U.p. Yoddhas Vs Tamil Thalaivas 26 November 2024

Full-Time
UP Yoddhas 26 - 40 Tamil Thalaivas

Not often do you see a team enforce three all-outs in one half, especially with them trailing at half-time, but that's just what an inspired Tamil Thalaivas have done to get to their fifth win of the season.

A great defensive effort led by Hitesh and Ashu Singh complemented Gagan Gowda's raiding heroics in the first half as the Yoddhas overcame a burst of good raiding from Narender to lead by five points at half-time, but an injury to the Thalaivas' captain meant that Sachin and Masanamuthu were on the mat alongside Moein Shafaghi to lead the Thalaivas' raiding unit in the second half.

That proved to be the difference for Dharmaraj Cheralathan and his side, with Moein Shafaghi scoring eight raid points and Masanamuthu six, and with the defense looking really solid as well, the Thalaivas completely outplayed their opponents in the 2nd half, leading to a deserved victory.

This entertaining outing is just the beginning of what should be an action-packed night of kabaddi. Up next, we have a rematch of the PKL 8 finals between the Patna Pirates and Dabang Delhi KC. Click here to catch the complete coverage from that encounter as, I, Shreyas, bid you adieu.

2nd Half, 40'
UP Yoddhas 26 - 40 Tamil Thalaivas

The Thalaivas take this opportunity to provide some game time to a few of their bench players, but it's the Yoddhas who score a few useful points towards the end, Ashu Singh claiming his High 5 in the process.

In the final raid of the night, Masanamuthu is finally tackled by a solid Sumit ankle hold, but it comes too little too late. A terrific comeback win for the Tamil Thalaivas, who execute payback for their defeat four days ago.

2nd Half, 39'
UP Yoddhas 23 - 39 Tamil Thalaivas

Do-or-die raid for his team, but no problem says Masanamuthu, who has had the beating of them all night, and he gets away well from Sumit's attempted challenge, reducing the Yoddhas to two.

Successive empty raids from Ashu Singh forces a do-or-die raid for the Yoddhas, and Ashu goes in himself, only to get step into the lobby without a touch. It's a simple surrender raid for Moein, and the Thalaivas complete the comeback here with their third all-out and a terrific second-half performance.

Bhavani Rajput scores a handy touch point, getting away from Amirhossein Bastami's challenge, but it matters little at this point.

2nd Half, 37'
UP Yoddhas 22 - 34 Tamil Thalaivas

Ohh, Aashish strikes now for the Thalaivas, going in with a solid block on Gagan Gowda, and in the very next raid, Nitesh gets his third, surprising Bharat Hooda with his advanced knee hold.

With the Thalaivas defense firing, the Yoddhas are down to three once again, and this game seems out of their hands now.

2nd Half, 35'
UP Yoddhas 22 - 32 Tamil Thalaivas

Ohh, terrific ankle hold that from Nitesh Kumar to send Bhavani Rajput back to the bench. He's been the best exponent of that move this league, no doubt.

Moein Shafaghi makes it look really easy with the running hand touch on that left cover. Mahender has to do better there.

2nd Half, 33'
UP Yoddhas 22 - 30 Tamil Thalaivas

Ohh, Masanamuthu at it again, this time with a running hand touch on Sahul in a do-or-die raid. The Yoddhas down to two now as Bhavani Rajput is brought on.

He manages to get a bonus point in a do-or-die raid, but since that doesn't bring about a revival, Moein Shafaghi goes up against a two-man defense, but the UP defense protests that he brings his hand past the mid-line from outside the mat, but after some deliberation, the referees rule the way of the Thalaivas, who claim their second all-out.

An attempted ankle hold from Moein Shafaghi on Gagan Gowda goes awry as the in-form raider gets away unscathed. Still an 8-point deficit this and a good phase of play could see the Yoddhas make a comeback.

2nd Half, 30'
UP Yoddhas 19 - 25 Tamil Thalaivas

Why have the Thalaivas waited so long to unleash Masanamuthu this season? He shows more of that explosive energy with an excellent leap to escape from Hitesh's attempted challenge in a do-or-die raid.

Bharat is now sent back to the bench as the two corners combine to pin him down.

As the whistle blows for the second timeout, the tables have well and truly been turned on the Yoddhas, and trailing by six points, they need to find out a way to deal with Masanamuthu and Moein and avoid another all-out.

2nd Half, 28'
UP Yoddhas 19 - 23 Tamil Thalaivas

Gagan Gowda does well to score a quick point, getting the touch on Nitesh Kumar, but Moein Shafaghi continues his good game, nailing the running hand touch on the left corner.

Ronak now delivers for the Thalaivas with a crunching block on Gagan Gowda, taking their lead to four points now.

2nd Half, 26'
UP Yoddhas 18 - 21 Tamil Thalaivas

Well, both teams take a cagey approach to this match, and it appears to be costing the Yoddhas at this point as Amirhossein Bastami comes around with an audacious back hold to send Bharat to the bench in a do-or-die raid, reducing them to three.

It's a do-or-die raid for Masanamuthu in the very next raid for the Thalaivas, and his tremendous lower body energy serves him well as he bursts through the grasp of the defense with a 2-point raid. No wait! It's a clean sweep! It's an all-out! A Super Raid that puts the Thalaivas back in the lead, what a raid that is from Masanamuthu!

2nd Half, 24'
UP Yoddhas 18 - 15 Tamil Thalaivas

Moein Shafaghi comes in with a clutch raid in a do-or-die situation for the Thalaivas. Against a 6-man Yoddhas' defense, he escapes from Mahender Singh's dash, also slipping away from the grasp of Hitesh.

2nd Half, 22'
UP Yoddhas 18 - 13 Tamil Thalaivas

Ohh, so nearly a Super Raid for Masanamuthu, who somewhat gets away from Sumit's ankle hold, but the support arrives in time to just about drags his hand away from very close to the mid-line.

Sachin Tanwar's first raid is a quiet one as the most expensive player of the PKL 11 auction opts to play it safe with an empty raid.

Gagan Gowda appears to have gotten a running hand touch on Ronak, but it's not given. The Yoddhas review, and the TV umpires are taking a long hard look at this, and in the end, it goes the way of the Thalaivas.

Since he stepped into the lobby without a touch, he makes his way to the bench does Gagan Gowda.

Sachin Tanwar has been subbed on for the Thalaivas.

Half-Time
UP Yoddhas 17 - 12 Tamil Thalaivas

Back on the mat, Narender picks up where he left off for his team, getting a quick bonus before nailing the diving hand touch on the left cover.

Ohh, crunching solo tackle that from Ashu Singh on Narender! He looks to be in great form tonight does Ashu, and Narender looks to be in some discomfort after going down, and the Thalaivas will hope it's nothing serious.

Gagan Gowda is tackled in a do-or-die raid by Nitesh Kumar, who opens his account, but as Moein Shafaghi looks to close the half out on a high, he falls into the trap set by the left chain of the UP defense, Sumit claiming the tackle point once again.

As the whistle blows for half-time, it's a deserved 5-point lead for the Yoddhas, whose solid defensive performance has eclipsed Narender's solo act, but his potential injury could change things for them. 

Can the Thalaivas fight back? Will we see Sachin Tanwar on the mat at any point? We'll find out the answers to those questions in the second half. Back in a few minutes, don't go anywhere.

1st Half, 18'
UP Yoddhas 14 - 10 Tamil Thalaivas

An overzealous attempt from Masanamuthu leads to him getting tackled by a rampant UP defense, with the left chain rushing in with a dash that left the raider with no chance of escape.

And with the Thalaivas down to two, the Yoddhas brilliantly complete the all-out, and it's the in-form Gagan Gowda deliving the goods. He goes in confidently towards Sahil Gulia, expects Ronak to approach him, shrugs him aside, also escaping from Sahil's ankle hold attempt to walk back with not two but four points for his team.

1st Half, 16'
UP Yoddhas 8 - 9 Tamil Thalaivas

Another great raid from Gagan Gowda, who uses his pace and height to good effect, getting the running hand touch on Amirhossein Bastami. 

Sahul is subbed on once more for the Yoddhas, who want a specialist right corner on the mat at all times, with Bhavani Rajput making way this time around.

1st Half, 14'
UP Yoddhas 8 - 9 Tamil Thalaivas

Nitesh Kumar isn't having the best of evenings for the Thalaivas as Gagan Gowda catches him off-guard once again with a kick.

With the Thalaivas down to three, Masanamuthu is subbed on, and when a do-or-die raid comes around, he shows great composure to stay away from the in-form Hitesh, anticipating his challenge, and getting a faint diving hand touch on him.

1st Half, 12'
UP Yoddhas 7 - 8 Tamil Thalaivas

Both teams play on the do-or-die raid now, with the Yoddhas having five on the mat and the Thalaivas four.

The Yoddhas have a do-or-die raid soon, and it's the left cover Ashish who pounces on Bhavani Rajput with a well-timed diving ankle hold. However, Hitesh returns the favor for the Yoddhas as Narender's weak attempt in a do-or-die raid is met with his vice grip.

1st Half, 10'
UP Yoddhas 6 - 7 Tamil Thalaivas

Well done Moein Shafaghi! He uses his exceptional speed to race across the mat and get a running hand touch on the left corner in a 1v4 situation. However, a needless advance challenge from Sahil Gulia concedes a cheap point to Bharat, and the Yoddhas build on that momentum, Hitesh diving in with a solid tackle on Moein to bring them back within touching distance of the Thalaivas,

A see-sawing first ten minutes of play is brought to a halt by the whistle for the timeout.

1st Half, 8'
UP Yoddhas 3 - 6 Tamil Thalaivas

Ashu Singh and Sahul Kumar combine to delay the all-out for the Yoddhas, putting in a crunch tackle to send Narender to the bench for the first time tonight. It took some doing, but the two defenders were determined and relentless.

Bharat is subbed back on for the Yoddhas with them needing a raider and he delivers with a toe touch on Nitesh Kumar.

However, the Thalaivas' best defender this season is confident there was no touch, and as a result, they take the review.

The replays are inconclusive and the review is unsuccessful.

1st Half, 6'
UP Yoddhas 1 - 6 Tamil Thalaivas

Narender looks unstoppable at the moment, and Sumit who tries, is met with disdain as Narender pulls out another top-class dubki from his drawer. Sahil Gulia opens his account with a well-timed ankle hold on Gagan Gowda to reduce the Yoddhas to just two!

1st Half, 4'
UP Yoddhas 1 - 4 Tamil Thalaivas

Three raid points in a row for an in-form Narender, this time escaping from Mahender Singh's attempted dash. great start this from the Thalaivas' captain.

Well, his start seems to have inspired his team here, as the defense succeed in picking up the first tackle point of the match, and it's the cover combination led by right cover Ronak who come up trumps, putting in a solid block-dash on Bhavani Rajput.

Bharat Hooda briefly off the court as Sahul Kumar is substituted on in that right corner with Hitesh sent off court.

1st Half, 2'
UP Yoddhas 1 - 2 Tamil Thalaivas

An empty raid for the tall left raider first up. Narender opens the Thalaivas' accounts immediately with a solid dubki against Sumit, and he follows it up in his very next raid, taking out the right corner Hitesh with a swift sliding toe touch.

However, Gagan Gowda opens the Yoddhas' account in a do-or-die raid with a hefty kick on Nitesh Kumar in that left-in position.

Toss Update: The Thalaivas win the toss and choose court. The Yoddhas will raid first.

Bharat will start things off.

Both teams have made their way onto the mat, with the Thalaivas entering first, followed by the Yoddhas.

Ensure you get the most out of your Dream11 teams by selecting the right captain and vice-captain with the help of our experts' suggestions:

Here are a few player battles to keep a keen eye on throughout this match;

With the lineups out and not long to go before the panga starts, it's time to make your Dream11 teams with the help of Sportskeeda's Dream11 prediction:

Team News

Here's how the two teams line up for this one:

Tamil Thalaivas: Narender Kandola (C), Nitesh Kumar, Moein Shafaghi, Amirhossein Bastami, Sahil Gulia, Aashish, and Ronak.

UP Yoddhas: Sumit (C), Bharat, Bhavani Rajput, Gagan Gowda, Ashu Singh, Hitesh, and Mahender Singh.

The Thalaivas ring in the changes ahead of this one, with Sahil Gulia returning to the starting 7 to that left corner position, albeit not as the captain, with Narender retaining the armband. The impressive Iranian all-rounder Moein Shafaghi also makes a return, with the Thalaivas also going in with an all-new cover combination in Aashish and Ronak. 

Sachin Tanwar, Anuj Gawade, M Abishek, and Vishal Chahal drop out, with the first three of those players named on the bench.

The Yoddhas make just the one change, with Gagan Gowda deservedly coming into the starting 7 in place of Keshav Kumar.

Hello and welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of the 11th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League. On this terrific Tuesday, we have a stellar set of games lined up for you, and first up, it's the Tamil Thalaivas seeking revenge against the UP Yoddhas in front of the latter's home fans at the Noida Indoor Stadium.

The Thalaivas went down 24-40 to the Yoddhas at the same venue last Friday, and with this being a must-win point in their campaign, they'll give it their all to come up trumps and return to winning ways. However, that will be a tough ask against an in-form UP Yoddhas outfit that has three wins and one tie in their last four matches and is looking like a very fluent unit heading into this contest.

With some powerhouse players and plenty of individual battles to keep an eye on, this should be a thrilling encounter. So sit back and relax as I, Shreyas, take you through all the action that unfolds.