Two teams enjoying contrasting fortunes meet in Match 60 of PKL 12 as Gujarat Giants host U Mumba in the reverse fixture of their season-opening tie-breaker thriller. The iconic moment where Sunil Kumar tackled Shadloui to seal victory remains fresh in memory as both captains seek to establish supremacy in this rematch.

Probable Starting 7

Gujarat Giants

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

U Mumba

  • Right Corner – Rinku
  • Right In – A Zafardanesh
  • Right Cover – Sunil Kumar (C)
  • Centre – Anil
  • Left Cover – Parvesh Bhainswal
  • Left In – Ajit Chouhan
  • Left Corner – Vijay Kumar

Headlines

➢ U Mumba snapped out of their losing streak with an impressive win over the Thalaivas in the last match
➢ Sandeep is in impressive form, brought up his third consecutive Super 10
➢ Defence came back into excellent form, and got 16 tackle points, one of their best performances this season
➢ Captain Sunil Kumar finally came to form with an excellent High 5
➢ Lokesh Ghosliya has been U Mumba's best defender this season, also had a High 5
➢ Gujarat Giants also were in impressive form in the last game, to pick up their second win of the season
➢ Shadloui had his best match of the season, getting 8 points in total (4 raid + 4 tackle)

Top Stories of the Match

Sunil Kumar Takes On Showstopper Shadloui and Former Team in Reverse Fixture

The reverse fixture carries immense psychological weight after their season-opening tie-breaker thriller went down to the final raid. In that iconic moment, Shadloui attempted multiple points but was famously tackled by Sunil Kumar, sealing U Mumba's dramatic victory and setting the tone for both teams' contrasting seasons.

Sunil Kumar's magnificent resurgence against Tamil Thalaivas showcased the form that once made him PKL's premier cover defender. His High 5 performance (6 tackle points at 86% success rate) represented his second of the season and signalled his return to peak performance.

However, consistency has eluded the U Mumba captain throughout PKL 12. His season statistics reveal stark contrasts between early struggles and recent revival:

Sunil Kumar's seasonal progression:

  • First 4 matches: 4 tackle points (1.0 average) at 22% success rate, 0 High 5s
  • Next 6 matches: 19 tackle points (3.2 average) at 59% success rate, 2 High 5s

The emotional connection to Gujarat Giants adds another layer to this encounter. Sunil Kumar's first captaincy stint came with the Giants in PKL 6, where he led them to the final before falling short of the ultimate prize. His intimate knowledge of the franchise could prove crucial.

U Mumba's defensive renaissance in their last match contrasted sharply with previous struggles:

Defensive comparison:

  • vs Tamil Thalaivas: 16 tackle points at 67% success rate from 24 tackles
  • Previous 5 matches: 39 tackle points at 31% success rate from 127 tackles

Lokesh Ghosliya's continued excellence provided the perfect complement to Sunil Kumar's High 5, with his own milestone performance. The corner duo has been U Mumba's defensive backbone:

  • Lokesh Ghosliya: 24 tackle points (2.7 average, 56% success rate)
  • Rinku: 21 tackle points (2.1 average, 46% success rate)

They face Shadloui's best performance of the season – a complete 8-point display (4 raid, 4 tackle) at elite success rates that proved decisive in Gujarat's victory over UP Yoddhas.

Shadloui's resurgence:

  • 4 raid points at 133% success rate
  • 4 tackle points at 80% success rate

Yet this performance remains an outlier in his nightmare season. Zero High 5s in 9 matches whilst averaging just 1.4 tackle points per match at 36% success rate represents career-worst form for the Iranian legend.

However, historical dominance over U Mumba offers genuine hope – 35 tackle points in 9 matches (3.9 average at 59% success rate) with 4 High 5s, including High 5s in both PKL 11 encounters and strong performance in their earlier meeting this season.

The captaincy duel between Sunil Kumar and Shadloui carries enormous significance, with the psychological advantage clearly favouring the U Mumba captain after the tie-breaker heroics.

Team Stories

U Mumba – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#58 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 42–24 (dominant 18-point victory)
  • M#50 vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – Lost 26–47 (21-point thrashing)
  • M#48 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Lost 38–38 (tie-breaker defeat)
  • M#40 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 22–40 (18-point defeat)
  • M#27 vs Patna Pirates – Won 40–39 (1-point thriller)

U Mumba emphatically ended their three-match losing streak with comprehensive domination of Tamil Thalaivas, leading from start to finish in a performance that suggested their true potential.

Ajit Chouhan's return from injury provides a crucial boost, restoring balance to the raiding unit that struggled in his absence. His presence alongside the in-form Sandeep creates a formidable attacking partnership.

The defensive transformation against Thalaivas showcased their ceiling – captain Sunil Kumar and Lokesh Ghosliya both recording High 5s in a collective performance that dismantled the opposition.

Sandeep in Prime Form, as Ajit Chouhan Returns to Lineup

Ajit Chouhan began the season as U Mumba's primary raider before injury disrupted his campaign. His initial form was excellent: 39 raid points in 5 matches (7.8 average, 68% success rate) with 2 Super 10s.

In his absence, Sandeep has seized the opportunity magnificently, recording three consecutive Super 10s that kept U Mumba competitive through difficult periods.

Sandeep's last three matches:

  • vs Jaipur Pink Panthers: 14 raid points at 64% SR from 22 raids
  • vs Dabang Delhi K.C.: 11 raid points at 69% SR from 16 raids
  • vs Tamil Thalaivas: 12 raid points at 52% SR from 23 raids

His seasonal statistics now reflect consistent excellence: 57 raid points in 8 matches (7.1 average, 56% success rate) with 3 Super 10s.

Time-wise analysis reveals fascinating patterns:

  • 1-10 minutes: 14 points at 70% SR (explosive starts)
  • 11-20 minutes: 12 points at 52% SR (steady)
  • 21-30 minutes: 18 points at 62% SR (strong third quarter)
  • 31-40 minutes: 13 points at 43% SR (late-game struggles)

The concerning trend is U Mumba's second-half attacking decline – they rank second-lowest in the league for second-half raid success rate (41%), trailing only Gujarat Giants (30%).

Support raiders provide adequate depth, though inconsistency remains:

  • Anil: 30 raid points (3.3 average, 36% SR)
  • A Zafardanesh: 26 raid points (3.7 average, 46% SR)
  • Satish Kannan: 21 raid points (3.0 average, 64% SR)

Gujarat Giants – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#53 vs UP Yoddhas – Won 33–27 (crucial 6-point victory)
  • M#47 vs Telugu Titans – Lost 29–30 (heartbreaking 1-point loss)
  • M#45 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 24–28 (4-point defeat)
  • M#33 vs Haryana Steelers – Lost 37–40 (3-point loss)
  • M#28 vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – Lost 28–38 (10-point defeat)

Breaking their five-match losing streak against UP Yoddhas provided crucial relief for Gujarat Giants, who languish in second-last position with just 2 wins in 9 matches.

The defensive excellence proved decisive – Ankit Dahiya's High 5 combined with Shadloui's near-miss (4 tackle points) and his surprise 4 raid points created the complete performance necessary for victory.

However, raiding struggles persist despite the win, with systemic issues requiring urgent attention for any playoff hopes.

Gujarat Giants Raiding Unit Continues to Struggle, Even as Defence Steps Up

The defensive resurgence against UP Yoddhas showcased their potential: 13 tackle points at 54% success rate from 24 tackles.

Ankit Dahiya's breakthrough performance (6 tackle points at 75% success rate) earned his maiden High 5, whilst Shadloui's dual contribution (4 raid, 4 tackle) represented season-defining excellence.

Established defensive contributors:

  • Nitin Panwar: 18 tackle points (2.0 average, 50% success rate)
  • Lucky Sharma: 13 tackle points (1.9 average, 57% success rate)

The correlation between defensive performance and results is absolute:

  • In wins (2 matches): 14.0 average tackle points at 60% success rate
  • In losses (7 matches): 8.9 average tackle points at 42% success rate

However, attacking fragility undermines defensive excellence. Even in victory, they managed just 16 raid points at 36% success rate against UP Yoddhas.

League-worst attacking statistics:

  • Lowest average raid points (16.9)
  • Worst success rate (39%)
  • Only team below 40% in the league

Rakesh carries enormous burden as the lone consistent contributor: 59 raid points in 9 matches (6.6 average, 44% success rate) with 2 Super 10s. However, his statistics remain inadequate for a primary raider.

Support raiders provide minimal assistance:

  • Himanshu Singh: 17 points (2.4 average, 31% SR)
  • Parteek Dahiya: 13 points (4.3 average, 43% SR)

The attacking crisis requires urgent resolution for Gujarat to mount any playoff challenge.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 17 | U Mumba – 6 | Gujarat Giants – 10 | Tied – 1

The historical record favours Gujarat Giants, though recent encounters have been closely contested. Since PKL 9, the balance has shifted slightly: U Mumba 3-4 Gujarat Giants.

Their season-opening tie-breaker provided one of PKL 12's most memorable moments. With scores level after regulation, the match went to penalties where Sunil Kumar's tackle of Shadloui in the decisive raid sealed U Mumba's dramatic victory.

In that encounter, no raider achieved Super 10, with Ajit Chouhan and Rohit Raghav contributing decently for U Mumba. Defensively, Sunil Kumar (2 tackle points) edged Shadloui (3 tackle points) in their individual battle before the iconic tie-breaker conclusion.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 12 M#4: U Mumba won 29–29 (tie-breaker)
  • PKL 11 M#100: Gujarat Giants won 34–33
  • PKL 11 M#12: U Mumba won 33–27
  • PKL 10 M#90: Gujarat Giants won 44–35
  • PKL 10 M#7: Gujarat Giants won 39–37

Key Player Battles

U Mumba's Raiders vs Gujarat Giants' Defenders

  • Ajit Chouhan 4–4 Shadloui (perfectly matched)
  • Sandeep 3–5 Shadloui
  • Sandeep 1–3 Nitin Panwar

Gujarat Giants' Raiders vs U Mumba's Defenders

  • Rakesh 8–3 Rinku
  • Rakesh 3–4 Sunil Kumar
  • Shadloui 6–1 Sunil Kumar (as raider)

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a fascinating rematch loaded with psychological subtext. The tie-breaker memory will influence both teams' approaches, with U Mumba carrying confidence from their earlier victory and recent resurgence.

Gujarat Giants' desperate need for wins to salvage their season contrasts with U Mumba's quest to build momentum following their dominant Tamil Thalaivas performance.

Expect a closely contested affair where the captains' individual battles – both tactical and physical – could prove decisive in determining the outcome.

Match Details

  • Match: Gujarat Giants vs U Mumba – Match 60, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Thursday, 2nd October 2025
  • Time: 9:00 PM IST
  • Venue: SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai
  • 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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