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The highly anticipated Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 season is set to kick off with a thrilling encounter between Telugu Titans and Bengaluru Bulls at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad, on October 18. Both teams are eager to make a strong start, with fans particularly excited for this Southern Derby showdown.
The match will feature Pawan Sehrawat, continuing his role as the key raider for Telugu Titans, going up against Pardeep Narwal, the "Record Breaker" who will lead the Bengaluru Bulls' charge.
This high-profile battle between two of the most successful raiders in PKL history is bound to light up the opening fixture and set the tone for an action-packed season.
The Telugu Titans have been struggling to make an impact in recent seasons, finishing last in the table for the past three seasons and missing out on the playoffs since Season 4.
Despite being a part of every PKL season, the Titans have yet to reach a final or win the title. This season presents a fresh opportunity for them under the guidance of head coach Krishan Hooda and with Pawan Sehrawat as their talismanic raider.
Sehrawat, known as the "Hi-Flyer," will lead the Titans’ attack with support from Vijay Malik and Manjeet Sharma, who are both looking to improve on their performances from last season.
However, the Titans' defense will be a key concern, with Krishan Dhull being the standout defender. The rest of the defensive lineup, though talented, lacks experience, which could pose challenges for the team.
Bengaluru Bulls, the champions of PKL Season 6, are looking to return to their winning ways after a disappointing eighth-place finish last season. With Pardeep Narwal, the all-time highest point scorer in PKL history, now leading the team, the Bulls will be hoping for a revival.
Interestingly, Pardeep began his PKL journey with Bengaluru Bulls in Season 2 but didn’t get much playtime before moving on and becoming a PKL legend with other teams.
This time, Narwal will be the Bulls' captain, leading a strong raiding unit alongside Ajinkya Pawar and Jai Bhagwan. The defense will be marshaled by Saurabh Nandal, a reliable defender. However, like the Titans, Bengaluru Bulls also have a relatively inexperienced defense beyond Nandal, which could be a vulnerability.
Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls Match Details
Match: Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls, Match 1, PKL 2024
Date: October 18, 2024, 8:00 PM IST
Venue: Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad
Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls Form Guide in PKL 2024
Telugu Titans (HYD): Yet to play
Bengaluru Bulls (BLR): Yet to play
Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls 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.
Bengaluru Bulls (BLR): Pardeep Narwal (C), Ponparthiban Subramanian, Akshit, Jatin, Jai Bhagwan, Arulnanthababu, Manjeet, Surinder Singh, Lucky Kumar, Pramot Saising, Chandranaik M, Nitin Rawal, Parteek, Saurabh Nandal, Pankaj, Hasun Thongkruea, Ajinkya Pawar, Rohit Kumar, Sushil, Aditya Powar.
Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls Expected Playing 7
Telugu Titans (HYD): Pawan Sehrawat (C), Krishan Dhull, Manjeet Sharma, Ajit Pawar, Milad Jabbari, Vijay Malik, Ankit Jaglan.
Bengaluru Bulls (BLR): Pardeep Narwal (C), Ajinkya Pawar, Jai Bhagwan, Saurabh Nandal, Nitin Rawal, Ponparthiban Subramanian, Parteek Gulia.
Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls Match Prediction
Bengaluru Bulls appear to be more balanced. While Pardeep Narwal hasn’t been at his best over the past couple of seasons, his experience, combined with the support of Ajinkya Pawar and Jai Bhagwan, provides a strong raiding unit.
Saurabh Nandal leads a more experienced defense, which could prove decisive against the Titans' attack.
On the other hand, the Telugu Titans will be banking heavily on Pawan Sehrawat to lead them to victory. While Sehrawat has been consistently impressive even during the Titans’ rough patches, the rest of the team, especially in defense, lacks the depth and experience needed to control a high-octane match.
The Titans will also be under significant pressure to perform, given their poor run of form in the last few seasons.
However, the home crowd advantage in Hyderabad might give the Titans a morale boost but it may not be enough to overcome the better-balanced Bulls lineup. Pawan Sehrawat will need to be at his best and his supporting cast will need to step up to provide a solid challenge to the Bulls.
Prediction: Bengaluru Bulls to win by a slim margin
Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls 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
