The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 continues at the Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag, with Match 8 featuring defending champions Puneri Paltan against Gujarat Giants. The Paltan come into this encounter buoyed by a thrilling tie-breaker victory over Bengaluru Bulls in their opener, whilst the Giants are looking to bounce back after a narrow tie-breaker defeat to U Mumba. This clash promises tactical intrigue as the Season 10 champions face a side desperate to rediscover their early PKL form.

Probable Starting 7

Puneri Paltan

  • Right Corner: Gaurav Khatri
  • Right In: Aditya Shinde
  • Right Cover: Abinesh Nadarajan
  • Centre: Pankaj Mohite
  • Left Cover: Gurdeep
  • Left In: Aslam Inamdar (C)
  • Left Corner: Mohd. Amaan

Gujarat Giants

  • Right Corner: Himanshu
  • Right In: Himanshu Singh
  • Right Cover: Nitin Panwar
  • Centre: Rakesh
  • Left Cover: Shubham Kumar
  • Left In: V Ajith Kumar
  • Left Corner: Mohammadreza Shadloui (C)

Team Stories

Puneri Paltan – Champions Defending Their Crown

Season-by-Season Performance:

  • PKL 1 – League Stage
  • PKL 2 – League Stage
  • PKL 3 – Semi-finals
  • PKL 4 – Semi-finals
  • PKL 5 – Eliminator
  • PKL 6 – Group Stage
  • PKL 7 – League Stage
  • PKL 8 – Eliminator
  • PKL 9 – Runners-up
  • PKL 10 – Champions
  • PKL 11 – League Stage

The Paltan's journey from bottom-dwellers in the early seasons to PKL 10 champions represents one of the league's great transformation stories. Despite defending the same core unit that delivered their maiden title, they surprisingly failed to qualify for the playoffs in PKL 11. Under Ajay Thakur's guidance, they've assembled a raiding-heavy squad, successfully retaining their proven trio whilst adding depth. Their opening match triumph against Bengaluru Bulls in a nail-biting tie-breaker showcased the champion mentality that never deserts them.

Gujarat Giants – Former Finalists Seeking Revival

Season-by-Season Performance:

  • PKL 5 – Runners-up
  • PKL 6 – Runners-up
  • PKL 7 – Group Stage
  • PKL 8 – Eliminator 2
  • PKL 9 – Group Stage
  • PKL 10 – Eliminator 2
  • PKL 11 – Group Stage

The Giants' story is one of early promise followed by sustained struggle. After reaching consecutive finals in their debut seasons (PKL 5 & 6), they've managed just two playoff appearances in five subsequent campaigns. Their second-last finish in PKL 11, winning merely five matches, highlighted their decline. However, their acquisition of Mohammadreza Shadloui for ₹2.23 crore signals serious intent to reclaim their status amongst the elite.

Head-to-Head Record in PKL

Overall: 16 Matches → Puneri Paltan 7 | Gujarat Giants 8 | Tied 1

Recent Form: Paltan have remained unbeaten against the Giants over the last two seasons, winning all four encounters and establishing psychological dominance in this fixture.

Top Stories of the Match

Showstopper Shadloui Returns to Face Former Club

The headline attraction sees Mohammadreza Shadloui, PKL's most expensive defender ever, returning to face his PKL 10 championship-winning teammates. Having led Haryana Steelers to PKL 11 glory with a league-leading 82 tackle points, his ₹2.23 crore price tag reflects his status as kabaddi's premier defensive asset. The Iranian has averaged 3.8 tackle points per match across his PKL career, the highest among defenders with significant contributions.

Champions' Raiding Artillery

Puneri Paltan boasts formidable depth in attack with Sachin's addition bolstering an already potent unit. The veteran became the eighth player to breach 1,000 PKL raid points, bringing his tally to 1,035. Captain Aslam Inamdar's leadership qualities were evident in their opening victory, whilst Aditya Shinde's Super 10 against the Bulls demonstrated the squad's raiding breadth.

Giants' Quest for Consistency

Despite their disappointing recent campaigns, the Giants showed encouraging signs against U Mumba. Their raiding unit accumulated 16 points in the tie-breaker defeat, with Himanshu Singh and Rakesh contributing effectively. The challenge lies in maintaining this standard throughout the season.

What to Expect

Champions' Mettle vs Giants' Hunger: Paltan's championship experience against Giants' desperation for revival creates compelling narrative tension.

Defensive Masterclass: Shadloui's faceoff against his former club promises tactical battles, particularly against Aslam Inamdar and the Paltan raiders he knows intimately.

Raiding Depth Test: Paltan's multi-faceted attack will challenge the Giants' defensive structure, with Pankaj Mohite (4 points away from 400 PKL raid points) and Aslam looking to exploit any weaknesses.

Match Details

Match: Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants
Tournament: Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 – Match 8
Date: Monday, September 1, 2025
Time: 9 PM IST
Venue: Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag
LIVE Streaming: Watch 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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