'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAGAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFQABAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAb/2gAIAQEAAAAALR//xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAE/9oACAECEAAAAEf/xAAUAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAC/9oACAEDEAAAAH//xAAiEAABAwMDBQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMEAAUiBxESCBMkQ5L/2gAIAQEAAT8AlafhBNmKswHmmrgUVTVokI0jIB7lntl3V+ab6drTdgG5Bc344zPIRkPXzy41/8QAFxEAAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAECIf/aAAgBAgEBPwCW72j/xAAbEQABBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAAIDBBEj8f/aAAgBAwEBPwCy0RHWMcX/2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The league phase of the 2019 edition of Pro Kabaddi League will culminate on Friday as the Greater Noida leg will end with an encounter between U.P. Yoddha and Bengaluru Bulls. The organizers had changed the format of the tournament this year as a result of which all the teams became a part of a solitary group and six of the best teams made it to the next round.
While it has always been witnessed in PKL that the final team for the playoffs is decided only on the last two days, this year five teams had already sealed their spot before the commencement of the Greater Noida leg. The final team of the playoffs was decided on the first night of U.P. Yoddha's home leg.
It is surprising to note that the three-time champions, Patna Pirates have failed to qualify for the second consecutive season whereas two-time runners-up Gujarat Fortune Giants will not feature in the finals for the time since their debut.
On that note, let us have a look at the list of teams who have qualified for the playoffs of Pro Kabaddi 2019 -
(The teams have been ranked on the basis of the date they earned themselves a spot in the next round.)
#6 U.P. Yoddha
The Lucknow-based franchise, U.P. Yoddha will play in the playoffs of Pro Kabaddi League for the third consecutive time. They had qualified from Zone B in Season 5 and Season 6 but this year, they proved their mettle with their fine show against all the other teams of the tournament.
Though they did not have the best of starts, U.P. Yoddha managed to come back like champions as always. Nitesh Kumar, Rishank Devadiga, Sumit and Shrikant Jadhav have been the stars of their campaign this year.
#5 Bengaluru Bulls
Though the Bengaluru Bulls changed the leader of their side midway through the season, the defending champions have continued their dominance from Season 6. Pawan Sehrawat has been instrumental in the team's success. He does not have the back of Rohit Kumar any longer but the young lad has lived up to the expectations even in Kumar's absence.
It will be intriguing to see whether the Bulls are able to retain their championship when the tournament progresses into its most crucial stage.
#4 U Mumba
When the seventh season of Pro Kabaddi League began, no one expected U Mumba to play the way they have in this tournament. They did not have a single big name in the raiding department, yet Fazel Atrachali has been able to drive his team into the playoffs.
Rohit Baliyan, Abhishek Singh and Arjun Deshwal have kept troubling the opposition defenders while Sandeep Narwal and Surinder Singh have supported their captain to perfection. U Mumba have not been to the final since Season 3 thus, it will be interesting to see whether the Season 2 champions make it to the summit clash or not.
#3 Haryana Steelers
Haryana Steelers will make their second appearance in the playoffs thanks to Vikash Kandola and Rakesh Kumar's brilliance. The vice-captain of the team has led from the front and Kumar has been extremely successful in his maiden outing as the coach of Haryana.
The team management also needs to be commended for building a strong unit in the auction and since Dharmaraj Cheralathan has won the PKL title in the past, the Sonipat-based franchise will be among the favourites to lift the trophy in Ahmedabad.
#2 Bengal Warriors
Maninder Singh's side, Bengal Warriors have defied expectations in the seventh edition of Pro Kabaddi League by finishing in the top 2 of the points table. Mohammad Nabibakhsh, K. Prapanjan and Singh formed a terrific trio in the raiding unit while in the team's defence, the corner combination of Rinku Narwal and Baldev Singh did the trick for the Kolkata-based team.
Coach BC Ramesh will only hope that his cover defenders do not commit silly errors in the playoffs as they are just two victories away from the championship.
#1 Dabang Delhi K.C.
Joginder Narwal has marshalled his troops very well in PKL 2019 as Dabang Delhi K.C. had emerged as the first team to lock their place in the playoffs. Naveen Kumar and Chandran Ranjit have shouldered the responsibility of the raiding attack. They have got the back of Vishal Mane, Ravinder Pahal and the skipper himself in the defensive unit.
Also, all-rounders Vijay and Meraj Sheykh have played their roles well. If Naveen Kumar continues his magnificent form in the playoffs, no one can stop Delhi from winning the trophy at the EKA Arena.
