Pro Kabaddi 2016 | How your favourite team can qualify for the play-off stage?

ByArun S Kaimal, SportsCafe Editor

07/20/2016

The fourth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League is fast approaching the business end of the season with seven teams still in the fray for a place in the last four.

Reigning champions Patna Pirates is currently leading the table and are, barring major upsets, likely to qualify for the last-four stage, while Dabang Delhi and Bengaluru Bulls find themselves in a tough spot to make the play-offs.

Note :The scenarios are based on the Pro Kabaddi League standings after the match between U Mumba and Puneri Paltan on July 20

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1. Patna Pirates

The champions of season 3 lost star raider Rohit Kumar and all-rounder Sandeep Narwal to Bengaluru Bulls and Telugu Titans respectively and were predicted to struggle without their star performers. But, with just the Mumbai and Delhi legs remaining, Patna Pirates sit comfortably at the top of the standings and will need just two more wins to confirm a play-off place.

Remaining matches : Jaipur Pink Panthers (July 22), Puneri Paltan (July 23), Dabang Delhi (July 25), Telugu Titans (July 26)

How they can qualify if they mess up

A. If they manage just one win, they will have to make sure that they do not lose their remaining matches by more than a seven-point margin. They will have to depend on other results then to enter the play-offs.

B. If they lose all their remaining matches by a margin of seven or less than seven points, they will finish with 45 points in the league stage. The last three seasons of the league have seen teams making the last place in the top four with 47, 41 and 45 points. It will be touch and go for the defending champions in that scenario.

Prediction : With Pardeep Narwal, the second best raider in the league, and super tackle specialist Dharmaraj Cheralathan in their ranks, Patna Pirates is likely to qualify as league leaders.

2. Telugu Titans

In the last six matches, Telugu Titans have won five and tied one. The six-match unbeaten run has propelled them to second in the league after languishing at the bottom of the league at the start of the season. Although Rahul Chaudhari is looking unstoppable on the court, the Titans have to beat three top five teams to qualify for the play-offs.

Remaining matches : U Mumba (July 21), Jaipur Pink Panthers (July 24), Patna Pirates (July 26)

How they can qualify :

A. If they win all the three matches, they will easily qualify for the last four either as the league leaders or the second-placed team.

B. If they win two and lose one, they will have to make sure that they defeat U Mumba in the match at Mumbai to improve their chance of qualifying for the play-offs. If U Mumba is out of the equation, then 48 points will be enough for them to enter the last four.

C. If they manage just one win, their match against U Mumba will go a long way in deciding the last four places. They will have to defeat U Mumba and hope that U Mumba or Puneri Paltan do not win more than two of their remaining matches.

D. If they lose all three, they will not be able to make the last four with Puneri Paltan and U Mumba likely to finish above them.

Prediction : Rahul Chaudhari’s form will be the key for the Titans, and they are likely to enter the play-offs

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3. Jaipur Pink Panthers

After below average performances in the second and third season, the inaugural champions of the Pro Kabaddi League are back where they truly belong. The team owned by film star Abhishek Bachchan are currently third and are likely to make the play-offs, if they can keep all the star players fit.

Remaining matches : Dabang Delhi (July 21), Patna Pirates (July 22), Telugu Titans (July 24)

How they can qualify :

A. If they win all their remaining three matches, they can qualify for the play-offs as the second-placed team or even as league leaders, if Patna Pirates slip-up.

B. If they win two and lose one, they will have to make sure that their defeat is by a margin of seven or less than seven points. With two wins and a defeat, they will finish with 48 points and a good differential score will help them make the play-offs.

C. If they manage only one win from three games, then they will have to depend on other results to make the play-offs. With Telugu Titans, U Mumba, and Puneri Paltan all sneaking in, 44 points will put the inaugural champions in a difficult place.

D. If they lose all three, they will not be able to make the last four.

Prediction : With defender Rohit Rana back in the team and Jasvir Singh in top form, Pink Panthers will make the last four as the third or fourth-placed team.

4. Puneri Paltan

After starting the season on a positive note, Puneri Paltan have lost their momentum with them suffering back-to-back defeats. With Patna Pirates, Telugu Titans, and Jaipur Pink Panthers likely to secure the place in the play-offs, the big fight for the remaining spot will be between the Maharashtra teams – U Mumba and Puneri Paltan.

Remaining matches :U Mumba (July 20) - Pune lost, Patna Pirates (July 23), Dabang Delhi (July 26), Bengaluru Bulls (July 27)

How they can qualify :

A. Puneri Paltan lost the Maharashtra derby to U Mumba to slip to fifth place in the PKL standings and will now need to win their remaining three games to qualify for the the play-offs.

B. If Pune manage just one win or lose all four, they will not be able to qualify for the play-offs.

Prediction : The third-place winners from last season are struggling to score points and will miss out on the play-off stage, this time, with their Maharashtrian rivals pipping them to the spot.

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5. U Mumba

For non-Kabaddi followers : U Mumba is the Chennai Super Kings of PKL. They have made the last four in all the past three editions and will sneak into the play-off stage from the unlikeliest of situations.

This year also, they are fifth in the league. But, with five games in hand, Anup Kumar and co. are set for another end of the season run to enter the last four.

Remaining matches : Puneri Paltan (July 20), Telugu Titans (July 21), Bengal Warriors (July 22), Bengaluru Bulls (July 23), Dabang Delhi (July 27)

How they can qualify :

A. Last year, they pipped eventual winners Patna Pirates, who led the league stage till the last leg, by going on an unbeaten run. This year, they can again cause headaches, if they can win their remaining five matches.

B. With matches against Bengal Warriors, Dabang Delhi, and Bengaluru Bulls – three bottom-placed teams - remaining, U Mumba are in a very comfortable position. In addition to these winnable games, if they can pip either Puneri Paltan or Telugu Titans, then they can easily make the last four.

C. If they manage three wins, they will have to make sure that they defeat Puneri Paltan to enter the last four.

D. If they manage just two wins or a single win, their hopes of making it to the play-offs will depend on Puneri Paltan’s performance in the remaining games.

Prediction : The champions of the second season of PKL have made the last four in all the past three seasons and will do the same, this time.

6. Bengaluru Bulls

After finishing near the bottom of the league last season, Bengaluru Bulls added raider Rohit Kumar, defenders Mohit Chhillar and Surender Nada in a bid to qualify for the last four. But, four consecutive defeats at home have almost ended their chances of qualifying for the play-offs.

Remaining matches: U Mumba (July 23), Puneri Paltan July (27)

How they can qualify :

The Bengaluru side only have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the last four, and it is likely to end even before they play their next game. If they win the next two they will get 36 points, but it is unlikely to be enough for a last four place.

7. Bengal Warriors

The Warriors from Kolkata became the first team to be knocked out of the race for the last four after they lost their final home match on Tuesday (July 19) to Bengaluru Bulls. They have two more matches - U Mumba (July 22) and Dabang Delhi (July 24) - remaining in the season and they can become party poopers, if they can stun U Mumba.

8. Dabang Delhi

With three wins from nine games, Dabang Delhi are at the bottom of the table and need to win at least four of their five remaining games to enter the play-offs. But, having won just three off nine, it is highly unlikely that Delhi will make it to the last four.

Remaining matches : Jaipur Pink Panthers (July 21), Bengal Warriors (July 24), Patna Pirates (July 25), Puneri Paltan (July 26), U Mumba (July 27)

How they can qualify :

A. Three of their five remaining matches are against the teams that are in the top four and one against the play-off chasing U Mumba. Dabang Delhi will have to win at least four games to remain in the hunt for the play-offs. Even then, U Mumba could pip them if they do the same.

Prediction : Dabang Delhi have finished 6th, 7th and 8th in the last three editions, and this year also will be no different.