Kerala set to co-host Pro Kabaddi play-offs

After the league phase and wildcard rounds, the Vivo Pro Kabaddi League caravan has now reached Kochi for the play-off matches which begin at the Rajiv Gandhi indoor stadium in Kadavanthra on Sunday.

The play-offs are a two-day affair featuring the top three teams from the league’s two groups. Group toppers – Gujarat Fortunegiants (Zone A) and Bengaluru Bulls (Zone B) – play the qualifier-1 on Monday night, virtually a semifinal. The other four teams will play the elimination rounds for a lone berth in qualifier-2.

The qualifier-2 and the final, which will feature the winners of the two qualifiers, will be played in Mumbai.

On Sunday, season two champion U Mumba will take on UP Yoddha in eliminator-1 while Dabang Delhi will clash with Bengal Warriors in eliminator-2. The winners of these two matches will play the eliminator-3 on Monday and the winner of that match will progress to the qualifier-2.

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That sounds a tad complicated but the league has richly rewarded the toppers of the two zones. The loser of qualifier-1 will get a second chance to enter the final when it plays the qualifier-2.

“The team has worked very hard to reach the play-offs and we want to continue this hard work,” said Rohit Kumar, the Bengaluru Bulls captain, ahead of the play-offs.

“Gujarat Fortunegiants is a young team and cannot be underestimated, it has a great coach and seems like a team on a mission. We have our plans in place and will play with an aim to defeat and come out victorious.”

The first match begins at 8 pm and the second at 9 pm on both days.