It’s the Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 Playoffs, and the schedule begins with an enterprising matchup between Odisha Juggernauts and Gujarat Giants.
The adrenaline rush is expected to be high, considering these two teams have given us moments to savour - some angst, some nail-biting, some edge-of-the-seat and some that, with a running touch, made our hearts go on a Sky Dive.
Without further ado, here is what to expect from the teams who play in the first semi-finals of Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2.
Odisha Juggernauts
The hosts. The defending champions. The Odisha Juggernauts ensured that their title defence remained on track, and the home crowd wasn’t disappointed to see their favourite stars on the mat suffer a premature exit from Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2. The Juggernauts’ league stage was quite a memorable ride, from winning two of their initial three games to going winless in their next three and ultimately establishing a four-game winning run to secure a second-place finish on the points table. This wouldn’t have been possible without the active contributions of Rohan Shingade (42 attack points, 10 Dream Runs), Deepak Sahoo (36 Wazir points) and Dilip Khandavi (13 Dream Runs) among the other players.
Gujarat Giants
On the other hand, Gujarat Giants have showcased that they can attack, defend and do an all-round exhibition of elite Kho Kho skills with precision and mastery. Being the Kings of the powerplay (highest average powerplay per match - 6.25 minutes) and the UKK’s Ministry of Defence (8 defenders have scored five-plus Dream Runs in UKK Season 2), the Giants have the license to flip the tables at times when you least expect something. So, who have been the top performers? Deepak Madhav (14 Dream Runs), Abhinandan Patil (22 Wazir points), and Ram Mohan (16 Wazir points and 8 Dream Runs) are among the rest.
Head-to-head record
Overall, the Odisha Juggernauts have a narrow advantage in the head-to-head record with three wins in five meetings in Ultimate Kho Kho against the Gujarat Giants. Regarding their matchups this season, both teams have claimed a win apiece, with the Juggernauts having the last laugh in the latest encounter.
Where and when to watch?
Watch Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2 semi-final 1 between the Odisha Juggernauts and Gujarat Giants live and exclusive on Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 4, and Sony LIV. The game will begin at 7:30 PM IST.
