The Dabang Delhi KC will be up against the U Mumba in the second match of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 season at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on October 18.
The Dabang Delhi KC enter the tournament with high hopes after an impressive run in the previous season, reaching the playoffs despite losing their star raider, Naveen Kumar, to injury early in the campaign.
The emergence of Ashu Malik as a leader and top scorer, jointly finishing with the most raid points, was pivotal in maintaining Delhi's competitive edge. This season, both Naveen and Ashu Malik will share the captaincy.
Under the guidance of new head coach Joginder Narwal, who led Delhi to their title in Season 8, the team retains a strong raiding unit despite the last-minute withdrawal of Siddharth Desai due to personal reasons. While the raiding department remains robust, questions linger regarding the defense, which has shown some vulnerabilities in the past. Yogesh Dahiya, who had a standout season last year to get the Emerging Player of the Season award, will be key in the right corner as Delhi aims to shore up their defensive line.
Once a dominant force in the PKL, the U Mumba have struggled to find consistency in recent seasons. The team, which claimed the title in Season 2, finished 10th last year with only six wins from 22 matches. This season, they have appointed Sunil Kumar as captain, a seasoned leader who previously guided Jaipur Pink Panthers to a championship in PKL 9.
U Mumba boasts a strong defense featuring Sunil Kumar, Rinku, Parvesh Bhainswal, and Sombir, making it one of the most formidable defensive units in the league. However, the raiding lineup remains inexperienced, with Amirmohammad Zafardanesh and Manjeet leading the charge. If the raiding unit can gel and find form, U Mumba has the potential to be a challenging opponent.
Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba Match Details
Match: Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba, Match 2, PKL 2024
Date: October 18, 2024, 9:00 PM IST
Venue: Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad
Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba Form Guide in PKL 2024
Dabang Delhi KC (DEL): Yet to play
U Mumba (MUM): Yet to play
Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba Player Squads
Dabang Delhi KC (DEL): Naveen Kumar (C), Rahul, Ashish, Mohit, Himmat Antil, Vinay, Sandeep, Ashu Malik (C), Gaurav Chhillar, Himanshu, Mohammad Baba Ali, Monu Sharma, Vikrant, Yogesh, Parveen, Manu, Brijendra Singh Chaudhary, Nitin Panwar, Rinku Narwal, Shivam, and Ajit Chouhan.
U Mumba (MUM): Deepak Kundu, M. Dhanasekar, Manjeet, Sunny, Sombir, Gokulakannan M, Stuwart Singh, Lokesh Ghosliya, Vishal Choudhary, Aashish Kumar, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, Mukilan Shanmugam, Parvesh Bhainswal, Shubham Kumar, Sunil Kumar (C), and Ajit Chouhan.
Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba Expected Playing 7
Dabang Delhi KC (DEL): Naveen Kumar (C), Ashu Malik (C), Vikrant Khokar, Gaurav Chillar, Yogesh, Ashish, and Nitin Panwar.
U Mumba (MUM): Sunil Kumar (C), Parvesh Bhainswal, Sombir, Rinku HC, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, Manjeet, and Lokesh Ghosliya.
Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba Match Prediction
The Dabang Delhi KC appears to hold the edge due to their potent raiding unit and the leadership of Ashu Malik and Naveen Kumar as co-captains. Delhi’s recent playoff experience and attacking style will put pressure on U Mumba's defense.
However, U Mumba’s defensive strength could pose significant challenges for Delhi, especially if they can contain the raiders and capitalize on turnovers. The balance between both teams is evident, with Delhi focused on offensive firepower while the U Mumba aim for a more structured defensive approach.
Ultimately, the outcome may hinge on how effectively U Mumba's inexperienced raiders perform against Delhi’s defense. While U Mumba has the potential to pull off an upset, the momentum and firepower of Dabang Delhi KC make them the favorites in this matchup.
Prediction: Dabang Delhi KC to win, likely by a narrow margin.
Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba Telecast Details
TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu, and Star Sports 1 Kannada
Live Stream: Disney+ Hotstar