The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 continues at the Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag, with Match 9 featuring Dabang Delhi KC against Bengaluru Bulls. Delhi enter this encounter seeking to build momentum in the post-Naveen Kumar era under new captain Ashu Malik, whilst the Bulls are eager to bounce back after their heartbreaking tie-breaker defeat to defending champions Puneri Paltan in their opener. This clash promises tactical intrigue as two teams with a championship pedigree seek to establish early-season dominance.

Probable Starting 7

Dabang Delhi KC

  • Right Corner: Saurabh Nandal
  • Right In: Ajinkya Pawar
  • Right Cover: Surjeet Singh
  • Centre: Ashu Malik (C)
  • Left Cover: Arkam Shaikh
  • Left In: Neeraj Narwal
  • Left Corner: Fazel Atrachali

Bengaluru Bulls

  • Right Corner: Yogesh
  • Right In: Aashish Malik
  • Right Cover: Sanjay
  • Centre: Alireza Mirzaian
  • Left Cover: Dheeraj
  • Left In: Akash Shinde
  • Left Corner: Ankush (C)

Team Stories

Dabang Delhi KC – New Era Under Malik's Captaincy

Season-by-Season Performance:

  • PKL 1-5 – Group/League Stage
  • PKL 6 – Eliminator
  • PKL 7 – Runners-up
  • PKL 8 – Champions
  • PKL 9 – Eliminator
  • PKL 10 – Eliminator
  • PKL 11 – Semi-final

Dabang Delhi's transformation from perennial underachievers to champions represents one of the PKL's most remarkable turnarounds. The arrival of Naveen Kumar in Season 6 completely revolutionised their fortunes, leading to six consecutive playoff appearances, including their maiden title in PKL 8. However, the departure of their talisman ahead of Season 12 marks the beginning of a new chapter under Ashu Malik's captaincy.

The franchise has addressed its defensive frailties from PKL 11, where they recorded the second-lowest average tackle points per match (10.2). Their veteran-heavy defensive unit, featuring the most experienced defenders in PKL history, signals serious intent to reclaim championship glory.

Bengaluru Bulls – Seeking Revival Under New Leadership

Season-by-Season Performance:

  • PKL 1 – Semi-finalists
  • PKL 2 – Runners-up
  • PKL 3-5 – League/Group Stage
  • PKL 6 – Champions
  • PKL 7-9 – Semi-finalists
  • PKL 10-11 – League Stage

The Bulls' journey from early powerhouse to recent struggles encapsulates the league's competitive evolution. After reaching the PKL 2 final and claiming their maiden title in PKL 6, they enjoyed three consecutive semi-final appearances. However, their last two campaigns have been disappointing, culminating in just two wins from 22 matches in PKL 11 – their worst-ever season.

The appointment of BC Ramesh as head coach and Ankush as captain signals a fresh approach. Their opening match against Puneri Paltan, despite the tie-breaker defeat, showcased promising signs with both Akash Shinde and Ankush delivering stellar performances.

Head-to-Head Record in PKL

Overall: 24 Matches → Dabang Delhi K.C. 12 | Bengaluru Bulls 10 | Tied 2

Recent Form (Since PKL 9): 7 Matches → Dabang Delhi K.C. 3 | Bengaluru Bulls 4

The Bulls ended Delhi's three-match winning streak with victory in their last encounter (PKL 11, Match 58). These sides have produced memorable playoff battles, with Delhi prevailing in the knockout stages during PKL 7 and PKL 8, often featuring epic duels between Naveen Kumar and Pawan Sehrawat.

Top Stories of the Match

Ashu Malik's Captaincy Debut – From Support to Superstar

Ashu Malik's elevation to captaincy represents Delhi's biggest gamble since acquiring Naveen Kumar. The PKL 8 champion has been the league's most prolific raider over the past two seasons, accumulating 538 raid points since PKL 10 – more than any other player. His consistency is exemplary: 250+ raid points in consecutive seasons (PKL 10 & PKL 11), Best Raider award in PKL 10, and joint-most Super 10s (18) alongside Devank in PKL 11 despite having fewer total raid points (262 vs 301).

Malik's effectiveness against multi-defender situations sets him apart. Since PKL 9, he leads all raiders with 150 raid points in 4-5 Defenders in Play situations, demonstrating the tactical awareness essential for captaincy. His dubki technique mastery (second-most raid points using dubki since PKL 9 with 36 points) and excellent record against the Bulls in recent encounters (three consecutive Super 10s with 84 total raid points in 10 matches at 64% success rate) suggest he's ready for the leadership challenge.

Veterans' Last Stand – Delhi's Defensive Gamble

Delhi's defensive restructure reads like a PKL Hall of Fame roster. Fazel Atrachali (545 tackle points) and Surjeet Singh (443 tackle points) occupy the top two spots in PKL's all-time tackle points leaderboard. The Iranian legend's trophy cabinet – two titles, five finals – speaks to his championship mentality, whilst Singh's record 34 High 5s demonstrates sustained excellence.

Saurabh Nandal completes the veteran triumvirate, having recorded the third-most tackle points for a single team (281 for Bengaluru Bulls). However, concerns linger over recent form decline, with both Atrachali and Singh experiencing reduced effectiveness in PKL 11 compared to PKL 10.

Ankush's Captaincy Impact – Bulls' Defensive Renaissance

Ankush Rathee's appointment as captain already shows dividends after his High 5 performance against Puneri Paltan. The left corner defender boasts the best tackle success rate (63%) among all defenders with 200+ tackle points in PKL history. His consistency is remarkable: 60+ tackle points in each of his three PKL seasons, including a debut season record of 89 points in PKL 9.

Since PKL 9, only Mohammadreza Shadloui (268) has more tackle points than Ankush (227), establishing him among the elite defenders. His leadership qualities were evident in immediately repaying the team's faith with match-winning defensive displays.

Shinde's Lead Raider Transition

Akash Shinde's elevation from support raider at Puneri Paltan to Bulls' primary attacking weapon has shown early promise. His Super 10 against his former teammates demonstrated his readiness for increased responsibility. The Season 10 champion excels in Do-or-Die situations (80% success rate since PKL 8) and possesses versatility across different game scenarios.

His 12-point haul on 71% success rate against quality opposition like Puneri Paltan suggests the Bulls have found a reliable focal point for their attacking structure.

What to Expect

Leadership Examination: Both captains face early-season tests – Malik's transition from star player to tactical leader against Ankush's defensive set-up.

Defensive Masterclass: The clash between PKL's most decorated defenders (Delhi) against the league's most consistent defender (Ankush) promises tactical sophistication and fierce competition.

Raiding Depth Analysis: Delhi's support raiders Ajinkya Pawar and Neeraj Narwal must step up to complement Malik's brilliance, whilst the Bulls' attacking depth beyond Shinde remains questionable.

Experience vs Youth: Delhi's veteran-heavy approach contrasts with the Bulls' blend of emerging talents and seasoned campaigners, creating intriguing tactical dynamics.

Match Details

Match: Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Bengaluru Bulls
Tournament: Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 – Match 9
Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM IST
Venue: Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag
LIVE Streaming: Watch 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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