PUN vs PAT Dream11 Prediction: 3 surprise picks for today's Pro Kabaddi 2024 match - October 21, 2024

The Puneri Paltan (PUN) take on the Patna Pirates (PAT) in the eighth match of Pro Kabaddi 2024 on Monday, October 21, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.

This is the first game of the season for a new-look Patna side who look clearly defense-oriented, with no star names in their raiding department. They'll need their youngsters like Sudhakar M and Sandeep Kumar step up and deliver on the raiding front while their big-money defensive buys keep things tight at the other end.

The Paltan started their title defense on the right note, beating last season's runners-up Haryana Steelers 35-25. Their raiders spread the points around in what was a fairly cagey match, but it was their two corners that gave them the cutting edge. Gaurav Khatri had a brilliant game as he scored seven tackle points, with Aman in the left corner also scoring four tackle points.

Aslam Inamdar's team will look to assert their authority early on in the season by registering another win, but they'll have to be wary against arguably the most successful PKL team in the Pirates, who always come up with ways to win and surprise the opponent.

On that note, let's look at some surprise Dream11 picks from this fixture.

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#3 Sanket Sawant (DEF) (PUN) (13 Credits)

Left cover Sanket Sawant is one of the four starting defenders for the Puneri Paltan. He does tend to be the lowest-scoring of the four defenders, with his cover partner Abinesh Nadarajan more aggressive than him, leading to a better points tally than Sanket.

However, he still has a decent record in the PKL, picking up 96 tackle points across his career. In today's match, he will come up against a Patna side that boasts of many left raiders, putting him in the perfect position to initiate challenges on them.

Most importantly, because he plays for the Paltan, he has a high chance of getting more Dream11 points for causing an all-out, further increasing his point-scoring ability. He is a surprise pick you should consider.

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#2 Gurdeep (ALL) (PAT) (13.5 Credits)

Former UP Yoddhas all-rounder was picked up by the Patna Pirates at the auction for ₹50 Lakhs as they concluded their search for a quality left cover defender. Gurdeep has been a part of the PKL since season 7, when he made his debut for the UP Yoddhas.

The defensive all-rounder was a mainstay in their starting 7, producing very consistent performances before they saw a slight dip in the last season, leading to his release.

Gurdeep has plenty of potential, and is an attacking defender who is very skilled at making some really advanced tackles. He won't hold back, and while that may lead to him conceding points, he should also score plenty of them. A proven performer in the all-rounder category, Gurdeep should be on your radar for selection on your Dream11 teams.

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#1 Sandeep Kumar (RAI) (PAT) (13 Credits)

Eyebrows were raised when the Patna Pirates let go of star raider Sachin Tanwar ahead of the auction, but it was clear that the management had immense faith in the young raiders which the side retained. While most people notice only Sudhakar M, Sandeep Kumar could have a breakout season in PKL 11.

The young raider scored 86 raid points in 20 matches in his debut PKL season last time around, and that's despite being primarily used as a third raider or sometimes, even a substitute option. However, this season, he should be one of the side's lead raiders, and that increases his Dream11 appeal.

He is one pick who could really make a difference on your Dream11 teams.