Season 8 of VIVO Pro Kabaddi kicks off today, as the opening day will feature three back-to-back matches. Last year’s finalists, Bengaluru Bulls will take on U Mumba in the first match of the season, as Gujarat Giants make their first appearance a day later on the 23rd of December. 

Gujarat Giants is a relative newcomer in the world of VIVO Pro Kabaddi League, having participated in their first season in the 2017 edition. However, the Giants have quickly emerged as a force to be reckoned with, having reached the finals on consecutive occasions in their first two seasons. They came ever-so-close in the 2018-19 season, losing out to Bengaluru Bulls by a slender 5-point margin. 

However, Season 7 resulted in a disappointing campaign for the franchise. The Giants will be looking to put that behind as they look to kickstart their campaign on a bright note. It won’t be an easy task to accomplish, as they will take on the inaugural PKL champions - Jaipur Pink Panthers. Much like the Giants, Jaipur Pink Panthers endured a challenging outing in Season 7 and will be looking to set things right in their first match of the season. 

The 2021 VIVO Pro Kabaddi Auctions led to a massive overhaul of all the 12 teams involved, as several top stars moved to new franchises. Gujarat Giants retained their iconic defensive duo of Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal, while Jaipur Pink Panthers opted for a total of seven retentions, including Amit Hooda and Vishal Lather. 

The Giants have some of the best defenders in their ranks, having added the likes of Girish Ernak and Ravinder Pahal. The player to watch out for in the Jaipur Pink Panthers camp is their ever-reliable skipper, Deepak Niwas Hooda. The star all-rounder will have his work cut out against the experienced Gujarat line-up. 

Head-to-Head:

Gujarat Giants and Jaipur Pink Panthers have faced each other on 8 occasions, with the former having the upper hand. However, the franchisee from Gujarat has suffered a defeat and a tie in their last two match-ups. 

Can Gujarat Giants register their 6th win against Jaipur Pink Panthers in their first match of VIVO Pro Kabaddi Season 8?