total breakdown in their defense.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Prediction
The best defence on the night will win the match. Bengaluru Bulls, having won the two matches against Dabang Delhi already this season, will be the favourites. But the reigning champions will not want to give up so easily and that was seen in their previous two meetings with the Bulls. Plus, form and momentum makes this contest even despite the finishes on the points table.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Head-To-Head
- Overall, the two sides have met 19 times in PKL history, with Delhi winning 9 times against Bengaluru, who have won 8 times, while two matches have ended in a tie.
- In the knock out stages, Delhi and Bengaluru have crossed pass twice in the semifinals in the last two seasons with Dagang Delhi coming out on top both the times.
- Bulls head into the eliminator contest with two defeats in their last 5 matches in PKL 9, while Delhi have won once, lost two times and tied twice in their last 5 outings before their eliminator clash.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Team News
Bengaluru Bulls:
Everyone is available for selection.
Dabang Delhi K.C:
Everyone is available for selection.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Lineups
Bengaluru Bulls:
Saurabh Nandal, Neeraj Narwal, Mahender Singh, Vikash Kandola, Mayur Kadam, Bharat, Aman
Dabang Delhi KC:
Amit Hooda, Vijay, Dipak, Ashu Malik, Vishal, Naveen Kumar, Sandeep Dhull
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Tips
- Dabang Delhi survived a scare in their last match as they beat the Fortune Giants by 3 points.
- The Bengaluru Bulls have lost their last 2 matches.
- It is a face-off between raiders Bharat and Naveen Kumar.
- Bengaluru Bulls will win.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Betting Trends
Bengaluru Bulls finished 3rd in the points table with 74 points from 22 matches.
Dabang Delhi just squeezed into the playoff with a TIE in their last match.
The defending champions have not beaten the Bulls this season.
Bengaluru Bulls will win.
Bengaluru Bulls VS Dabang Delhi K.C. Where To Watch Live Today VIVO Pro Kabaddi 2022
- Live Channel: Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi and Star Sports 1 Hindi HD
- Live Streaming: Disney+Hotstar