Two teams at opposite ends of the spectrum clash in Match 43 of PKL 12 as bottom-placed Patna Pirates host the only unbeaten side Dabang Delhi K.C. The three-time champions are desperately seeking wins to salvage their season, whilst Delhi aim to maintain their perfect record and cement their position as title favourites.

Probable Starting 7

Patna Pirates

  • Right Corner – Navdeep
  • Right In – Maninder Singh
  • Right Cover – Deepak Singh
  • Centre – Milan Dahiya
  • Left Cover – Sanket Sawant
  • Left In – Ayan
  • Left Corner – Ankit (C)

Dabang Delhi K.C.

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

Headlines

➢ Dabang Delhi K.C. in unstoppable form with 7 wins in 7 games – only unbeaten team
➢ Despite Ashu failing in last match, defence stepped up to compensate
➢ Fazel in top form, became defender with most High 5s in PKL with one in last game
➢ Patna Pirates on other end of the table, have won only 1 match this season
➢ Pirates' defence has ways to go, they are among the lowest performing defences in the league
➢ Ayan has been in top form for them, but has to perform every match consistently

Top Stories of the Match

Dabang Delhi K.C. in Unstoppable Form in PKL 12

Dabang Delhi K.C. have established themselves as the outstanding team of PKL 12, winning all seven matches to maintain their perfect record. They remain the only side yet to taste defeat this season, building momentum with each passing game.

Captain Ashu Malik has been the architect of their success, recording five Super 10s in his first six matches. However, their latest victory against Telugu Titans showcased their depth when Malik struggled to find his usual rhythm.

Neeraj Narwal stepped up magnificently against the Titans, nearly achieving a Super 10 with 8 raid points at a 57% strike rate. This performance highlighted Delhi's ability to find alternative sources of points when its main weapon is contained.

The defensive unit delivered a masterclass in their last outing, with veteran stalwarts rising to the occasion:

  • Fazel Atrachali: 5 tackle points at 100% SR (High 5)
  • Saurabh Nandal: 5 tackle points at 71% SR (High 5)
  • Surjeet Singh: 4 tackle points at 67% SR

This collective defensive effort secured 15 tackle points – their highest tally this season – demonstrating the championship mentality that has made them title favourites.

Agent Ashu Malik and Ayan Battle It Out in a Battle of Top Raiders

This encounter features a fascinating duel between two of the season's premier raiders, both operating at elite levels but for teams with contrasting fortunes.

Ashu Malik has been phenomenal in PKL 12, averaging 12.8 raid points at a 59% strike rate with five Super 10s in six matches. He currently ranks second in the league for average raid points and holds the most Do-or-Die raid points (14) at an extraordinary 140% success rate.

Ayan has been equally impressive for the struggling Pirates, averaging 12.2 raid points at a 68% strike rate with three Super 10s. His fourth-best average in the league makes him one of the season's standout performers despite his team's poor record.

Both raiders excel in the opening half, with Ayan particularly dominant (77% first-half strike rate vs Ashu's 64%). In fact, Ayan ranks second in the entire league for first-half raid success rate among players with 25+ raid points.

Their contrasting skills add intrigue to the battle:

  • Ashu Malik: Second-most points using jump skill (9 points)
  • Ayan: Most points using hand touch (27 points)

The psychological dimension is equally compelling. When these sides met in last season's semifinal, both were secondary raiders for their respective teams. Ashu scored 9 points whilst Ayan managed 8 as the Pirates progressed to the final.

Now established as primary raiders, their head-to-head battle could determine the match outcome, especially given the contrasting form of their supporting casts.

Team Stories

Patna Pirates – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#38 vs Haryana Steelers – Lost 32–43 (11-point defeat)
  • M#27 vs U Mumba – Lost 39–40 (heartbreaking 1-point loss)
  • M#22 vs Puneri Paltan – Won 48–37 (dominant 11-point victory)
  • M#17 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 30–38 (8-point defeat)
  • M#10 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Lost 36–39 (3-point loss)

The three-time champions find themselves in unprecedented crisis, winning just one of their six matches this season. Their horror streak of three consecutive defeats was briefly interrupted by a stunning performance against Puneri Paltan, but they've since suffered two more losses.

The Puneri Paltan victory showcased their potential when everything clicks. Ayan's scintillating 21-point performance, combined with their best defensive display (13 tackle points), demonstrated they possess the quality to compete at the highest level.

However, their inability to build momentum has left them second-last in the table, desperately needing consistent performances to salvage their season.

Pirates' Defence Not Able to Step Up

The defensive unit represents the Pirates' biggest concern this season, with their statistics making for grim reading. They average just 8.2 tackle points per match – the lowest in the entire league.

The contrast between their lone victory and five defeats starkly illustrates their defensive struggles:

Victory vs Puneri Paltan:

  • 13 tackle points at 45% success rate

Five defeats combined:

  • 36 tackle points (7.2 average) at 31% success rate

Their second-half defensive performances have been particularly alarming, recording the lowest tackle success rate in the league (30%) after the interval. This trend has cost them crucial points in tight matches.

Individual defensive statistics highlight the systemic issues:

  • Ankit: 13 tackle points (2.2 average, 43% SR)
  • Deepak Singh: 11 tackle points (1.8 average, 38% SR)
  • Navdeep: 11 tackle points (1.8 average, 34% SR)
  • Sanket Sawant: 4 tackle points (0.7 average, 19% SR)

Worryingly, none of their main defenders have achieved 50% tackle success rate this season, with Sanket Sawant's 19% particularly concerning.

The imbalance was starkly evident in their recent defeat to Haryana Steelers, where the corner defenders managed 7 tackle points from 13 tackles (54% SR) whilst the covers contributed zero tackle points from 7 attempts.

Dabang Delhi K.C. – PKL 12 So Far

Perfect Record:

  • M#37 vs Telugu Titans – Won 33–29
  • M#28 vs Gujarat Giants – Won 38–28
  • M#23 vs Bengal Warriorz – Won 45–34
  • M#20 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Won 36–35
  • M#14 vs Puneri Paltan – Won 28–28 (Golden Raid)
  • M#9 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Won 41–34

The capital side's perfect start has been built on the consistent brilliance of captain Ashu Malik and the resurgence of their veteran defensive core. Their ability to find different ways to win – from high-scoring affairs to tight defensive battles – marks them as genuine title contenders.

The Telugu Titans victory proved particularly significant, demonstrating their championship mettle when their primary weapon was neutralised.

Sultan Fazel Atrachali Leading the Delhi Defence

The legendary defender has turned back the clock with a series of commanding performances, highlighted by back-to-back High 5s against Gujarat Giants and Telugu Titans.

His recent form has been exceptional:

  • vs Gujarat Giants: 5 tackle points at 71% SR
  • vs Telugu Titans: 5 tackle points at 100% SR

These performances culminated in a historic achievement – Fazel became the defender with the most High 5s in PKL history (35), surpassing teammate Surjeet Singh (34).

Currently averaging 3.3 tackle points per match at 61% success rate, Fazel ranks joint-second in the league for average tackle points. His leadership and experience have been instrumental in Delhi's defensive resurgence.

The Delhi defensive unit has shown remarkable consistency, recording 10+ tackle points in five of their six matches. Their 15-point haul against Telugu Titans represented their season's best, built around the veteran defensive core.

Saurabh Nandal has provided excellent support at right corner, averaging 3.0 tackle points at 62% success rate. His outstanding record against Patna Pirates (27 tackle points in 8 matches at 63% SR with 1 High 5) gives Delhi additional confidence.

Surjeet Singh has gradually found his rhythm after a slow start, contributing significantly in the Telugu Titans victory after early-season struggles.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 20 | Dabang Delhi K.C. – 9 | Patna Pirates – 11 | Tied – 3

Historically, this has been an evenly contested rivalry with Patna Pirates holding a slight overall advantage. The head-to-head record includes some of PKL's most memorable encounters, including finals and knockout matches.

Recent meetings have been dominated by Patna Pirates, who are unbeaten in their last five encounters against Delhi:

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 11 Semifinal 2: Pirates won 32–28
  • PKL 11 M#78: Match tied 39–39
  • PKL 11 M#27: Pirates won 44–30
  • PKL 10 Eliminator 1: Pirates won 37–35
  • PKL 10 M#72: Match tied 39–39

The psychological advantage clearly lies with the Pirates despite their current struggles, having consistently found ways to overcome Delhi in crucial encounters.

Key Player Battles

Patna Pirates' Raiders vs Dabang Delhi K.C.'s Defenders

  • Maninder Singh 12–13 Fazel Atrachali
  • Maninder Singh 15–5 Saurabh Nandal
  • Maninder Singh 21–7 Surjeet Singh
  • Ayan 3–0 Saurabh Nandal

Dabang Delhi K.C.'s Raiders vs Patna Pirates' Defenders

  • Ashu Malik 14–5 Ankit
  • Ashu Malik 8–4 Deepak Singh
  • Ashu Malik 6–1 Sanket Sawant
  • Ajinkya Pawar 7–3 Sanket Sawant

What to Expect

This match represents a classic clash between form and history. Dabang Delhi K.C.'s perfect record and championship credentials face the litmus test of Patna Pirates' historical dominance in this fixture.

The key battle will unfold between two of the season's premier raiders – Ashu Malik and Ayan – with their respective supporting casts potentially determining the outcome.

Delhi's veteran defensive unit faces its sternest test against a Pirates side desperate for points, whilst the hosts must overcome their defensive frailties against one of the league's most potent attacking forces.

Expect a closely contested encounter where the Pirates' desperation could prove the decisive factor in ending Delhi's perfect run.

Match Details

  • Match: Patna Pirates vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – Match 43, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Saturday, 20th 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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