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Dabang Delhi got Deja Vu in their last game against the Tamil Thalaiva. Naveen Express was injured badly and he had to be carried out of the arena. Dabang was stunned to such an extent that they lost the game to Thalaiva. After Pawan Sehrawat, Rajneesh, it was Naveen who succumbed to the hard life on the mat. This happened in the last season midway when Naveen was injured and Delhi had to bear the brunt.

Puneri Paltan is cruising along nicely as they have not lost their last 5 games. Though their last game ended in a TIE, they have quietly moved to the 4th spot in the points table after 8 games. With a band of young raiders and experienced defenders, the Paltan is looking like an unbeatable unit. 

They will be up against the Dabang Delhi squad which will be devoid of Naveen Kumar. Dabang look vulnerable and the Paltan will take advantage of this situation. The Paltan will look forward to winning this match in style as they take the UP Yodha next.

Dabang Delhi will have to find ways to live without Naveen Kumar.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Puneri Paltan Preview

Puneri Paltan is enjoying home conditions. They have been on a smooth ride as they arrived home. They have not lost any of their last 5 games and have quietly moved to the 4th spot in the points table. This has been one of the best performances for the Paltan in their entire PKL journey.

Young raiders Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat have been lethal and consistent. Both have earned 126 raid points in 8 games. They have formed a deadly combination that works most of the time. Raiders Pankaj Mohite and Akash Shinde have been useful at times. This makes the Paltan a dangerous raiding unit.

The defense under Captain Fazel Attrachali has complemented the raiders quite well. Fazel and Sombir have worked together to hunt down opposition raiders. This partnership has been the highlight for the Paltan. Both were extremely effective against the Pink Panthers as well as against the Haryana Steelers in their last game. The Paltan will be worried about the form of the left cover Sanket Sawant and the right cover Rakesh Ram. Both are extremely good defenders but haven’t found their rhythm this season. All-rounder Nabibaksh hasn’t been in top gear either. If all goes well for the Paltan, these players will seize the opportunity against the Dabang to fine-tune their skills.

The Paltan has executed 133 successful team raids along with 65 successful team tackles in 8 games.

Dabang Delhi K.C. Preview

The defending champions are at a crossroads as Naveen Kumar was seriously injured in the last game against the Tamil Thalaiva. Injuries are part and parcel of the game but this season has been harsh. It was Pawan Sehrawat who was badly injured in his first match for the Thalaiva. They saw it happening to Naveen in the Dabang camp.

Such was the impact of Naveen’s injury that the defending champions were stunned. They lagged throughout the match which they eventually lost. This was the 4th consecutive loss for Dabang Delhi. The architect of Dabang’s championship, Naveen was injured similarly midway through last season. He was also undergoing rehab before the PKL where he played in pain during the senior national championships. 

Dabang will now have to learn to live without Naveen. They have a good unit but their last 4 games have been horrendous. They were 21 points behind Thalaiva at the end of the first half in the last match. They did make a comeback in the second half but that was not enough to save the match.

Till then Dabang Delhi will have to struggle on the mat. Young raiders like Manjeet and Ashu Malik will need to rise and punch above their weight. Right cover Ravi Kumar will have to lead the young brigade of defenders like Vishal and Krishnan Dhull to compensate for the loss of Naveen.

The match against the Paltan will be their real test as the future looks bleak for Dabang and the road ahead is full of challenges.

PUNP vs DDKC

Winning Prediction

Dabang Delhi without Naveen Kumar is like a gun without bullets. But Dabang is capable enough to fight it out. Coach Krishan Kumar Hooda will have contingency plans and one may see a new approach from Dabang Delhi. Raiders Manjeet and Ashu Malik will be the key raiders for them. Raider Ashish Narwal will play a cameo in the match. All-rounder Amit Hooda will share responsibility with senior player Ravi Kumar to trap the Paltan. Dabang will also use the services of experienced left corner Sandeep Dhull.

Puneri Paltan will seize the opportunity to push back Dabang. Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat will target defenders Dipak and Amit Hooda. Fazel and Sombir trap Manjeet and Ashu Malik thus reducing the income of Dabang Delhi. This is a good chance for Sanket Sawant to return to form.

Just like the Thalaiva, Puneri Paltan will start aggressively taking an early lead and putting pressure on the defending champions.

Puneri Paltan will win.