Telugu Titans will face a daunting challenge when they take on the two-time champions Jaipur Pink Panthers in the ninth match of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 on October 22, 2024, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad. Both teams come into the contest with contrasting fortunes in the early stages of the tournament.
The Telugu Titans began their PKL 2024 season with a commanding 37-29 win over the Bulls. However, they struggled in their second game, suffering a heavy 29-44 defeat at the hands of Tamil Thalaivas. Their star raider and captain, Pawan Sehrawat, was once again the highlight, completing his second consecutive Super 10 of the season, proving that he remains one of the most dangerous raiders in the league.
Pawan Sehrawat’s support came from Vijay Malik, who also played a key role in the team’s offensive performance. Despite their raiding success, the Titans’ defense has been their Achilles' heel. Collectively, their defense could only manage seven tackle points in the loss against Tamil Thalaivas, allowing their opponents to score freely, especially in the second half.
If the Titans want to bounce back, they’ll need their defense to tighten up. The over-reliance on Pawan Sehrawat in attack could also be problematic if Jaipur’s defense manages to neutralize him, so the Titans will need other raiders to contribute significantly.
Meanwhile, the Jaipur Pink Panthers are entering the match as one of the favorites to clinch the title this season. After narrowly missing out on the spot in the final last year, they began PKL 2024 with an impressive 39-34 win over Bengal Warriorz. True to form, captain Arjun Deshwal led from the front, scoring a Super 10 and collecting 15 raid points in his team's opening victory.
While Arjun Deshwal continues to be the focal point of Jaipur’s attack, the team will need to ensure they don’t become overly dependent on him, as they were at times last season. This was evident in their opener, where Abhijeet Malik contributed with both raiding and defensive efforts, securing three raid points and four tackle points. If Malik can maintain this all-round performance, it will provide much-needed balance to the Pink Panthers’ squad.
In defense, Ankush and Reza Mirbagheri form a sturdy combination, with Surjeet Singh also adding experience. The Panthers have a proven ability to handle pressure situations, as seen in their close encounter with Bengal Warriorz, where they kept their composure in the final stages to secure the win. If their defense performs consistently, Jaipur has the firepower to overwhelm the Titans.
Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers Match Details
Match: Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, Match 9, PKL 2024
Date: October 22, 2024, 8:00 PM IST
Venue: Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad
Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers Form Guide in PKL 2024
Telugu Titans (HYD): WL
Jaipur Pink Panthers (JAI): W
Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers Player Squads
Telugu Titans (HYD): Manjeet, Sanjeevi S, Ashish Narwal, Ajit Pawar, Pawan Sehrawat (C), Shankar Gadai, Chetan Sahu, Vijay Malik, Mohammad Malak, Sagar, Nitin, Amit Kumar, Rohit, Omkar Patil, Milad Jabbari, Ankit, Sunder, Krishan Dhull, Prafull Zaware
Jaipur Pink Panthers (JAI): Arjun Deshwal (C), Ritik Sharma, Abhijeet Malik, Sombir, Shrikant Jadhav, Vikash Khandola, Neeraj Narwal, K. Dharanidharan, Navneet, Ankush, Abhishek Ks, Reza Mirbagheri, Nitin Kumar, Ronak Singh, Surjeet Singh, Arpit Saroha, Mayank Malik, Ravi Kumar, Lucky Sharma, Amir Hossein Mohammadmalekiz, Aamir Wani
Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers Expected Playing 7
Telugu Titans (HYD): Manjeet, Sagar, Ajit Pawar, Pawan Sehrawat (C), Vijay Malik, Krishan Dhull, Ankit
Jaipur Pink Panthers (JAI): Arjun Deshwal (C), Surjeet Singh, Lucky Sharma, Ankush, Vikas Kandola, Abhijeet Malik, Reza Mirbagheri
Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers Match Prediction
On paper, the Jaipur Pink Panthers appear to be the more balanced and experienced side, with Arjun Deshwal continuing his incredible form from last season and their defense looking solid. Telugu Titans, on the other hand, will need to address their defensive lapses and avoid being overly reliant on Pawan Sehrawat for raid points.
Given Jaipur’s consistency and depth, they are likely to exploit Telugu Titans' defensive weaknesses, especially if they manage to keep Sehrawat in check. Jaipur Pink Panthers should have the upper hand and are expected to secure a comfortable victory in this match.
Prediction: Jaipur Pink Panthers to win comfortably.
Telugu Titans vs Jaipur Pink Panthers 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