Two teams riding the wave of recent victories collide in Match 49 of PKL 12 as Bengaluru Bulls host UP Yoddhas. The Bulls have transformed their season from a disastrous start to become genuine contenders, whilst the Yoddhas desperately need to string together consecutive wins to stay in playoff contention. The battle between Gagan Gowda's individual brilliance and the Bulls' collective defensive strength promises to be the defining narrative.

Probable Starting 7

Bengaluru Bulls

  • Right Corner – Yogesh (C)
  • Right In – Aashish Malik
  • Right Cover – Sanjay
  • Centre – Akash Shinde
  • Left Cover – Satyappa Matti
  • Left In – Alireza Mirzaian
  • Left Corner – Deepak Sankar

UP Yoddhas

  • Right Corner – Hitesh
  • Right In – Bhavani Rajput
  • Right Cover – Ashu Singh
  • Centre – Shivam Chaudhary
  • Left Cover – Mahender Singh
  • Left In – Gagan Gowda
  • Left Corner – Sumit (C)

Headlines

➢ Gagan Gowda leads the league with 74% raid success rate amongst raiders with 30+ points
 ➢ Bulls' defence is averaging 12.2 tackle points in their five victories this season
 ➢ Yogesh's captaincy is yielding results with 5 wins in 6 matches as the leader
 ➢ Alireza Mirzaian reunited with Aashish Malik and Akash Shinde in the Bulls' attack
 ➢ UP Yoddhas broke a four-match losing streak with a dominant win over Tamil Thalaivas
 ➢ Both teams are seeking back-to-back wins to cement playoff positions
 ➢ Sumit averages second-best tackle points per match (3.6) in PKL 12

Top Stories of the Match

Gagan Gowda's Individual Brilliance Against Bulls' Collective Defence

Gagan Gowda has emerged as the standout performer for UP Yoddhas this season, carrying the raiding burden almost single-handedly. His statistics paint the picture of a raider at the peak of his powers, leading the league with an extraordinary 74% raid success rate amongst raiders with at least 30 points.

Gagan Gowda's PKL 12 dominance:

  • 76 raid points in 7 matches at 10.9 average with 4 Super 10s
  • League-leading 74% raid success rate (minimum 30 raid points)
  • Most bonus points in the league (39)
  • Contributing 52% of UP Yoddhas' total raid points

His situational mastery is particularly impressive. In the crucial final 10 minutes, Gagan boasts a phenomenal 110% raid success rate with 33 points, making him the most reliable closer in the league. When facing 6-7 defenders, his 69 raid points at 84% success rate rank third for points but first for efficiency.

The challenge facing Gagan comes in the form of Bengaluru Bulls' resurgent defence, which has been the cornerstone of their remarkable turnaround. The Bulls' defensive unit averages 10.4 tackle points per match with a 43% success rate, but their performance in victories tells the real story.

Bulls' defence in wins vs losses:

  • Wins (5 matches): 12.2 average tackle points at 51% success rate with 69 assists
  • Losses (4 matches): 8.2 average tackle points at 34% success rate with 40 assists

The defensive trio of Yogesh, Deepak Sankar, and Sanjay has provided the foundation for the Bulls' success:

Yogesh (Captain): 25 tackle points at 49% SR with 2 High 5s in 9 matches
 Deepak Sankar: 24 tackle points at 57% SR with 2 High 5s in 8 matches
 Sanjay: 10 tackle points at 38% SR in 9 matches

Yogesh's captaincy has been transformational, recording 5 wins in 6 matches as leader, with his only defeat coming against Tamil Thalaivas. His 120% tackle success rate in the previous match against Gujarat Giants demonstrated his big-match temperament.

Deepak Sankar's emergence has been crucial, successfully filling the void left by Ankush Rathee's absence. His 57% tackle success rate reflects his growing confidence and understanding of the defensive system.

The historical context favours the Bulls defensively. In 10 previous encounters with UP Yoddhas, key Bulls defenders have maintained solid records:

  • Yogesh: 12 tackle points at 67% SR against Yoddhas
  • Sanjay: 9 tackle points at 75% SR with 1 super tackle

However, Gagan's limited exposure to the Bulls (1 match, 1 raid point at 33% SR) means the sample size is too small to draw meaningful conclusions, making this encounter particularly intriguing.

Support Cast Struggles and Emerging Reinforcements

UP Yoddhas' over-reliance on Gagan Gowda has been both their strength and weakness. The support raiders have failed to consistently complement his brilliance:

Support raiders in PKL 12:

  • Guman Singh: 24 raid points at 46% SR in 6 matches
  • Bhavani Rajput: 22 raid points at 33% SR in 7 matches
  • Shivam Chaudhary: 21 raid points at 44% SR in 6 matches

The encouraging development has been Shivam Chaudhary's emergence. In the victory over Tamil Thalaivas, the young raider contributed 5 raid points at 45% SR, showing promise as a reliable secondary option.

For the Bulls, the return of key personnel has strengthened their attack significantly. Alireza Mirzaian's consistency (73 raid points at 8.1 average with 5 Super 10s in 9 matches) provides the perfect foil to the returning duo of Aashish Malik and Akash Shinde.

Alireza's situational excellence:

  • Second-most Do-or-Die raid points (14) at 70% SR
  • Consistent across all time intervals except the opening 10 minutes
  • 4 Super 10s in the last 6 matches before the off-day against the Gujarat Giants

Akash Shinde's return from injury has bolstered the Bulls' depth, whilst his historical record against UP Yoddhas (30 raid points at 57% SR with 1 Super 10) offers encouragement.

Team Stories

Bengaluru Bulls – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#45 vs Gujarat Giants – Won 28-24
  • M#36 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Lost 29-35
  • M#34 vs Telugu Titans – Won 34-32
  • M#29 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Won 28-23
  • M#21 vs Haryana Steelers – Won 40-33

The Bulls have orchestrated one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent PKL history. After losing their opening three matches, they've won five of their last six, with only the Tamil Thalaivas defeat blotting their recent copybook.

Yogesh's appointment as captain has been the catalyst for this transformation. His leadership has brought out the best in the defensive unit, whilst the attacking trio of Alireza, Aashish, and Akash has found chemistry at the perfect time.

The victory over Gujarat Giants showcased their defensive resilience, with Yogesh contributing 6 tackle points and Deepak Sankar adding 4 in a low-scoring encounter that highlighted their adaptability.

UP Yoddhas – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#46 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 39-22 (17-point victory)
  • M#35 vs Bengal Warriorz – Lost 37-41
  • M#31 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Lost 29-41
  • M#26 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 32-43
  • M#16 vs Haryana Steelers – Lost 32-37

The Yoddhas' season has been a tale of individual brilliance masking collective inconsistency. After winning their opening two matches, they endured a nightmarish four-match losing streak that severely dented their playoff aspirations.

The comprehensive victory over Tamil Thalaivas provided much-needed respite, with Gagan Gowda leading from the front whilst the defence, marshalled by captain Sumit, finally provided adequate support.

Sumit's defensive leadership:

  • 25 tackle points in 7 matches at 3.6 average (second-best in league)
  • 60% tackle success rate with 3 High 5s
  • Outstanding 83% SR in Tamil Thalaivas' victory

The emergence of supporting defenders Ashu Singh and Mahender Singh in recent matches offers hope. Ashu Singh's 80% tackle success rate against both Bengal Warriorz and Tamil Thalaivas suggests he's finding his rhythm at the highest level.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 17 | Bengaluru Bulls – 9 | UP Yoddhas – 8 | Tied – 0

The historical rivalry has been remarkably close, with never a tied result in 17 encounters. However, recent momentum strongly favours UP Yoddhas, who dominated both PKL 11 meetings with comprehensive victories.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 11 M#131: UP Yoddhas won 44-30
  • PKL 11 M#10: UP Yoddhas won 57-36
  • PKL 10 M#46: UP Yoddhas won 34-33
  • PKL 10 M#19: Bengaluru Bulls won 38-36
  • PKL 9 M#119: Bengaluru Bulls won 38-35

The psychological factor cannot be ignored – UP Yoddhas' recent dominance, including two emphatic wins last season, gives them a mental edge despite their current league position.

Key Player Battles

UP Yoddhas' Raiders vs Bengaluru Bulls' Defenders

  • Guman Singh 5–4 Yogesh
  • Guman Singh 1–0 Sanjay
  • Bhavani Rajput 2–1 Sanjay

Bengaluru Bulls' Raiders vs UP Yoddhas' Defenders

  • Akash Shinde 4–2 Sumit
  • Akash Shinde 2–2 Mahender Singh
  • Akash Shinde 1–2 Ashu Singh
  • Akash Shinde 0–1 Hitesh

What to Expect

  • This encounter promises to be a tactical chess match between two teams with contrasting philosophies. The Bulls' collective strength and defensive solidity will be tested by Gagan Gowda's individual brilliance and the Yoddhas' desperation for consecutive victories.
  • The key battle lies in whether the Bulls can contain Gagan whilst their own raiders exploit what has been an inconsistent Yoddhas defence outside of Sumit's contributions. The support cast on both sides could prove decisive – can Shivam Chaudhary and the Yoddhas secondary raiders step up, or will Alireza, Aashish, and Akash's combined experience prove overwhelming?
  • With both teams coming off morale-boosting victories, expect a high-intensity encounter where small margins and big moments will determine the outcome.

Match Details

  • Match: Bengaluru Bulls vs UP Yoddhas – Match 49, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Thursday, 25th September 2025
  • Time: 7:30 PM IST
  • Venue: SMS Indoor Stadium, Jaipur
  • 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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