Pro Kabaddi 2019 preview: Can Rahul-Ajay outshine in-form Naveen Kumar?

In three matches played between Tamil Thalaivas and Dabang Delhi, the later have won all the three matches played so far in Pro Kabaddi League

Haryana Steelers vs Dabang Delhi, PKL 2019
File Photo: Haryana Steelers vs Dabang Delhi
BS Web Team
3 min read Last Updated : Sep 08 2019 | 1:47 PM IST
In Match 80 of Pro Kabaddi 2019, Tamil Thalaivas eye their first win against Dabang Delhi in PKL history, when the two teams will lock horns at Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium in Kolkata on Sunday. In three matches played between them, Dabang Delhi have won all the three matches. However, Thalaivas can take confidence of Delhi’s yesterday’s loss against Haryana Steelers.

Check Pro Kabaddi points table and schedule here
 
Can the experienced duo of Rahul Chaudhari-Ajay Thakur outshine the in-form Naveen Kumar?

The contest would feature two experienced raiders in Rahul Chaudhari and Ajay Thakur, who are yet to find their groove in PKL 2019, as they face off a young, vibrant and an in-form Naveen Kumar. Naveen Kumar single handedly has scored more raid points (157) than Rahul Chaudhari and Ajay Thakur combined (134) this season.

PKL 2019 Performance
Raider Raid Points
Naveen Kumar 157
Rahul Chaudhari + Ajay Thakur 134
 
Among raiders to have gone for a minimum of 150 raids, Naveen Kumar has the 2nd best raid SR (61). On the other hand, Ajay Thakur has the worst raid strike rate (35) and Rahul Chaudhari has the 5th worst raid strike rate (41). The fact that two of Tamil Thalaivas lead raiders feature in the list seems to be a huge area of concern.
 
Best Raid SR - PKL 2019     Worst Raid SR - PKL 2019
Raider Raid SR     Raider Raid SR
Pawan Sehrawat 68     Ajay Thakur 35
Naveen Kumar 61     Rohit Kumar 36
Siddharth Desai 57     Manjeet 39
Maninder Singh 55     Rohit Gulia 40
Pardeep Narwal 53     Rahul Chaudhari 41
 
The general theory is that experienced raiders come on top in high pressure situations. However, the experienced Ajay Thakur has the highest failed D-o-D raid this season. On the other hand, the young and inexperienced Naveen Kumar has the least failed D-o-D raid percentage.

Least Failed D-o-D Raid % - PKL 2019     Highest Failed D-o-D Raid % - PKL 2019
Raider Failed Raid %     Raider Failed Raid %
Naveen Kumar 30%     Ajay Thakur 71%
Abhishek Singh 39%     Rohit Gulia 71%
Manjeet 40%     Rohit Kumar 68%
 
Naveen Kumar: Chance to equal Pawan Sehrawat’s feat

Naveen Kumar is a SUPER 10 away from equaling Pawan Sehrawat’s feat of achieving most SUPER 10s in a season. If he manages to achieve this, he still has only Pardeep Narwal to conquer and win the race.
 
Most SUPER 10s in a season - PKL
Raider Season Super 10s
Pardeep Narwal PKL 5 19
Pardeep Narwal PKL 6 15
Pawan Sehrawat PKL 6 13
Naveen Kumar  PKL 7*  12*
 

 

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Topics :Dabang DelhiTamil ThalaivasPro Kabaddi LeagueVivo Pro KabaddiPKL 2019

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