Note: This article was constructed after Match no. 126 (Bengal Warriors vs. Dabang Delhi K.C.) of Pro Kabaddi League Season 6.
Pro Kabaddi League Season 6 has been an outstanding season for Kabaddi fans filled with tons of excitement. While raiders like Siddharth Desai and Pawan Kumar Sehrawat have been blazing super raids, defenders like Parvesh Bhainswal and Fazel Atrachali have been rock-solid in the defensive shield of their teams.
In Zone A, Gujarat Fortune Giants, U Mumba, and Dabang Delhi K.C. have already qualified for the playoffs which got already decided in the Panchkula leg. However, the fight is still going between the teams of Zone B for the 3rd spot of Zone B.
Bengaluru Bulls became the first team to qualify from Zone B after their victory over Telugu Titans (44-28) in the Panchkula leg. Bengal Warriors have also qualified after they beat Patna Pirates (39-23). There are no chances for Tamil Thalaivas to qualify for the playoffs in Zone B.
However, with the 3rd spot remaining undecided, the team management of Patna Pirates, UP Yoddha and Telugu Titans will have to check their permutations and combinations ahead of their final matches. The team positioned at the 3rd spot of Zone B will face U Mumba in Eliminator 1 on 30th December 2018.
Here are the qualification scenarios of the remaining teams in Zone B for the 3rd spot qualification:
Patna Pirates
Patna Pirates are at 3rd spot with 55 points in the points table with a score difference of -28.
The team led by the star raider, Pardeep Narwal stands at perhaps the safest position to qualify for the playoffs. Despite having woes in their raiding line up with Pardeep not being able to find any support in the raiding department, they've managed to attain close wins to have their chances remain intact.
- A win against Gujarat Fortune Giants will ensure them the 3rd spot as their points in the Zone B table will be 60 points.
- A tie against Gujarat Fortune Giants can also take them to the playoffs as they will stand at the 3rd spot of Zone B with 58 points.
- If Patna Pirates lose against Gujarat Fortune Giants, they will have to ensure that UP Yoddha don't win their match against Bengal Warriors earlier as Patna will stay at either 56 or 55 points in Zone B with a defeat.
With the defense working on a stable basis and Pardeep Narwal carrying tremendous form in the raiding, Patna Pirates can expect their qualification with ease.
UP Yoddha
UP Yoddha are at the 4th spot with 52 points in the points table with a score difference of -61.
It has been a mixed season for the UP Yoddha considering how the players have suffered from injuries time and again. UP Yoddha had lost their hopes of qualifying for the playoffs.
However, with a few victories at the end and after UP Yoddha defeated U Mumba (34-32) in Day 2 of the Kolkata leg, UP Yoddha have open the gates of qualifying for the playoffs under such scenario:
- UP Yoddha must beat Bengal Warriors in their final game compulsorily.
- Patna Pirates should lose to Gujarat Fortune Giants under any circumstances which will force Patna to stay at 55 points in Zone B.
If UP Yoddha ties their match against Bengal Warriors too, their final standing in the points table will be at 55 points. Under such situation, Patna Pirates will still qualify for the playoffs despite a loss because of their score difference which is -28 which is lesser than of UP Yoddha's.
Telugu Titans
Telugu Titans are at the 5th spot with 50 points in the points table with a score difference of -50.
In spite of having a rollercoaster ride en route to qualifying from Zone B to the playoffs, Telugu Titans' fans can still expect their team to go through. There is a little hope which they could carry under such circumstances:
- Telugu Titans must defeat Bengal Warriors with a lead margin of 23 or more than 23 points.
- UP Yoddha should tie/lose their match against Bengal Warriors as UP's score difference (-61) will not hinder Telugu's chances of qualification.
- Patna Pirates should lose to Gujarat Fortune Giants with a deficit margin of 7 or more than 7 points.
A win however either from UP Yoddha or Patna Pirates will demolish Telugu Titans' chances of qualifying for the playoffs. Also if Patna loses their match against Gujarat in less than 7 points, they will stand at 56 points in the points table which will put breaks on their qualification.