The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 continues with a fascinating contrast as table-topping Puneri Paltan take on winless Patna Pirates in Match 22. The encounter gains additional intrigue with two kabaddi legends—Ajay Thakur and Anup Kumar—facing off as coaches for the first time, whilst the in-form Paltan look to capitalise on Pirates' early struggles.

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 – Vishal Bhardwaj

Patna Pirates

  • Right Corner – Sombir
  • Right In – Maninder Singh
  • Right Cover – Deepak Singh
  • Centre – Sudhakar M
  • Left Cover – Sanket Sawant
  • Left In – Ayan
  • Left Corner – Ankit (C)

Headlines

➢ Ajay Thakur vs Anup Kumar – Two kabaddi legends clash from the dugout

➢ Table-toppers Pune face bottom-placed Patna in contrasting fortunes battle

➢ Mighty Maninder vs Pune's defence – Paltan's wall braces for Mani's firepower

➢ Pune raiding like a unit – multiple contributors keep attack balanced

➢ Ayan in the spotlight – young raider shoulders Pirates' fightback hopes

➢ Patna's defence needs revival after shaky start to season

Top Stories of the Match

Ajay Thakur vs Anup Kumar – Two Prominent Raiders Facing Off as Coaches

Super Monday promises a captivating subplot as two of kabaddi's most celebrated raiders square off from the sidelines for the first time in their coaching careers. Ajay Thakur's Puneri Paltan sit comfortably atop the table, whilst Anup Kumar's Patna Pirates remain winless at the bottom—a stark contrast in their coaching debut seasons.

During their illustrious playing careers, these legends crossed paths memorably in the PKL 2 finals, where Anup Kumar's U Mumba defeated Ajay Thakur's Bengaluru Bulls 36-30. Both warriors represented India with distinction, with Anup Kumar captaining the 2016 World Cup-winning squad whilst Ajay Thakur emerged as the tournament's leading raider with 64 points.

Their PKL statistics reflect their exceptional quality—Ajay Thakur accumulated 795 raid points across 120 matches at a 6.6 average with 29 Super 10s, whilst Anup Kumar registered 527 points in 91 matches at 5.7 average with 13 Super 10s. Now, their tactical acumen and leadership philosophies will be tested as they guide their respective teams from entirely different positions in the standings.

Mighty Maninder vs Pune's Defence

The centrepiece battle features Maninder Singh, the league's second-highest raid point scorer with 1,551 points and 79 Super 10s, against Puneri Paltan's formidable defensive wall. The Pirates' talisman has endured a mixed start to PKL 12, managing 23 points across three matches with one Super 10, including a particularly difficult outing against Bengaluru Bulls, where he managed just 1 point from 5 raids at 20% efficiency.

Maninder's second-half prowess remains his greatest weapon. Since PKL 9, he has accumulated 53% of his points (293 out of 558) in the latter half at an impressive 64% strike rate. This season continues the trend, with 14 of his 23 points (60%) coming in second halves at a remarkable 74% efficiency.

Confronting him stands one of PKL 12's most organised defensive units. Puneri Paltan's defence averages 13.3 tackle points per match—second-best in the league—and has crossed double-digit tackle points in all four encounters with success rates exceeding 40%. Their standout performance came against Gujarat Giants, where they accumulated 18 tackle points at 72% efficiency.

Gaurav Khatri leads their defensive charge with 14 tackle points at an outstanding 70% strike rate, supported admirably by Gurdeep (13 points at 62%) and Vishal Bhardwaj (9 points at 60%). Remarkably, four different Paltan defenders have already secured High 5s this season.

The tactical battle intensifies when considering Maninder's historical success against Puneri Paltan—113 points in 14 matches at 8.1 average with 61% strike rate and 5 Super 10s. However, Gaurav Khatri holds a psychological edge with a 5-1 head-to-head advantage over the Mighty Maninder. The bonus point battle becomes crucial, as Maninder leads PKL in bonus points (348) whilst being vulnerable to ankle holds, having been dismissed 140 times via this method.

Team Stories

Puneri Paltan – PKL 12 So Far

M#14 vs Dabang Delhi K.C.: Lost 28(5)–28(5) [Golden Raid (2-0)]

M#11 vs Bengal Warriorz: Won 45–36

M#8 vs Gujarat Giants: Won 41–19

M#2 vs Bengaluru Bulls: Won 32(6)–32(4) [Tiebreaker]

The Paltan's remarkable consistency has positioned them atop the standings despite their sole defeat coming in heartbreaking fashion against Dabang Delhi K.C. in a golden raid. Under Aslam Inamdar's captaincy, they have emerged as the season's most balanced outfit, combining tactical discipline with individual brilliance.

Puneri Paltan Raiding Trio Up for Patna Challenge

The transformation of Puneri Paltan's raiding unit from last season's struggles represents one of PKL 12's most impressive turnarounds. Their opening four matches in PKL 11 yielded merely 15.8 points per match at 36% efficiency, but this season they have revolutionised their approach, averaging 21.0 points at 52% strike rate.

Aditya Shinde has spearheaded this revival, accumulating 32 points at 8.0 average with remarkable consistency—maintaining strike rates above 65% in every appearance. His match-by-match progression showcases sustained excellence: 75% vs Bengaluru Bulls, 67% vs Gujarat Giants, 73% vs Bengal Warriorz, and 75% vs Dabang Delhi K.C.

Captain Aslam Inamdar achieved a significant milestone by becoming the first player to reach 500 raid points for Puneri Paltan in PKL history. His unique distinction as the only all-rounder since PKL 8 to combine 500+ raid points (503) with 50+ tackle points (69) exemplifies his versatility and leadership qualities.

Patna Pirates – PKL 12 So Far

M#17 vs Bengaluru Bulls: Lost 30–38

M#10 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers: Lost 36–39

M#7 vs U.P. Yoddhas: Lost 31–34

The three-time champions find themselves in uncharted territory, occupying the bottom position without a single point. Their narrow defeats suggest competitive performances, but crucial moments have consistently favoured opponents. Defensive frailties have been particularly concerning, averaging just 6.3 tackle points per match—the league's lowest.

Spotlight on Ayan – A Shining Young Raider

Despite collective struggles, Patna Pirates' raiding department has maintained respectability, ranking third league-wide with 23.0 points per match. Young sensation Ayan has emerged as their leading light, topping the team's scoring charts with 25 points at 8.3 average and 58% efficiency, including a crucial Super 10 against Bengaluru Bulls.

Ayan's tactical awareness shines in challenging scenarios. His career statistics in 4-5 defender situations (72 points at 47% efficiency) demonstrate composure under pressure, maintained this season with 6 points at 43% strike rate in similar circumstances. His progression through PKL 12 shows increasing confidence: 60% vs U.P. Yoddhas, 46% vs Jaipur Pink Panthers, and 67% vs Bengaluru Bulls.

Head-to-Head in PKL Overall:

Matches – 24 | Puneri Paltan – 6 | Patna Pirates – 14 | Tied – 4

Recent encounters favour Puneri Paltan significantly, with 4 victories in 7 meetings since PKL 9 compared to the Pirates' solitary win. However, the historical dominance belongs to Patna Pirates, who lead the overall head-to-head 14-6.

What to Expect

This encounter presents a fascinating study in contrasts—Puneri Paltan's balanced excellence against Patna Pirates' individual brilliance struggling within a collective framework. The Paltan's defensive solidity and multi-pronged raiding attack face Maninder Singh's proven class and Ayan's emerging talent.

Puneri Paltan's momentum and tactical cohesion provide significant advantages, but Patna Pirates' desperation for their first victory could produce inspired performances. The coaching battle between Ajay Thakur and Anup Kumar adds tactical intrigue, with both legends seeking to impose their philosophies at crucial junctures.

The team that executes more effectively in pressure moments—particularly Puneri Paltan's defensive schemes against Maninder Singh's second-half surge—will likely determine this contest's outcome.

Key Player Battles

Puneri Paltan Raiders vs Patna Pirates Defenders

Sachin 3 – 3 Ankit

Sachin 6 – 5 Sombir

Sachin 11 – 1 Sanket Sawant

Aslam Inamdar 4 – 0 Deepak Singh

Pankaj Mohite 3 – 4 Ankit

Patna Pirates Raiders vs Puneri Paltan Defenders

Maninder Singh 14 – 7 Vishal Bhardwaj

Maninder Singh 9 – 7 Abinesh Nadarajan

Maninder Singh 1 – 5 Gaurav Khatri

Ayan 1 – 3 Gaurav Khatri

Match Details

  • Match: Puneri Paltan vs Patna Pirates
  • Tournament: Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 – Match 22
  • Date: Monday, September 9, 2025
  • Time: 9 PM IST
  • Venue: Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag
  • 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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