Two teams seeking consistency and momentum clash in Match 47 of PKL 12 as bottom-placed Gujarat Giants host Telugu Titans. The spotlight falls on legendary defender Mohammadreza Shadloui, who reaches a significant milestone amidst the worst form of his PKL career, whilst the Titans look to build on their recent victory over Tamil Thalaivas.

Probable Starting 7

Gujarat Giants

  • Right Corner – Lucky Sharma
  • Right In – Parteek Dahiya
  • Right Cover – Nitin Panwar
  • Centre – Rakesh
  • Left Cover – Shubham Kumar
  • Left In – Visvanth V
  • Left Corner – Mohammadreza Shadloui (C)

Telugu Titans

  • Right Corner – Shubham Shinde
  • Right In – Bharat
  • Right Cover – Avi Duhan
  • Centre – Chetan Sahu
  • Left Cover – Ajit Pawar
  • Left In – Vijay Malik (C)
  • Left Corner – Ankit

Headlines

➢ Can the showstopper Shadloui turn his nightmare season around against Telugu Titans?
➢ Is captaincy affecting Shadloui's performance?
➢ Shadloui to play his 100th PKL match – only the second Iranian player to reach the milestone
➢ Telugu Titans can depend on Bharat and captain Vijay Malik
➢ Gujarat Giants desperate for more support in raiding and coordination in defence
➢ Rakesh needs support in raiding, Nitin Panwar needs assistance in defence
➢ Titans need to build momentum with their strong defence

Top Stories of the Match

Showstopper Shadloui is Having a Nightmare of a Season; Can He Turn It Around, or Is the Captaincy Affecting Him?

The Iranian defensive stalwart is enduring the most challenging period of his illustrious PKL career. Shadloui's current form represents his worst start to any PKL season, with statistics that make for alarming reading.

First 7 matches comparison across seasons:

  • PKL 8: 21 tackle points at 54% SR (3.0 average)
  • PKL 9: 17 tackle points at 46% SR (2.4 average)
  • PKL 10: 25 tackle points at 49% SR (3.6 average)
  • PKL 11: 22 tackle points at 55% SR (3.1 average)
  • PKL 12: 9 tackle points at 29% SR (1.3 average)

The decline is stark. For the first time in five seasons, Shadloui has failed to reach double figures in tackle points after seven matches, averaging barely more than one point per game – his worst return since his PKL debut.

The statistics paint a troubling picture: just 10 assists and 22 failed tackle attempts, with zero High 5s this season. His captaincy appears to be affecting his natural game, as the additional responsibility may be restricting his freedom to tackle aggressively.

Impact of time off-court reveals concerning pattern:

  • When off-court for extended periods (14+ minutes), Gujarat Giants have struggled
  • Only victory came when he was off-court for 19 minutes vs Tamil Thalaivas
  • As captain, he holds just 1 win in 7 matches

The milestone adds poignancy to his struggles. Playing his 100th PKL match, Shadloui becomes only the second Iranian player to reach this landmark, following teammate Milad Jabbari's achievement.

Historically, Telugu Titans have been favourable opponents for Shadloui, against whom he averages 3.4 tackle points at 55% success rate. The head-to-head battles against Vijay Malik (9-6) and Bharat (10-10) suggest this could be the perfect match for his revival.

Telugu Titans Can Depend on Bharat and Their Captain Vijay Malik

The Titans have found stability in their raiding department despite overall inconsistency, with their twin strike force providing reliable points throughout the season. They average 20.2 raid points per match at 50% success rate, demonstrating their attacking credentials.

Leading raid contributors:

  • Bharat: 74 raid points (8.2 average, 57% SR)
  • Vijay Malik: 73 raid points (8.1 average, 51% SR)
  • Chetan Sahu: 16 raid points (2.2 average, 34% SR) – 9 Do-or-Die points

Vijay Malik has established himself as one of the league's premier bonus point specialists, ranking third in PKL 12 with 30 bonus points. His tactical intelligence shines through his situational awareness:

By Defenders in Play (DIP):

  • 6-7 defenders: 65 points at 58% SR (dominant against full lines)
  • 4-5 defenders: 0 points at 0% SR (struggles in transition)
  • 2-3 defenders: 2 points at 14% SR (poor in super tackle situations)

His previous encounters with Gujarat Giants offer encouragement, particularly his PKL 11 performance where he averaged 11.0 points at 73% strike rate with one Super 10.

Bharat complements Malik perfectly with his versatility across all situations. His DIP analysis reveals tactical adaptability:

  • 6-7 defenders: 49 points at 80% SR (excellent against full defensive lines)
  • 4-5 defenders: 12 points at 24% SR (moderate in mid-range)
  • 2-3 defenders: 13 points at 68% SR (effective in clutch moments)

His outstanding record against Gujarat Giants (75 points in 8 matches at 74% SR with 4 Super 10s) makes him the key weapon in this encounter.

Time-wise analysis shows Bharat's tactical awareness:

  • 1-10 minutes: 18 points at 44% SR (steady start)
  • 11-20 minutes: 18 points at 64% SR (building momentum)
  • 21-30 minutes: 27 points at 73% SR (peak performance)
  • 31-40 minutes: 11 points at 48% SR (conservation mode)

Team Stories

Gujarat Giants – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#45 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 24–28 (4-point defeat)
  • M#33 vs Haryana Steelers – Lost 37–40 (3-point defeat)
  • M#28 vs Dabang Delhi – Lost 28–38 (10-point defeat)
  • M#24 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Lost 30–30 (Golden Raid defeat)
  • M#18 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 37–28 (9-point victory)

The Giants languish at the bottom of the table with six defeats in seven matches, including two heartbreaking losses in tie-breakers. Their lone victory against Tamil Thalaivas offers hope, but consistency remains elusive.

The fundamental issue lies in both departments – they struggle to find a reliable lead raider whilst their vaunted defence, built around Shadloui, has failed to deliver. Their average of 17.1 raid points per match ranks lowest in the league, whilst their 39% raid success rate makes them the only team below 40%.

Gujarat Giants Desperate for More Coordination in Defence and Better Raiding from Raiders

The defensive inconsistency has been maddening – brilliant performances followed by poor displays in a recurring pattern that has cost them crucial points.

Match-by-match defensive analysis:

  • vs Bengaluru Bulls: 11 points at 65% SR (good performance)
  • vs Haryana Steelers: 9 points at 38% SR (poor)
  • vs Dabang Delhi: 5 points at 24% SR (disastrous)
  • vs Jaipur Pink Panthers: 9 points at 36% SR (mediocre)
  • vs Tamil Thalaivas: 15 points at 65% SR (excellent)

Nitin Panwar has been their defensive beacon, averaging 2.4 tackle points per match at 65% success rate. He's excelled in super tackle situations, ranking joint-highest in the league with 4 super tackles.

The supporting cast has shown flashes – Lucky Sharma's perfect performance against Bengaluru Bulls (5 points at 100% SR) and Shubham Kumar's contributions demonstrate the potential within the squad.

Attacking woes are equally concerning:

  • Only 2 Super 10s from all raiders in 7 matches
  • Just 3 super raids across the entire squad
  • Lowest raid average in the league (17.1 points)
  • Lowest raid success rate (39%)

Rakesh has shouldered the burden admirably, recording 52 raid points at 46% success rate with 2 Super 10s, but averaging just 7.4 points per match isn't sufficient for a lead raider.

The support raiders have been particularly disappointing, with none averaging more than 5 points per match:

  • Himanshu Singh: 2.8 average at 35% SR
  • Parteek Dahiya: 4.3 average at 43% SR
  • Aryavardhan Navale: 2.7 average at 37% SR

Telugu Titans – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#42 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 43–29 (dominant 14-point victory)
  • M#37 vs Dabang Delhi – Lost 29–33 (4-point defeat to unbeaten side)
  • M#34 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 32–34 (2-point heartbreak)
  • M#32 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 33–39 (6-point defeat)
  • M#25 vs U Mumba – Won 45–37 (8-point victory)

The Titans have endured a rollercoaster season, managing four wins and five defeats in their opening nine matches. Currently sitting in 5th place, they remain firmly in playoff contention despite their inconsistency.

Their recent victory over Tamil Thalaivas provided much-needed momentum after a three-match losing streak, demonstrating their potential when all departments click together.

Titans Need to Build Momentum with a Strong Defence

The defensive unit represents one of PKL 12's more reliable units, averaging 10.8 tackle points per match at 43% success rate. Their performance correlation with results is striking:

Defensive splits by results:

  • In wins (4 matches): 12.3 average tackle points at 49% SR
  • In losses (5 matches): 9.6 average tackle points at 38% SR

Key defensive contributors:

  • Ankit: 20 tackle points (2.2 average, 42% SR)
  • Ajit Pawar: 19 tackle points (2.1 average, 53% SR)
  • Shubham Shinde: 16 tackle points (1.8 average, 40% SR)
  • Avi Duhan: 15 tackle points (1.9 average, 50% SR)

The concerning aspect is Shubham Shinde's struggles despite being expected to lead the defence. His 40% success rate has created vulnerability that opponents have exploited.

Their recent triumph over Tamil Thalaivas showcased their defensive potential: 13 tackle points at 54% success rate with 13 assists – the kind of performance that needs replicating consistently.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 12 | Gujarat Giants – 10 | Telugu Titans – 2 | Tied – 0

Gujarat Giants have historically dominated this fixture, losing only once to the Titans since PKL 7. However, that lone defeat came in their most recent encounter (PKL 11), suggesting the tide may be turning.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 11 M#111: Telugu Titans won 36–32
  • PKL 11 M#71: Gujarat Giants won 31–28
  • PKL 10 M#59: Gujarat Giants won 37–30
  • PKL 10 M#1: Gujarat Giants won 38–32
  • PKL 9 M#123: Gujarat Giants won 44–30

The psychological factor could prove crucial – Telugu Titans know they can beat the Giants, whilst Gujarat's recent struggles may have dented their confidence in this fixture.

Key Player Battles

Telugu Titans' Raiders vs Gujarat Giants' Defenders

  • Vijay Malik 9–6 Shadloui
  • Bharat 10–10 Shadloui (perfectly matched)
  • Vijay Malik 1–3 Shubham Kumar

Gujarat Giants' Raiders vs Telugu Titans' Defenders

  • Rakesh 2–2 Shubham Shinde
  • Parteek Dahiya 9–1 Shubham Shinde
  • Parteek Dahiya 3–0 Ajit Pawar
  • Rakesh 2–0 Ajit Pawar

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a fascinating psychological battle between two teams desperate for different reasons. Gujarat Giants need wins to avoid the wooden spoon, whilst Telugu Titans require consistency to cement their playoff position.

Shadloui's milestone match could provide the emotional catalyst for his revival, particularly against opponents he's historically dominated. Conversely, the Titans' raiding duo of Bharat and Vijay Malik will fancy their chances against a vulnerable Giants defence.

The key battle lies in whether Shadloui can rediscover his defensive instincts against raiders who know his game intimately. If he fails, the Giants' season could effectively be over.

Match Details

  • Match: Gujarat Giants vs Telugu Titans – Match 47, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Tuesday, 23rd 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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