Gujarat Giants aim to kick off the New Year with a bang | GUJARAT GIANTS VS HARYANA STEELERS

Gujarat Giants will square off against Haryana Steelers in their first match of 2022, following a thrilling 32-32 tie against the Yoddhas in their final encounter of 2021. The Giants will be keen to give their fans the gift of a win and all 5 points to kick off the new year.

The Gujarat franchise started off the season in spectacular fashion with a 7-point win over Season 1 champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers. Defending champions, Bengal Warriors, managed to knick a 31-28 win against the Giants, while Naveen Kumar’s brilliance in the last raid of the match meant that Gujarat had to settle for a 24-24 draw against Dabang Delhi.

The Giants took on Pardeep Narwal & Co. in their last match of 2021, and the Gujarat franchise got off to a flying start. With a lead of 20-14 at the half-time whistle, the Giants looked set to seal all 5 points. However, it was not to be, as UP Yoddha came back roaring in the second half to secure a 32-32 draw against the Giants.

However, there were plenty of positives for the Gujarat franchise in their last match. Rakesh Narwal was the best raider of the game, with 13 points under his belt. Ajay Kumar, too, impressed in his debut appearance in Season 8, with 4 points to his name.

Rakesh has undoubtedly been Gujarat Giants’ find of Season 8 of VIVO Pro Kabaddi. Following his debut against Jaipur Pink Panthers in the opening encounter, the young raider has accumulated 17 points in 4 matches. Rakesh Narwal has been leading the line in the raiding department for the Giants, racking up 41 points in the process.

On the other hand, Haryana Steelers started off the season with two consecutive losses. However, they managed to salvage 2 points in their defeat against Patna Pirates and Jaipur Pink Panthers. They followed it up with a thrilling 39-37 win over Telugu Titans, before encountering a Pawan Sehrawat masterclass in their last encounter. They were at the receiving end of a 42-28 thumping by Bengaluru Bulls.

It will be exciting to watch Rohit Gulia come up against his former side. At the same time, Vikash Khandola and Jaideep Kuldeep have also been Haryana’s danger men this season.

Players to Watch Out for:

Rakesh Narwal

Rakesh

Girish Ernak

Parvesh Bhainswal

Rohit Gulia

Vikash Kandola

Jaideep Kuldeep

Head-to-Head:

The two sides have faced off on 8 occasions, with Haryana Steelers enjoying the advantage over the Giants.