The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 continues with a high-voltage clash as Tamil Thalaivas take on Gujarat Giants in Match 18 at the Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag. The Thalaivas are looking to bounce back after a narrow loss to U Mumba, while Gujarat Giants are still chasing their first win of the season.

Probable Starting 7

Tamil Thalaivas

  • Right Corner – Aashish
  • Right In – Pawan Sehrawat (C)
  • Right Cover – Ronak
  • Centre – Suresh Jadhav
  • Left Cover – Himanshu
  • Left In – Arjun Deshwal
  • Left Corner – Nitesh Kumar

Gujarat Giants

  • Right Corner – Himanshu
  • Right In – Himanshu Singh
  • Right Cover – Nitin Panwar
  • Centre – Rakesh
  • Left Cover – Shubham Kumar
  • Left In – Parteek Dahiya
  • Left Corner – Mohammadreza Shadloui (C)

Headlines

➢ Raid Machine Arjun Deshwal vs Showstopper Shadloui
 ➢ Pawan brings the power for Thalaivas
 ➢ Rakesh leads Gujarat’s raiding charge
 ➢ Nitesh Kumar-led defence needs to show resilience
 ➢ Thalaivas aim to get back on winning track
 ➢ Gujarat Giants eyeing their first win of PKL 12

Top Stories of the Match

Raid Machine Arjun Deshwal to Take on Showstopper Shadloui

Arjun Deshwal has been unstoppable since PKL 8, emerging as the league’s top raider with more than 1000 raid points in this period. He also tops the bonus points chart and has been the backbone of the Thalaivas’ attack in PKL 12.

On the other side, Gujarat Giants’ captain Mohammadreza Shadloui is coming off a poor outing against Puneri Paltan where he failed to score a single point. Bought for ₹2.23 crore, Shadloui has been one of PKL’s most impactful all-rounders in recent years and will be eager to bounce back against a strong Thalaivas raiding unit.

Pawan Brings the Power

Pawan Sehrawat returned to the Thalaivas setup in PKL 12, and though he started slow in their last match, he came alive in the second half to make a big impact. His ability to change the momentum with quick raids will be crucial against Gujarat’s defence.

Team Stories

Tamil Thalaivas – PKL 12 So Far

  • M#1 vs Telugu Titans: Won 38–35
  • M#5 vs U Mumba: Lost 33–36

The Thalaivas opened their campaign with a close win over Telugu Titans but faltered against U Mumba despite holding a 9-point lead at halftime. While Arjun Deshwal has been consistent, the team needs Pawan Sehrawat to fire alongside him and the defence, led by Nitesh Kumar, to hold strong in crunch moments.

Nitesh Kumar-Led Defence Needs Resilience

Thalaivas have averaged about 11 tackle points per match this season and continue to rank among the top defensive sides. Nitesh Kumar, who was the best defender in PKL 11, will be expected to lead from the front. With their strong defensive pedigree, Thalaivas will look to balance their raiding firepower with defensive solidity.

Gujarat Giants – PKL 12 So Far

  • M#4 vs U Mumba: Lost 34(6)–34(5) [Tie-Breaker]
  • M#8 vs Puneri Paltan: Lost 19–41

It’s been a tough start for the Giants. After an unlucky tie-break loss to U Mumba, they were comprehensively beaten by Puneri Paltan. Shadloui failed to score in that match, and Gujarat will need him back in form to complement their raiding spearhead Rakesh. Parteek Dahiya also needs to rediscover his rhythm to provide balance in attack.

Rakesh as the Spearhead – Needs Support

Rakesh has been Gujarat’s go-to raider and started strong in the first game. However, with Parteek Dahiya struggling for consistency, he needs more support from the rest of the raiding unit to trouble the Thalaivas’ defence.

Head-to-Head in PKL

  • Overall: Matches – 12 | Tamil Thalaivas – 5 | Gujarat Giants – 6 | Tied – 1

What to Expect

This match promises a classic raid-vs-defence battle. Arjun Deshwal and Pawan Sehrawat will test Gujarat’s defensive leader Shadloui, while Rakesh will look to pierce through a Thalaivas defence led by Nitesh Kumar. Both teams have shown flashes of brilliance but also weaknesses under pressure — whichever side holds their composure in the closing stages could walk away with the win.

Key Player Battles

Tamil Thalaivas’ Raiders vs Gujarat Giants’ Defenders

  • Arjun Deshwal 19 – 8 Shadloui
  • Pawan Sehrawat 2 – 5 Shadloui

Gujarat Giants’ Raiders vs Tamil Thalaivas’ Defenders

  • Rakesh 2 – 1 Nitesh Kumar
  • V Ajith Kumar 0 – 2 Nitesh Kumar

Match Details

  • Match: Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants
  • Tournament: Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 – Match 18
  • Date: Saturday, September 6, 2025
  • Time: 9 PM IST
  • Venue: Vishwanadh Sports Club, Vizag

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Tamil ThalaivasGujarat FortunegiantsPro Kabaddi League Season 12, 2025 FeaturesNewsMatch PreviewsEnglish