The previous season’s runners-up Patna Pirates will take on UP Yoddhas in the seventh match of the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League season 12 at the Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag on Monday. 

UP Yoddhas had kicked off their PKL campaign with a 40-35 win against Telugu Titans after Gagan Gowda had top-scored with 14 points. But there is no doubt that they are going to have their work cut against the three-time champions.

Meanwhile, the Pirates decided to retain defenders Hamid Mirzaei Nader, Thiyagarajan Yuvaraj, Navdeep, raiders Sudhakar M, Ayan, Deepak and Sahil Patil for PKL Season 12. Furthermore, they bought right cover Deepak Singh (INR 86 lacs), top raider Maninder Singh (INR 20 lacs) and Iranian defender Amin Ghorbani (INR 13 lacs).

On the other hand, Yoddhas had retained raiders Bhavani Rajput, Surender Gill, Gagana Gowda HR, Shivam Chaudhary, defenders Sahul Kumar, Ashu Singh, Hitesh, Jayesh Vikas Mahajan, Gangaram and Sachin ahead of the ongoing season. They were able to rope in raider Guman Singh for INR 1.073 crore at the auction. Moreover, they added Mohammadreza Kaboudrahangi (INR 20 lacs), Korean raider Dong Geon Lee (INR 13.50 lacs) to their squad.

UP Yoddhas full squad

Raiders: Bhavani Rajput, Surender Gill, Keshav Kumar, Gagana Gowda HR (right raider), Shivam Chaudhary (left raider), Jatin (right raider), Pranay Vinay Rane, Dong Geon Lee (F), Guman Singh

Defenders: Ashu Singh (right cover), Jayesh Vikas Mahajan (left corner), Gangaram (left cover), Sachin (right cover), Sahul Kumar (right corner), Sumit (left corner), Hitesh (right corner), Ronak (left cover), Mahender Singh (left cover), Mohammadreza Kaboudrahangi (F) (left corner)

Patna Pirates full squad

Raiders: Ayan, Deepak, Sahil Patil, Sudhakar M, Milan, Ankit, Mandeep, Maninder Singh

Defenders: Hamid Mirzaei Nader (F), Navdeep, Thiyagarajan Yuvaraj, Saurabh, Prianshu, Sombir, Balasaheb Shahaji Jadhav (right cover), Amin Ghorbani (F) (right corner), Sanket Sawant (left cover), Deepak Rajender Singh (right cover)

All-rounders: Ankit