Two teams desperate for playoff momentum clash in Match 96 of PKL 12 as bottom-placed Bengal Warriorz host resurgent Jaipur Pink Panthers. The league's best raider, Devank's record-breaking brilliance, faces the dual threat of Nitin Kumar's return from injury and Ali Samadi's exceptional form, whilst Bengal's struggling defence meets Jaipur's vulnerable backline in a match both teams must win.

Probable Starting 7

Bengal Warriorz

  • Right Corner – Ankit
  • Right In – Devank (C)
  • Right Cover – Shivansh Thakur
  • Centre – Himanshu Narwal
  • Left Cover – Parteek
  • Left In – Manjeet
  • Left Corner – Ashish

Jaipur Pink Panthers

  • Right Corner – Deepanshu Khatri
  • Right In – Ali Samadi
  • Right Cover – Aashish
  • Centre – Nitin Kumar
  • Left Cover – Reza Mirbagheri
  • Left In – Parwinder
  • Left Corner – Aryan Kumar

Headlines

➢ Dhaakad Devank faces the raiding duo of Nitin Kumar and Ali Samadi

➢ Nitin is back from injury, and Jaipur put a stop to their losing streak

➢ Ali Samadi continues his good form

➢ Himanshu Narwal is providing support in raiding for Devank

➢ Ashish is fighting alone in defence for Warriorz

➢ Jaipur defence continues to struggle, especially in 6-7 DIP

➢ Jaipur need a winning momentum to keep their playoff dreams alive

Top Stories of the Match

Dhaakad Devank vs the Raiding Duo of Nitin and Ali Samadi

Devank has been nothing short of sensational this season, establishing himself as PKL 12's undisputed best raider by a considerable margin. His 262 raid points in 15 matches represent dominance rarely seen in the league's history.

Best Average Raid Points in PKL 12:

  • Devank: 262 raid points (17.5 average, 75% SR)
  • Ayan: 196 raid points (13.1 average, 71% SR)
  • Ashu Malik: 146 raid points (12.2 average, 62% SR)

The Iranian sensation has achieved an unprecedented feat – recording 15 consecutive Super 10s in all 15 matches played this season, becoming the only player in PKL 12 not to have a match without a Super 10.

His historic achievements continue to rewrite the record books. He reached 200 raid points in just 12 matches – the fastest in PKL history – and broke another milestone by becoming the fastest raider to reach 500 career raid points. He's now on course to become the fastest to 600 raid points.

Devank's bonus point mastery remains unmatched, as he leads the league with the most bonus points this season, showcasing his tactical intelligence and line awareness.

His consistency across all time intervals is remarkable, maintaining 70%+ success rate throughout:

Devank Raiding Interval-wise in PKL 12:

  • 1-10 minutes: 67 raid points (71% SR)
  • 11-20 minutes: 62 raid points (78% SR)
  • 21-30 minutes: 65 raid points (73% SR)
  • 31-40 minutes: 68 raid points (77% SR)

His 77% success rate in the final 10 minutes demonstrates extraordinary clutch ability, delivering over 60 points when matches hang in the balance.

Against the Jaipur Pink Panthers, Devank has maintained excellent form with a 65% success rate:

Devank vs Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL:

  • 3 matches: 41 raid points (13.7 average, 65% SR, 3 Super 10s)

In their earlier PKL 12 encounter, Devank produced another masterclass:

Devank vs Jaipur Pink Panthers M#39:

  • 24 raids: 16 raid points (67% SR) – Super 10

However, he faces a formidable challenge in Nitin Kumar, who has returned from injury to lead Jaipur's resurgence. The Panthers' talisman was having his best PKL season before injury struck, and his immediate impact upon return – a Super 10 in victory over UP Yoddhas – showcased his importance.

Nitin Kumar in PKL | By Season:

Season

Raid Points

Avg Raid Points

Raid SR%

Super 10s

PKL 12

120

10.0

58%

8

PKL 10

169

8.5

55%

8

PKL 11

118

8.4

46%

6

His versatility across all DIP situations makes him difficult to contain:

Nitin Kumar in PKL 12 | DIP-wise:

  • 6-7 defenders: 73 raid points (63% SR)
  • 4-5 defenders: 24 raid points (45% SR)
  • 2-3 defenders: 21 raid points (58% SR)

During Nitin's injury absence, Ali Samadi stepped up admirably, averaging 6.9 raid points per match at an impressive 63% success rate with four Super 10s.

Ali Samadi in PKL 12:

  • 15 matches: 104 raid points (6.9 average, 63% SR, 4 Super 10s)

His situational mastery is exceptional, particularly in super tackle scenarios where he boasts an 87% success rate:

Ali Samadi Raiding DIP-wise in PKL 12:

  • 6-7 defenders: 66 raid points (67% SR)
  • 4-5 defenders: 24 raid points (46% SR)
  • 2-3 defenders: 14 raid points (87% SR)

His recent form has been outstanding, recording back-to-back Super 10s:

Ali Samadi vs Puneri Paltan in M#86:

  • 20 raids: 14 raid points (70% SR) – Super 10

Ali Samadi vs UP Yoddhas in M#93:

  • 16 raids: 12 raid points (75% SR) – Super 10

With Nitin's return, Ali can operate with greater freedom, creating a potent dual threat that Bengal's struggling defence must contain.

Team Stories

Bengal Warriorz – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#91 vs Patna Pirates – Lost 49–51 (2-point defeat)
  • M#85 vs Telugu Titans – Won 45(7)–45(5) (tie-breaker victory)
  • M#80 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 32–43 (11-point defeat)
  • M#76 vs U Mumba – Lost 29–48 (19-point thrashing)
  • M#73 vs Dabang Delhi – Won 36–37 (1-point victory)

Bengal Warriorz find themselves in 12th position despite possessing the league's best raider, highlighting the team's fundamental imbalance. Their narrow 2-point defeat to Patna Pirates extended their struggles, with defensive frailties proving decisive.

Devank's individual brilliance has been extraordinary, but the lack of consistent support from secondary raiders and a struggling defensive unit has undermined their campaign. Only five wins from 15 matches tell the story of missed opportunities.

Himanshu Narwal Providing Excellent Support, as Ashish Contributes in Defence

Bengal Warriorz' support raiders have begun showing signs of life, providing crucial assistance to Devank's one-man show:

Bengal Warriorz Support Raiders | PKL 12:

Player

Matches

Raid Points

Avg Raid Points

Raid SR%

Himanshu Narwal

8

40

5.0

56%

Manprit

14

47

3.4

53%

Himanshu Narwal delivered an excellent performance against Patna Pirates:

Himanshu Narwal vs Patna Pirates M#91:

  • 8 raids: 7 raid points (88% SR)

His consistency across all DIP situations demonstrates tactical maturity:

Himanshu Narwal in PKL 12:

  • 6-7 defenders: 27 raid points (61% SR)
  • 4-5 defenders: 7 raid points (41% SR)
  • 2-3 defenders: 6 raid points (60% SR)

Crucially, he performs in the clutch, recording 72% success rate in the final 10 minutes:

Himanshu Narwal in 31-40 Minutes in PKL 12:

  • 18 raids: 13 raid points (72% SR)

However, defence remains Bengal's Achilles heel, ranking amongst the league's worst:

Bengal Warriorz Defence in PKL 12:

  • 15 matches: 138 tackle points (9.2 average, 32% SR)

They possess the lowest tackle success rate in PKL 12:

Lowest Tackle SR% in PKL 12:

  • Bengal Warriorz: 32% SR (9.2 average tackle points)
  • Patna Pirates: 33% SR (8.2 average tackle points)
  • UP Yoddhas: 37% SR (9.1 average tackle points)

The defensive correlation with results is stark:

Bengal Warriorz Defence – Wins vs Losses | PKL 12:

  • In wins (5 matches): 13.0 average tackle points at 43% SR
  • In losses (10 matches): 7.3 average tackle points at 26% SR

Ashish has been their lone consistent defensive performer, averaging over 3 tackle points per match with six High 5s:

Ashish in PKL 12:

  • 14 matches: 45 tackle points (3.2 average, 47% SR, 6 High 5s)

He maintained his form against Patna Pirates with 3 tackle points, but requires greater support from his defensive partners to truly impact results.

Jaipur Pink Panthers – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#93 vs UP Yoddhas – Won 42–29 (13-point victory)
  • M#86 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 33–57 (24-point demolition)
  • M#77 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 26–47 (21-point thrashing)
  • M#67 vs Dabang Delhi – Lost 26–29 (3-point defeat)
  • M#63 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 36–41 (5-point defeat)

Jaipur Pink Panthers endured a nightmarish four-match losing streak at the tournament's crucial phase, primarily due to Nitin Kumar's injury absence. His return sparked an immediate revival, with a comprehensive 13-point victory over UP Yoddhas ending their misery.

Ali Samadi shouldered the raiding responsibilities admirably during Nitin's absence, but the defensive unit's continued struggles – particularly against full defensive lines – remain a fundamental concern requiring urgent attention.

Jaipur Defence Continues to Struggle with 6-7 Defenders on the Mat

Jaipur Pink Panthers' defensive vulnerability against full defensive lines has been their defining weakness this season, repeatedly costing them matches.

Jaipur Pink Panthers Defence vs UP Yoddhas M#93:

DIP

Tackles

Tackle Points

Tackle SR%

6-7

22

4

18%

4-5

6

6

100%

2-3

0

0

0%

They possess the league's worst record in 6-7 DIP situations:

Lowest Tackle SR% in 6-7 DIP in PKL 12:

  • Jaipur Pink Panthers: 56 tackle points (28% SR)
  • Bengal Warriorz: 79 tackle points (29% SR)
  • Patna Pirates: 62 tackle points (29% SR)

Despite the defensive struggles, they finally breached 10 tackle points in their last match, securing victory:

Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL 12 | Last 3 Matches:

  • M#93 vs UP Yoddhas: 10 tackle points (36% SR) – Won
  • M#86 vs Puneri Paltan: 9 tackle points (32% SR) – Lost
  • M#77 vs Bengaluru Bulls: 7 tackle points (28% SR) – Lost

Right cover Aashish Kumar has particularly struggled in 6-7 DIP situations, managing just six tackles without a single tackle point in the last match:

Aashish Kumar in 6-7 DIP in PKL 12:

  • 55 tackles: 8 tackle points (15% SR)

Aryan Kumar (35 tackle points, 2.5 average, 46% SR) and Reza Mirbagheri (29 tackle points, 1.9 average, 45% SR) have performed adequately, both recording 3 tackle points in the victory over UP Yoddhas.

Jaipur Pink Panthers Defenders in PKL 12:

  • Aryan Kumar: 35 tackle points (2.5 average, 46% SR)
  • Reza Mirbagheri: 29 tackle points (1.9 average, 45% SR)
  • Deepanshu Khatri: 27 tackle points (1.9 average, 37% SR)

Reza's excellence in 4-5 DIP situations provides a silver lining:

Reza Mirbagheri in 4-5 DIP in PKL 12:

  • 21 tackles: 15 tackle points (71% SR)

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 21 | Bengal Warriorz – 10 | Jaipur Pink Panthers – 10 | Tied – 1

The historical rivalry is perfectly balanced, though recent encounters heavily favour Jaipur. Since PKL 9, Bengal Warriorz haven't won a single match against the Panthers, including both PKL 11 encounters.

Jaipur won their earlier PKL 12 meeting 45–41, establishing a psychological advantage heading into this crucial encounter.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 12 M#39: Jaipur Pink Panthers won 45–41
  • PKL 11 M#123: Jaipur Pink Panthers won 31–28
  • PKL 11 M#5: Jaipur Pink Panthers won 39–34
  • PKL 10 M#84: Jaipur Pink Panthers won 42–25 (17-point rout)
  • PKL 10 M#10: Match tied 28–28

Key Player Battles

Bengal Warriorz' Raiders vs Jaipur Pink Panthers' Defenders:

  • Devank 4–1 Reza Mirbagheri
  • Devank 3–2 Aashish Kumar
  • Devank 4–1 Deepanshu Khatri
  • Himanshu Narwal 2–1 Reza Mirbagheri

Jaipur Pink Panthers' Raiders vs Bengal Warriorz' Defenders:

  • Ali Samadi 5–0 Parteek
  • Ali Samadi 3–0 Nitesh Kumar
  • Ali Samadi 0–2 Ashish
  • Nitin Kumar 3–4 Nitesh Kumar

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a high-scoring affair between two defensively vulnerable sides desperately needing victory to revive their playoff hopes. Bengal Warriorz' complete reliance on Devank meets Jaipur's renewed dual raiding threat in a match where offensive firepower should dominate.

The key battles – Devank versus Jaipur's struggling 6-7 DIP defence and the Nitin-Ali partnership against Bengal's porous backline – will likely determine the outcome, with both teams' defensive frailties suggesting entertainment is guaranteed.

Expect an open, attacking contest where the team executing marginally better defensively will emerge victorious. Jaipur's recent winning momentum and historical dominance provide a psychological advantage, but Devank's individual brilliance remains capable of single-handedly deciding matches.

Match Details:

  • Match: Bengal Warriorz vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Match 96, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Saturday, 18th October 2025
  • Time: 9:30 PM IST
  • Venue: Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi
  • LIVE Streaming: Watch LIVE on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar. For LIVE scores and updates, visit prokabaddi.com or download the Pro Kabaddi Official App.

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