Table-toppers Dabang Delhi clash with resurgent Bengaluru Bulls in Match 94 of PKL 12, with playoff qualification on the line. Ashu Malik's raiding brilliance meets Deepak Sankar's defensive excellence in a crucial encounter that could define both teams' seasons.

Probable Starting 7

Dabang Delhi

  • Right Corner – Saurabh Nandal
  • Right In – Ajinkya Pawar
  • Right Cover – Surjeet Singh
  • Centre – Naveen
  • Left Cover – Sandeep
  • Left In – Neeraj Narwal
  • Left Corner – Fazel Atrachali (C)

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

Headlines

➢ Delhi's raiding unit faces a tough challenge against the Bulls' defence

➢ Bengaluru Bulls can qualify for the playoffs with a win

➢ Alireza Mirzaian – Iranian raider leading the Bulls

➢ Dabang Delhi's defence is key to their form as they confirm the top 2

➢ Fazel Atrachali is nearing 600 tackle points in PKL – will become the first defender in history to achieve this feat

Top Stories of the Match

Delhi's Raiding vs the Bulls' Defence – Bulls Can Qualify for Playoffs with a Win

Dabang Delhi has established one of PKL 12's most potent raiding units, averaging 21.8 raid points per match at 53% success rate – the fourth-best in the league. Their attacking prowess has been instrumental in securing a top-two finish.

Captain Ashu Malik has been the driving force, though his performances show distinct half-wise patterns this season:

Ashu Malik in PKL 12 | Half-wise:

  • 1st Half: 83 raid points from 126 raids (66% SR)
  • 2nd Half: 63 raid points from 111 raids (57% SR)

His historical dominance over Bengaluru Bulls provides a psychological advantage:

Ashu vs Bengaluru Bulls in PKL Overall:

  • 11 matches: 99 raid points (9.0 average, 64% SR, 5 Super 10s)

The support cast has delivered consistently this season:

Dabang Delhi Support Raiders in PKL 12:

  • Neeraj Narwal: 71 raid points (4.4 average, 40% SR)
  • Ajinkya Pawar: 56 raid points (3.7 average, 43% SR)
  • Akshit: 33 raid points (4.7 average, 97% SR)

Akshit's recent Super 10 against Tamil Thalaivas (12 raid points at 71% SR from 17 raids) showcased his potential in Ashu's absence, whilst Ajinkya Pawar's Super 10 against Puneri Paltan (10 raid points at 63% SR from 16 raids) demonstrated his big-match temperament.

However, they face a resurgent Bulls defence that has transformed their season. After a disastrous start, Bengaluru Bulls now sit in fourth place, with qualification in their own hands – a win secures their playoff berth.

The Bulls' defensive unit has been formidable, averaging 11.1 tackle points per match at 44% success rate, though their recent performance against Patna Pirates (6 tackle points at 23% SR) was an anomaly in an otherwise impressive run.

Deepak Sankar has emerged as the revelation of PKL 12, leading the Bulls' tackle points and ranking third-best defender in the entire league:

Best Average Tackle Points in PKL 12:

  • Nitesh Kumar: 62 tackle points (3.7 average, 56% SR)
  • Jaideep: 54 tackle points (3.6 average, 65% SR)
  • Deepak Sankar: 46 tackle points (3.3 average, 58% SR)

His performance improves dramatically after the opening 10 minutes:

Deepak Sankar Defence in PKL 12 by Intervals:

  • 1-10 minutes: 8 tackle points (35% SR)
  • 11-20 minutes: 14 tackle points (70% SR)
  • 21-30 minutes: 13 tackle points (65% SR)
  • 31-40 minutes: 11 tackle points (69% SR)

His High 5 performance against Bengal Warriorz (6 tackle points at 86% SR from 7 tackles) exemplified his match-winning potential.

Captain Yogesh provides excellent support with 41 tackle points (2.7 average, 49% SR, 3 High 5s), whilst cover defenders Satyappa Matti (63 assists – joint second-most in PKL 12) and Sanjay (40 assists) provide crucial secondary support.

The Bulls' defensive correlation with results is striking:

Bengaluru Bulls Defence in PKL 12:

  • In wins (8 matches): 13.1 average tackle points at 54% SR
  • In losses (7 matches): 8.7 average tackle points at 34% SR

Their recent form shows defensive consistency, achieving at least 10 tackle points in six of their last seven matches before the Patna setback.

Team Stories

Dabang Delhi – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#92 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 37–31 (6-point victory)
  • M#79 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 38(5)–38(6) (tie-breaker defeat)
  • M#75 vs Gujarat Giants – Won 39–33 (6-point triumph)
  • M#73 vs Bengal Warriorz – Lost 36–37 (1-point defeat)
  • M#70 vs Haryana Steelers – Won 33(9)–33(3) (tie-breaker victory)

Dabang Delhi have confirmed their top-two finish with an impressive 13 wins from 16 matches, establishing themselves as genuine title contenders. Their dramatic 9-point comeback against Tamil Thalaivas demonstrated championship resilience.

The match against the Bulls provides an opportunity to test bench strength, with Ashu Malik potentially rested after being kept out of the Tamil Thalaivas match as a precautionary measure.

Dabang Delhi's Defence Key to Their Form as They Confirm Top 2

Delhi's defensive excellence has been fundamental to their success, averaging 11.2 tackle points per match at 48% success rate – joint-best tackle SR% in PKL 12 alongside Gujarat Giants.

Their recent defensive surge has been particularly impressive:

Dabang Delhi Defence in the Last Three Games:

  • M#92 vs Tamil Thalaivas: 13 tackle points (50% SR)
  • M#79 vs Puneri Paltan: 14 tackle points (45% SR)
  • M#75 vs Gujarat Giants: 10 tackle points (53% SR)

The defensive correlation with results demonstrates their importance:

Dabang Delhi Defence in PKL 12:

  • In wins (13 matches): 11.3 average tackle points at 49% SR
  • In losses (3 matches): 10.7 average tackle points at 44% SR

Saurabh Nandal has been exceptional from the right corner, averaging 2.9 tackle points per match at a 60% success rate with 3 High 5s, providing a perfect complement to Fazel's experience.

Fazel Atrachali continues his remarkable career, averaging 3.1 tackle points at a 57% success rate with 4 High 5s this season. The Iranian legend stands on the brink of history – needing just 6 tackle points to become the first defender in PKL history to reach 600 tackle points.

Fazel Atrachali in PKL Overall:

  • 204 matches: 594 tackle points (2.9 average, 58% SR, 36 High 5s)

He also needs just 1 tackle point to reach 50 tackle points in PKL 12.

The cover duo of Surjeet Singh (63 assists – third-best in league) and Sandeep (60 assists – fourth-best) have provided excellent secondary support, demonstrating the team's collective defensive strength.

Bengaluru Bulls – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#88 vs Patna Pirates – Lost 32(5)–32(6) (tie-breaker defeat)
  • M#80 vs Bengal Warriorz – Won 43–32 (11-point victory)
  • M#77 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Won 47–26 (21-point demolition)
  • M#66 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 33–29 (4-point triumph)
  • M#59 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 29(4)–29(6) (tie-breaker defeat)

After a disastrous start to the season, Bengaluru Bulls have engineered a remarkable turnaround, winning three consecutive matches before the heartbreaking tie-breaker loss to Patna Pirates. They now sit in fourth place with playoff qualification within reach.

Alireza Mirzaian – Iranian Raider Leading the Bulls

Alireza Mirzaian has been the attacking cornerstone for Bengaluru Bulls, averaging 9.5 raid points per match at 55% success rate with 9 Super 10s – amongst the league's best individual performances.

His exceptional form continued against Patna Pirates despite the tie-breaker defeat:

Alireza vs Patna Pirates in M#88:

  • 23 raids: 17 raid points (74% SR)

His consistency across all game intervals demonstrates complete tactical mastery:

Alireza Raiding in PKL 12 by Intervals:

  • 1-10 minutes: 36 raid points (60% SR)
  • 11-20 minutes: 25 raid points (50% SR)
  • 21-30 minutes: 40 raid points (51% SR)
  • 31-40 minutes: 42 raid points (58% SR)

His clutch credentials are exceptional – joint-most raid points in Do-or-Die situations in PKL 12:

Most Raid Points in DoD Situations – PKL 12:

  • Alireza Mirzaian: 24 points (67% SR)
  • Ayan: 24 points (96% SR)
  • Aditya Shinde: 22 points (73% SR)

However, the Bulls' over-reliance on Alireza creates vulnerability. They have the fourth-lowest average raid points in the league (19.9 at 48% SR), exposing their lack of secondary firepower despite Alireza's brilliance.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 25 | Bengaluru Bulls – 10 | Dabang Delhi – 13 | Tied – 2

Dabang Delhi hold the historical advantage and won their PKL 12 encounter convincingly.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 12 M#9: Dabang Delhi won 41–34
  • PKL 11 M#58: Dabang Delhi won 35–25
  • PKL 11 M#24: Bengaluru Bulls won 34–33
  • PKL 10 M#127: Dabang Delhi won 46–38
  • PKL 10 M#12: Dabang Delhi won 38–31

Key Player Battles

Bengaluru Bulls' Raiders vs Dabang Delhi's Defenders:

  • Akash Shinde 3–1 Fazel Atrachali
  • Akash Shinde 2–4 Saurabh Nandal
  • Alireza Mirzaian 2–0 Fazel Atrachali
  • Alireza Mirzaian 2–3 Surjeet Singh

Dabang Delhi's Raiders vs Bengaluru Bulls' Defenders:

  • Ajinkya Pawar 3–1 Yogesh
  • Neeraj Narwal 0–2 Yogesh
  • Akshit 1–2 Yogesh

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a tactical masterclass between contrasting approaches. Dabang Delhi's balanced excellence meets Bengaluru Bulls' resilience and determination in a match with significant playoff implications.

The key battles – Ashu Malik's raiding brilliance versus Deepak Sankar's defensive resurgence and Alireza Mirzaian's consistency against Fazel Atrachali's experience – will likely prove decisive.

Expect a closely contested affair where defensive execution could determine the outcome, with the Bulls' playoff hopes adding extra intensity to proceedings. Delhi's bench depth may prove crucial if they rotate their squad, whilst the Bulls cannot afford another defensive lapse like the Patna match.

Match Details:

  • Match: Dabang Delhi vs Bengaluru Bulls – Match 94, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Saturday, 18th October 2025
  • Time: 7:30 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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