PKL Season 12 Match 87 Preview: Gujarat Giants vs Tamil Thalaivas – Arjun Deshwal Takes On In-Form Shadloui

Two teams with contrasting trajectories collide in Match 87 of PKL 12 as resurgent Gujarat Giants host struggling Tamil Thalaivas. Raid machine Arjun Deshwal stands on the cusp of PKL history, needing just one point to become the third-highest raid point scorer of all time, whilst the Iranian legend Mohammadreza Shadloui's defensive renaissance threatens to deny him, supported by Himanshu Singh's remarkable Super 10 streak off the bench against Nitesh Kumar's league-leading defensive excellence.

Probable Starting 7

Gujarat Giants

• Right Corner – Lucky Sharma
• Right In – Visvanth V
• Right Cover – Nitin Panwar
• Centre – Rakesh (C)
• Left Cover – Rohit Nandal
• Left In – Ankit Dahiya
• Left Corner – Mohammadreza Shadloui

Tamil Thalaivas

• Right Corner – Sagar Rathee
• Right In – Arjun Deshwal (C)
• Right Cover – Ronak
• Centre – Himanshu
• Left Cover – Aashish
• Left In – Moein Shafaghi
• Left Corner – Nitesh Kumar

Headlines

➢ Gujarat Giants in great form, winning three of last four matches ➢ Himanshu Singh's consecutive Super 10s off the bench ➢ Shadloui's defensive transformation key to Giants' resurgence ➢ Tamil Thalaivas suffered heartbreaking loss in last match ➢ Arjun Deshwal one point away from PKL history ➢ Nitesh Kumar – best defender of the league so far ➢ Sagar Rathee's return boosts Thalaivas' defensive hopes

Top Stories of the Match

Arjun Deshwal Takes On In-Form Shadloui

Arjun Deshwal has been leading Tamil Thalaivas' raiding charge with remarkable consistency, establishing himself as PKL 12's second-most prolific raider behind only the unstoppable Devank.

Most Raid Points in PKL 12:

• Devank: 220 points (73% SR)
• Arjun Deshwal: 166 points (56% SR)
• Ayan: 155 points (67% SR)

His recent form has been a study in contrasts – spectacular Super 10 performances alternating with uncharacteristic struggles. Twenty-plus raid points in two of his last five matches demonstrate his explosive potential, yet consecutive matches with sub-50% success rates reveal concerning inconsistency.

Arjun Deshwal Raiding by Match:

• vs UP Yoddhas: 7 points at 39% SR
• vs Puneri Paltan: 6 points at 40% SR
• vs Patna Pirates: 26 points at 93% SR
• vs Bengaluru Bulls: 9 points at 53% SR
• vs Haryana Steelers: 22 points at 79% SR

His tactical intelligence shines through situational analysis, with particularly strong performances against full defensive lines:

Arjun Deshwal in PKL 12 | DIP-Wise:

• 6-7 defenders: 101 points at 65% SR (dominant)
• 4-5 defenders: 31 points at 39% SR
• 2-3 defenders: 30 points at 54% SR (solid in super tackles)

Beyond the match itself, history beckons. Arjun stands tied with Pawan Sehrawat at third position in PKL's all-time raid points list. A single point will see him surpass the legendary raider to claim solo third place.

Most Raid Points in PKL:

• Pardeep Narwal: 1,801 points
• Maninder Singh: 1,568 points
• Pawan Sehrawat: 1,340 points
• Arjun Deshwal: 1,340 points

However, standing in his way is Mohammadreza Shadloui, whose defensive transformation has been central to Gujarat Giants' remarkable resurgence. The Iranian legend nearly achieved a High 5 in the last match against Patna Pirates, recording 4 tackle points at 57% success rate.

Shadloui vs Patna Pirates in M#83:

• Tackles: 7
• Tackle Points: 4
• Tackle Success Rate: 57%

Shadloui's evolution from a slow start to a dominant defender has been spectacular:

Shadloui Defence in PKL 12:

First 8 Games vs Next 6 Games:

• Tackles: 31 vs 37
• Tackle Points: 9 vs 20
• Average Tackle Points: 1.1 vs 3.3
• Tackle Success Rate: 29% vs 54%
• High 5s: 0 vs 2

His historical dominance over Tamil Thalaivas provides a psychological advantage – 4 High 5s in 9 matches, showcasing consistent excellence:

Shadloui vs Tamil Thalaivas in PKL:

• 9 matches: 35 tackle points (3.9 average, 58% SR, 4 High 5s)

Shadloui's second-half performances have been particularly impressive this season, suggesting he saves his best for crucial moments:

Shadloui Defence by Half in PKL 12:

• 1st Half: 11 points at 35% SR
• 2nd Half: 18 points at 49% SR

However, their head-to-head history strongly favours Arjun, who has dominated their personal battle:

Head-to-Head in PKL:

• Arjun Deshwal 21–8 Shadloui

Gujarat Giants' defensive resurgence has been remarkable, recording consecutive matches with 15 tackle points – the foundation of their winning streak:

Gujarat Giants Defence in Last Two Games:

• vs Patna Pirates M#83: 15 points at 65% SR
• vs Dabang Delhi M#75: 15 points at 56% SR

Himanshu Singh Gets Second Consecutive Super 10 Off the Bench

The revelation of Gujarat Giants' recent success has been Himanshu Singh's extraordinary impact as a substitute. Coming off the bench in consecutive matches, he has delivered back-to-back Super 10s that proved crucial to their victories.

Himanshu Singh in the Last Two Games:

• Patna Pirates M#83: 11 points at 52% SR (21 raids)
• Dabang Delhi M#75: 11 points at 92% SR (12 raids)

His emergence addresses Gujarat Giants' fundamental weakness – the league's poorest raiding statistics:

Lowest Average Raid Points in PKL 12:

• Gujarat Giants: 18.3 average (42% SR)
• Tamil Thalaivas: 18.9 average (46% SR)
• Bengaluru Bulls: 19.4 average (47% SR)

However, their recent form suggests significant improvement, exceeding 20 raid points in three of the last four matches:

Gujarat Giants Raiding in the Last Four Games:

• vs Patna Pirates M#83: 21 points at 49% SR
• vs Dabang Delhi M#75: 16 points at 40% SR
• vs UP Yoddhas M#74: 26 points at 59% SR
• vs Bengal Warriorz M#64: 26 points at 60% SR

Captain Rakesh has led the raiding unit effectively, recording 4 Super 10s in 14 matches:

Rakesh in PKL 12:

• 14 matches: 107 raid points (7.6 average, 51% SR, 4 Super 10s)

Intriguingly, Rakesh's performances show stark first-half versus second-half splits, suggesting stamina issues or tactical adjustments by opponents:

Rakesh Raiding by Half in PKL 12:

• 1st Half: 76 points at 63% SR
• 2nd Half: 31 points at 36% SR

Recent matches have seen him substituted after struggling, with Himanshu Singh providing the spark:

Rakesh Raiding in the Last Four Games:

• vs Patna Pirates M#83: 4 points at 100% SR (only 4 raids before substitution)
• vs Dabang Delhi M#75: 3 points at 25% SR
• vs UP Yoddhas M#74: 20 points at 80% SR
• vs Bengal Warriorz M#64: 18 points at 72% SR

Team Stories

Gujarat Giants – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

• M#83 vs Patna Pirates – Won 40–32 (8-point victory)
• M#75 vs Dabang Delhi – Lost 33–39 (6-point defeat)
• M#74 vs UP Yoddhas – Won 41–39 (thrilling 2-point escape)
• M#64 vs Bengal Warriorz – Won 47–40 (7-point success)
• M#60 vs U Mumba – Lost 25–40 (15-point thrashing)

Gujarat Giants have discovered their rhythm at the perfect moment, winning three of their last four matches to keep playoff hopes alive. From bottom-dwellers to potential playoff contenders, their transformation has been remarkable.

Currently sitting in 10th position, they remain outside the qualification spots but possess momentum and form to challenge for a playoff berth. The combination of Rakesh's leadership, Himanshu Singh's impact substitutions, and Shadloui's defensive renaissance has created a formidable unit.

Their recent victory over Patna Pirates showcased their evolution – Himanshu's Super 10 compensating for Rakesh's early struggles, whilst the defence delivered 15 tackle points at 65% success rate.

Tamil Thalaivas – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

• M#84 vs UP Yoddhas – Lost 31–32 (heartbreaking 1-point defeat)
• M#78 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 23–36 (13-point disappointment)
• M#69 vs Patna Pirates – Won 56–37 (dominant 19-point victory)
• M#66 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 29–33 (4-point defeat)
• M#62 vs Haryana Steelers – Won 45–33 (12-point success)

Tamil Thalaivas have squandered crucial opportunities to cement their playoff position, suffering consecutive defeats that have dropped them to 7th place. The narrow loss to UP Yoddhas was particularly painful, representing missed chances to consolidate their qualification hopes.

Arjun Deshwal remains their primary attacking weapon, but his inconsistency in recent matches has created vulnerability. When he struggles, the supporting raiders lack the quality to compensate.

The positive development is veteran Sagar Rathee's return from injury, immediately making an impact with a High 5 on his comeback.

Sagar Rathee's Return Will Boost Thalaivas' Spirits

The biggest positive from Tamil Thalaivas' narrow defeat to UP Yoddhas was Sagar Rathee's return, with the veteran immediately delivering a High 5 performance:

Sagar Rathee in M#84 vs UP Yoddhas:

• Tackles: 7
• Tackle Points: 5
• Tackle Success Rate: 71%

Having played just one match earlier this season before injury, Sagar's return provides enormous experience and quality to the defensive unit. His historical significance for Tamil Thalaivas cannot be overstated:

Most Tackle Points for Tamil Thalaivas:

• Sagar Rathee: 232 points
• Sahil Gulia: 187 points
• Nitesh Kumar: 137 points

Nitesh Kumar has shouldered the defensive burden brilliantly in Sagar's absence, becoming the first player to reach 50 tackle points this season:

Most Tackle Points in PKL 12:

• Nitesh Kumar: 56 points (15 matches, 3.7 average, 56% SR)
• Jaideep: 48 points (14 matches, 3.4 average, 62% SR)
• Deepak Sankar: 45 points (13 matches, 3.5 average, 59% SR)

His consistency transcends results, maintaining excellence regardless of team performance:

Nitesh Kumar Defence in PKL 12:

Wins vs Losses:

• Tackles: 40 vs 60
• Tackle Points: 23 vs 33
• Average Tackle Points: 3.8 vs 3.7
• Tackle Success Rate: 58% vs 55%
• High 5s: 2 vs 3

Nitesh's situational mastery demonstrates tactical intelligence across all Defenders in Play scenarios:

Nitesh Kumar Defence DIP-Wise in PKL 12:

• 6-7 defenders: 30 points at 52% SR
• 4-5 defenders: 20 points at 61% SR
• 2-3 defenders: 6 points at 75% SR (exceptional in super tackles)

Ronak's supporting contributions have been equally crucial, recording the second-most assists in PKL 12:

Most Assists in PKL 12:

• Satyappa Matti: 60 assists
• Ronak: 59 assists
• Sandeep: 57 assists

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 13 | Gujarat Giants – 7 | Tamil Thalaivas – 5 | Tied – 1

Since PKL 9: Matches – 6 | Gujarat Giants – 3 | Tamil Thalaivas – 3 | Tied – 1

The historical record slightly favours Gujarat Giants, though recent encounters have been evenly contested. Both teams were introduced in PKL Season 5, creating a rivalry built on competitive balance.

They met earlier this season in a match that Gujarat Giants won comfortably. Nitin Panwar's outstanding High 5 performance with 8 tackle points proved decisive, as the Giants' 15 tackle points provided the foundation for a 9-point victory.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

• M#18 PKL 12: Gujarat Giants won 37–28 (9-point victory)
• M#95 PKL 11: Tamil Thalaivas won 40–27 (13-point dominance)
• M#25 PKL 11: Tamil Thalaivas won 44–25 (19-point rout)
• M#105 PKL 10: Gujarat Giants won 42–30 (12-point success)
• M#44 PKL 10: Gujarat Giants won 33–30 (3-point thriller)

Key Player Battles

Tamil Thalaivas Raiders vs Gujarat Giants Defenders:

• Arjun Deshwal 21–8 Mohammadreza Shadloui (dominant record)
• Narender 5–6 Mohammadreza Shadloui (closely contested)
• Arjun Deshwal 3–3 Nitin Panwar

Gujarat Giants Raiders vs Tamil Thalaivas Defenders:

• Rakesh 6–6 Sagar Rathee (perfectly balanced)
• Rakesh 2–2 Nitesh Kumar

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a fascinating tactical battle between two teams desperate for points. Gujarat Giants' momentum meets Tamil Thalaivas' need to arrest their slide in a match that could define both teams' playoff aspirations.

The key battles – Arjun Deshwal's pursuit of PKL history versus Shadloui's defensive renaissance, and Nitesh Kumar's excellence against Rakesh's leadership – will likely determine the outcome.

Expect Gujarat Giants to target Arjun aggressively, forcing Tamil Thalaivas' supporting raiders to deliver uncharacteristic contributions. If Shadloui maintains his exceptional recent form and Himanshu Singh continues his Super 10 streak off the bench, the Giants possess the tools to extend their winning run.

However, Tamil Thalaivas' desperation makes them dangerous. Sagar Rathee's return provides experienced defensive solidity, and if Arjun rediscovers his explosive best alongside Nitesh Kumar's consistency, they can halt their losing streak.

With both teams fighting for playoff survival, expect a tense, closely contested affair where small margins prove decisive.

Match Details:

• Match: Gujarat Giants vs Tamil Thalaivas – Match 87, PKL Season 12
• Date: Wednesday, 15th 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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