Bengal Warriors Vs Bengaluru Bulls 15 January 2024

Full-Time
Bengal Warriors 35 - 29 Bengaluru Bulls

A quality game of kabaddi to commemorate the 1000th match of the PKL as the Warriors and Bulls fought tooth and nail, only for the former to pull ahead in the final quarter. Bharat took charge as the Bulls' captain, and his confidence flowed in the first ten minutes as he raced to seven points in six raids, with Maninder matching him. However, Nitin Kumar's back-to-back multi-point raids earned Bengal the all-out as they took a 7-point lead into half-time.

The Bulls came out flying in the 2nd half to enforce an all-out, with Surjeet Singh in sublime form, finishing with four tackle points for the night. However, just as the Bulls held a small 1-point lead midway through the 2nd half, the momentum shifted once more, this time courtesy of an inspired Shubham Shinde in the Bengal right corner.

Bharat's first-half bursts were nowhere to be seen as Shubham kept the Bulls' captain quiet with some outstanding tackles, finishing with 7 tackle points for the night.

In the end, it was Shubham Shinde's defending and better raiding support that won it for Bengal, with Maninder Singh also coming good at a crucial juncture.

Up next, this special day is made more special as the Jaipur Pink Panthers take on U Mumba in a rematch of the first-ever PKL contest! Click here to switch to the coverage of that exciting encounter, and until next time, this is Shreyas bidding you adieu!

2nd Half, 40'
Bengal Warriors 35 - 29 Bengaluru Bulls

Bharat pulls one back for the Bulls with a running hand touch on Jaskirat Singh, but as the whistle blows for full-time, it's the Bengal Warriors who emerge victorious in the 1000th Match of the PKL!

2nd Half, 39'
Bengal Warriors 35 - 28 Bengaluru Bulls

Aditya Shinde is adjudged to have stepped out of bounds, but the decision is quickly reversed. Bengal lead by six points and they needn't do much except kill time in their raids.

The Bulls need to infuse more urgency in the raiding department, and Vikash Khandola does just that, hurrying Shubham Shinde into a mistimed challenge.

However, the defense lets them down, as Maninder Singh bides his time before going for it in a do-or-die raid, escaping from Surjeet's ankle hold and Ran Singh's support, picking up two points, and effectively killing off this match!

Bengal want more and review for a bonus point, but luckily for the Bulls, it isn't successful, and the deficit stays at 7 points!

A timeout called, and with only a minute left to play, Bengaluru needs to ensure they take a point from this contest!

2nd Half, 37'
Bengal Warriors 33 - 27 Bengaluru Bulls

Somebody stop Shubham Shinde! The right corner has been on fire in this 2nd half, and Bharat is completely blindsided by his back hold as he pick up his 7th tackle point of the night, taking him to the top of the defenders' standings.

A timeout is called by the Bulls.

2nd Half, 36'
Bengal Warriors 32 - 27 Bengaluru Bulls

Jee, Shubham Shinde is such a good defender! He makes it look so easy, picking up his 6th tackle point of the night with a precise ankle hold on Neeraj Narwal. Maninder then follows up with a touch point, escaping from Surjeet Singh's attempted tackle.

Suddenly, the Bulls are down to two, and Jaskirat Singh comes in with a solid block to stop him right in his tracks, with Maninder completing the fomalities for the all-out. The Warriors lead by five points with a little under four minutes to play

2nd Half, 34'
Bengal Warriors 26 - 26 Bengaluru Bulls

It's the defenses who're talking now, and it's Parteek who strikes first with a well-timed thigh hold to bring Vishwas S down before Shubham Shinde comes around to execute a solid block on Bharat. He's had the measure of the Bulls' captain throughout this match and gets to his High 5.

At the other end, Maninder forces an error as Ran Singh loses his balance and swings out of bounds, and the scores are level once again.

2nd Half, 32'
Bengal Warriors 24 - 25 Bengaluru Bulls

4th tackle point for Surjeet Singh, and he's really been delivering the goods for the Bulls in recent matches. Nitin Kumar had no chance as he comes in with a well-timed dash.

At the other end, Vikash Khandola is brought down by Shubham Shinde's 4th successful tackle in this match in the Bulls' do-or-die raid.

The Bulls are awarded a bonus point, but Bengal review against the decision, and it is successful!

2nd Half, 30'
Bengal Warriors 23 - 24 Bengaluru Bulls

A couple of empty raids as we reach the halfway point of the 2nd half as the timeout is called. Only one point separates the two teams, and with ten minutes to play, it's anyone's game. 

2nd Half, 29'
Bengal Warriors 23 - 24 Bengaluru Bulls

Finally, something to cheer for for the Warriors in this half. Nitin Kumar with a bonus+point raid to escape from Ran Singh's challenge before Bharat is brought down by Shubham Shinde's solid ankle hold.

2nd Half, 27'
Bengal Warriors 20 - 21 Bengaluru Bulls

With only three men on the mat for Bengal, the Bulls play it smart by waiting for the Warriors' do-or-die raid, and when that comes, Vishwas S is tackled well, with Surjeet Singh initiating the tackle.

Vikash Khandola takes out one of the two remaining Warriors' and it doesn't take long for the all-out, and 7 minutes into the second half, it's the Bulls who lead! 

Their substitutions have really worked wonders here.

2nd Half, 24'
Bengal Warriors 19 - 16 Bengaluru Bulls

The points keep coming for the Bulls in this 2nd half, and this time it's Saurabh Nandal who delivers, putting in a chain tackle along with Monu to trap Nitin Kumar. Vikash Khandola then does well in a do-or-die raid, forcing the error from Vaibhav Garje who steps past the end-line.

The Warriors are yet to score a point in this half, their lead is down to three, and they have only three men on the mat. 

FYI, Vikash Khandola also comes on for the Bulls, replacing Sushil.

2nd Half, 22'
Bengal Warriors 19 - 14 Bengaluru Bulls

Bharat is strongest in the 2nd half and he follows up Shrikant Jadhav's empty raid with a clever one of his own, inducing the ankle hold from Shubham Shinde, and escaping with ease.

At the other end, Surjeet Singh's attempted dash was a weak one, but Parteek's support was crucial as he comes in with a solid back hold, to stop Maninder from getting to the mid-line. Good start to the half from the Bulls.

Shrikant Jadhav is substituted on for Vishwas S for the Warriors, and he'll love getting some time on the mat in the 1000th match of the PKL. He puts in the first raid of the 2nd half.

Half-Time
Bengal Warriors 19 - 12 Bengaluru Bulls

The first ten minutes of the match was basically Maninder Singh vs Bharat, as both raiders appeared to be in great form. However, post the timeout, Nitin Kumar also joined the party for the Warriors, and that tipped the scales in their favor, with the defense also benefitting from the momentum, with Shubham Shinde and Jaskirat Singh looking really sharp.

For the Bulls, Bharat has looked really good, and so has Ran Singh in that left corner. However, a bonus point from Neeraj Narwal is the only raid point scored by someone other than Bharat, and the likes of Sushil and Monu need to step up and support Bharat if they stand any chance of making a comeback.

The second half coming right up!

1st Half, 20'
Bengal Warriors 19 - 12 Bengaluru Bulls

The Warriors end the half with a pretty easy point, with Neeraj Narwal losing his footing and stepping into the lobby in his do-or-die raid. Maninder is content to put in an empty raid in the final raid of the half as Bengal take a 7-point lead into half-time.

Can the Bulls mount a comeback? They've certainly done so before! The second half is not long away. Don't go anywhere!

1st Half, 19'
Bengal Warriors 18 - 12 Bengaluru Bulls

Jaskirat Singh scores his 2nd tackle point of the match with a well-timed challenge on Sushil. Suddenly, the Bulls can't buy a point and the Warriors are well on top. 

Finally, the Bulls get a point, and it's Saurabh Nandal who delivers with a diving ankle hold in a do-or-die raid to bring Nitin Kumar down. He's been very quiet, the Bulls' right corner, and this should give him some confidence.

1st Half, 17'
Bengal Warriors 17 - 11 Bengaluru Bulls

Well, that all-out came quickly, and Nitin Kumar was the catalyst. His 2-point raid reduced Bengal to two men on the mat, and he proceeded to take out the other two defenders as well, with Saurabh Nandal getting self-out and Neeraj Narwal pretty much forced into a surrender raid.

Bharat is then tackled once again, this time by Shubham Shinde after which Maninder picks up a useful bonus point. It's been all Bengal in the last few minutes.

1st Half, 15'
Bengal Warriors 11 - 10 Bengaluru Bulls

Jaskirat Singh in the left cover comes in with an outstanding double thigh hold that leaves Bharat immobilized. Nitin Kumar then does well to extend that momentum with a great escape, picking up two raid points.

He slipped away from Ran Singh's attempted back hold, with Monu's support coming in too late.

1st Half, 13'
Bengal Warriors 8 - 10 Bengaluru Bulls

Monu and Sushil haven't picked up a single point in this match, and the empty raids force a do-or-die raid, with the Bulls getting theirs first. Shubham Shinde's ankle hold wasn't the strongest, but the support came in quickly from Jaskirat Singh, and the tackle is completed. 

With the Bulls down to 4, Ran Singh comes in clutch to send Vishwas S back to the bench with another well-timed diving hold.

1st Half, 10'
Bengal Warriors 7 - 9 Bengaluru Bulls

The Bharat show continues, as he races across the court from left to right to tag Shubham Shinde in the right corner, but Maninder hits back immediately with an easy point on Surjeet Singh. Bharat picks up his 7th raid point in six raids, with a swift toe touch on Vaibhav Garje.

However, right before the timeout, Bharat errs for the first time in the match, albeit in defense, as his attempted ankle hold from the left-in position doesn't work as Maninder escapes to the mid-line with ease, also getting a touch on Surjeet in the process.

It's been a good contest so far, with both sides' lead raiders delivering the goods. Will Maninder's 2-point raid swing the momentum in the Warriors' favor or will the Bulls hold on to their lead?

1st Half, 8'
Bengal Warriors 4 - 6 Bengaluru Bulls

Both teams play on the do-or-die raid, and Sushil can't do much in a 1v5 situation as Aditya Shinde comes around with a stellar block. At the other end, Vishwas S steps up to the occasion and invites the advance tackle from Surjeet, and powers his way through the mid-line. 

Just when the momentum was going away from them, Ran Singh delivers with a well-timed diving ankle hold to bring Nitin Kumar down.

1st Half, 6'
Bengal Warriors 2 - 5 Bengaluru Bulls

First tackle point of the match, and who else but Surjeet Singh? He brings down Maninder Singh with a well-timed block, and it's the Bulls who have taken the early lead.

1st Half, 4'
Bengal Warriors 2 - 4 Bengaluru Bulls

Maninder Singh looks like he's eyeing another monster haul today, and he's too quick for the retreating Surjeet Singh in the right cover. Bharat picks up another bonus point, and so far, it's been Maninder vs Bharat as they're the only point-scorers thus far.

That trend continues as Bharat is looking in imperious form here. This time he surprises the Bengal left cover with his pace, picking up his 4th point of the night.

1st Half, 2'
Bengal Warriors 1 - 2 Bengaluru Bulls

Bharat starts well by picking up a bonus point, but Maninder hits right back with a very easy touch point, escaping from Ran Singh's attempted ankle hold.

Bharat certainly appears to have benefitted from the break, and looks really fluid with his movement across the court, picking up a running hand touch on Nitin Kumar with ease. Brisk start this.

We're all set to start the 1000th game of PKL, and it's Bharat Hooda who'll start us off.

Maninder Singh wins the toss of the 1000th match in PKL history. He was the highest point-scorer in the 1st match of the PKL almost ten years ago, as he scored 17 points against U Mumba. He now finds himself captaining a team in the 1000th match of the league. That is some achievement, and he's already a bonafide PKL legend.

Hard to call who'll win this historic PKL match? Worry not as we have you covered with our detailed Match Prediction:

Here are three individual player battles that could shape the outcome of the match all on their own:

Get some all-important insight and strategy on how to build your Dream11 teams for this contest from Sportskeeda's Dream11 prediction for the same:

Team News

Here are the starting lineups of both teams:

Bengal Warriors: Maninder Singh (C), Shubham Shinde, Vaibhav Garje, Jaskirat Singh, Nitin Kumar, Vishwas S, and Aditya Shinde.

Bengaluru Bulls: Bharat (C), Saurabh Nandal, Ran Singh, Surjeet Singh, Parteek, Sushil, and Monu.

Plenty to unpack in the lineups of both teams, but what stands out most is the (C) sign next to Bharat Hooda's name, who appears to have taken over as the captain from Saurabh Nandal. They've also benched Vikash Khandola for Sushil, with Sachin Narwal not in the matchday squad, with his spot being taken by Monu.

The Warriors also make one change to their starting 7, with Vishwas S coming in for Shrikant Jadhav, who drops to the bench.

Hello, good evening, and welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of the 10th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League. Today, we have for you a special game in the history of the league. When the Bengal Warriors and the Bulls take to the mat, it will mark the beginning of the 1000th match of the PKL, which is a gargantuan achievement that everyone involved in the league from right back to 2014, should be very proud of.

Coming to the match itself, it's between two teams in the bottom half of the table looking to move up after picking up some form.

The Bengal Warriors are on two successive wins, the first a convincing one against the Telugu Titans, followed by a tighter triumph against the UP Yoddhas. The biggest positive for them heading into this match must be the performance of Nitin Kumar, who has really reveled this season, scoring 86 raid points already. They'll want to move into 6th place with a win here.

The Bulls rested Bharat and pulled off an absolute heist of a win against the Patna Pirates in their last outing. With a deficit of around 10 points and not long left to play in the second half, a defensive masterclass from Surjeet Singh, aided well by Sachin Narwal and Sushil, helped the Bulls register a 2-point win and bring them back into the competition.

The 1000th match of PKL is a must-win contest for both teams, and there's every chance it goes down to the wire. More updates to follow!