PKL Season 12 Match 42 Preview: Tamil Thalaivas vs Telugu Titans – Arjun's Captaincy Test

The SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur sets the stage for an intriguing encounter as Tamil Thalaivas host Telugu Titans in Match 42 of PKL 12. This fixture presents a fascinating narrative with Tamil Thalaivas' captain Arjun Deshwal looking to maintain his perfect record as skipper, whilst Telugu Titans seek revenge for their narrow 3-point defeat in the reverse fixture.

Probable Starting 7

Tamil Thalaivas

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

Telugu Titans

• Right Corner – Shubham Shinde
• Right In – Bharat
• Right Cover – Avi Duhan
• Centre – Chetan Sahu
• Left Cover – Ajit Pawar
• Left In – Vijay Malik (C)
• Left Corner – Ankit

Headlines

➢ Raid machine Arjun Deshwal – Tamil Thalaivas' star raider & captain courageous

➢ Unbeaten as a captain – Arjun Deshwal will hope to continue his winning streak

➢ Vijay Malik and Bharat – hope for Titans

➢ Titans looking for revenge, Thalaivas to gather momentum

➢ Consecutive wins and consecutive losses – Titans struggling to find rhythm

➢ Tamil Thalaivas with the consistent defence

➢ Titans' defence will have to perform better

Top Stories of the Match

Raid Machine Arjun Deshwal – Tamil Thalaivas' Star Raider & Captain Courageous

Arjun has established himself as PKL's premier raider since PKL 8, accumulating the most points during this period and cementing his status as one of the league's most formidable attackers.

Arjun Deshwal Achievements in PKL

• Champion: PKL 9
• MVP: PKL 9
• Overall Raider Rank: 4th (1233 raid points)

Arjun stands as the only player to surpass 1000 raid points since PKL 8, demonstrating remarkable consistency and excellence over multiple seasons.

Most Raid Points Since PKL 8

1. Arjun Deshwal: 1125 points (11.6 avg, 61% SR)
2. Maninder Singh: 824 points (10.0 avg, 62% SR)
3. Ashu Malik: 807 points (8.3 avg, 55% SR)

He also leads in bonus points since PKL 8, ranking second overall in PKL history for bonus points scored.

Most Bonus Points Since PKL 8

1. Arjun Deshwal: 300
2. Maninder Singh: 230
3. Vijay Malik: 215

Tamil Thalaivas' raiding unit has struggled for consistency this season, with the team heavily dependent on Arjun's brilliance. The collective raiding statistics highlight this over-reliance.

Tamil Thalaivas Raiding Unit in PKL 12

• Matches: 5
• Raid Points: 98
• Average Raid Points: 19.6
• Raid Success Rate: 48%

Arjun has recorded 4 Super 10s in 5 matches, maintaining a healthy success rate whilst averaging approximately 12 points per match. Remarkably, 60% of Thalaivas' total raid points have been contributed by Arjun alone.

Arjun Deshwal in PKL 12

• Matches: 5
• Raid Points: 59
• Average Raid Points: 11.8
• Raid Success Rate: 58%
• Super 10s: 4

His captaincy has proven transformational for the team's fortunes. He has won both matches in which he has captained the side, with the team performing significantly better overall.

Arjun's individual statistics reveal marked improvement under the captain's armband, as he takes greater responsibility and delivers enhanced performances.

Arjun Deshwal in PKL 12

• As Player (3 matches): 54 raids, 29 points (54% SR)
• As Captain (2 matches): 48 raids, 30 points (63% SR)

His historical record against Telugu Titans is exceptional, having scored the most raid points and Super 10s against them throughout his PKL career. He has achieved 9 Super 10s in 11 matches against the Titans.

In PKL 11, Arjun averaged 14.5 points against Telugu Titans, scoring 29 raid points across two encounters with two Super 10s.

Arjun Deshwal vs Telugu Titans

• Overall: 11 matches, 137 points (12.5 avg, 71% SR)
• PKL 11: 2 matches, 29 points (14.5 avg, 66% SR)

Arjun performs effectively in both halves but demonstrates superior efficiency in the first half, making him particularly dangerous during the opening phases of matches.

Arjun Deshwal in PKL 12 by Halves

• 1st Half: 51 raids, 32 points (63% SR)
• 2nd Half: 51 raids, 27 points (53% SR)

Bharat and Vijay Malik – Titans' Hope

Telugu Titans have struggled to establish consistent rhythm this season, but their raiding unit has shouldered the majority of the scoring burden effectively.

Telugu Titans are performing admirably as a collective raiding unit, averaging 20 points per match throughout PKL 12.

Telugu Titans Raiding Unit in PKL 12

• Matches: 8
• Raid Points: 161
• Average Raid Points: 20.0
• Raid Success Rate: 50%

The majority of their raid points have originated from Bharat and captain Vijay Malik, with valuable support from Chetan Sahu. Both primary raiders maintain raid success rates exceeding 50% this season.

Chetan Sahu has excelled in Do or Die situations, accumulating 9 DoD raid points, including two bonus points.

Most Raid Points for Telugu Titans in PKL 12

• Bharat: 66 points (8.2 avg, 56% SR)
• Vijay Malik: 63 points (7.9 avg, 51% SR)
• Chetan Sahu: 15 points (2.5 avg, 37% SR)

Vijay Malik demonstrates expertise in securing bonus points, recording 27 bonus points – the third-highest tally in the league this season.

Most Bonus Points in PKL 12

1. Gagan Gowda: 6 matches, 38 points
2. Devank: 7 matches, 32 points
3. Vijay Malik: 8 matches, 27 points

His tactical approach was evident against Puneri Paltan, where he scored 6 of his 7 raid points via bonuses.

Vijay Malik vs Puneri Paltan (M#32)

• Raids: 14
• Raid Points: 7
• Bonus Points: 6
• Assists: 1

Bharat achieved his fourth Super 10 of the season against Bengaluru Bulls, demonstrating consistent excellence across four consecutive matches before struggling against Dabang Delhi in the previous encounter.

Bharat Hooda in PKL 12 (Last 5 Matches)

• vs Bengal Warriorz (M#19): 11 points (65% SR)
• vs U Mumba (M#25): 12 points (75% SR)
• vs Puneri Paltan (M#32): 11 points (69% SR)
• vs Bengaluru Bulls (M#34): 13 points (68% SR)
• vs Dabang Delhi (M#37): 2 points (18% SR)

Bharat excels when facing 6-7 defenders on the mat, recording his highest success rates in these challenging situations.

Bharat Raiding by Defenders in Play (PKL 12)

• 6-7 DIP: 47 points (81% SR)
• 4-5 DIP: 10 points (22% SR)
• 2-3 DIP: 9 points (69% SR)

His historical performance against Tamil Thalaivas provides encouragement, maintaining a 50% success rate with 2 Super 10s across 9 encounters.

Bharat vs Tamil Thalaivas (Overall)

• Matches: 9
• Raid Points: 60
• Average Raid Points: 6.7
• Raid Success Rate: 50%
• Super 10s: 2

Titans Looking for Revenge, Thalaivas to Gather Momentum

Tamil Thalaivas secured victory against Telugu Titans in the reverse fixture, prevailing by 3 points in a closely contested encounter.

Arjun Deshwal launched PKL 12 brilliantly with a Super 10 in that opening fixture, receiving valuable support from Pawan Sehrawat's 9-point contribution. Despite Bharat's Super 10 and Vijay Malik's 6 points threatening to swing momentum towards the Titans, Thalaivas ultimately prevailed.

Since PKL 9, Tamil Thalaivas have dominated this fixture comprehensively, with Telugu Titans managing only one victory in PKL 11.

Since PKL 9: Matches: 7 | Tamil Thalaivas: 6 | Telugu Titans: 1

Tamil Thalaivas will seek to continue their 2-match winning momentum, whilst Telugu Titans aim to end their losing streak with revenge for the opening encounter.

Team Stories

Tamil Thalaivas

PKL 12 Summary (Last 5 Matches)

• M#36 vs Bengaluru Bulls: Won 35-29 (6-point victory)
• M#30 vs Bengal Warriorz: Won 46-36 (10-point victory)
• M#18 vs Gujarat Giants: Lost 28-37 (9-point defeat)
• M#5 vs U Mumba: Lost 33-36 (3-point defeat)
• M#1 vs Telugu Titans: Won 38-35 (3-point victory)

Tamil Thalaivas have registered a mixed start to the season, securing three victories and suffering two defeats in their opening five matches. They commenced the campaign positively with victory against Telugu Titans in the season opener.

Against U Mumba, they held a halftime advantage but surrendered the lead to lose by 3 points. Their defeat to Gujarat Giants saw only Nitesh Kumar shine defensively. Throughout these fluctuations, Arjun Deshwal has maintained consistent excellence, scoring crucial points in every encounter.

His appointment as captain prior to the Bengal Warriorz match proved transformational. He delivered a Super 10 and guided the team to victory. In their latest encounter, Thalaivas halted a rampaging Bulls unit that had maintained a 4-match unbeaten streak.

Tamil Thalaivas with the Consistent Defence

Tamil Thalaivas possess one of the league's most formidable defensive units in PKL 12.

Tamil Thalaivas Defence in PKL 12

• Matches: 5
• Tackle Points: 59
• Average Tackle Points: 11.8
• Tackle Success Rate: 46%

They hold the joint second-best average tackle points in PKL 12.

Best Average Tackle Points in PKL 12

1. Puneri Paltan: 13.1
2. Haryana Steelers: 11.8
3. Tamil Thalaivas: 11.8
4. Dabang Delhi: 11.5

Their defensive consistency has been remarkable, recording more than 10 tackle points in each match, with their last two encounters representing their finest performances.

Against Telugu Titans in the reverse fixture, Thalaivas' defence accumulated 11 tackle points at 44% success rate.

Best Defensive Performances (Thalaivas in PKL 12)

• vs Bengal Warriorz (M#30): 30 tackles, 15 points (50% SR)
• vs Bengaluru Bulls (M#36): 28 tackles, 12 points (43% SR)
• vs U Mumba (M#5): 22 tackles, 11 points (50% SR)

Nitesh Kumar has emerged as the defensive unit's leader and remains their only player to achieve a High 5 this season.

Most Tackle Points for Thalaivas in PKL 12

• Nitesh Kumar: 16 points (55% SR, 16 assists)
• Himanshu: 11 points (52% SR, 8 assists)
• Ronak: 11 points (48% SR, 25 assists)

Nitesh commenced the tournament excellently, securing a High 5 in his third match. Although he recorded only 5 tackle points in the last two encounters, he provided 8 crucial assists.

Nitesh Kumar in PKL 12 (Match-wise)

• vs Bengaluru Bulls (M#36): 3 points (50% SR, 4 assists)
• vs Bengal Warriorz (M#30): 2 points (40% SR, 4 assists)
• vs Gujarat Giants (M#18): 5 points (83% SR, 1 assist)
• vs U Mumba (M#5): 4 points (67% SR, 5 assists)
• vs Telugu Titans (M#1): 2 points (33% SR, 2 assists)

Ronak has demonstrated exceptional improvement, emerging as their most consistent defender in recent matches. Beyond scoring points, he has provided invaluable support to teammates, recording 25 assists – joint second-most in PKL 12.

Ronak in PKL 12

• First 3 matches: 9 tackles, 3 points (33% SR, 16 assists)
• Last 2 matches: 14 tackles, 8 points (57% SR, 9 assists)

Telugu Titans

PKL 12 Summary (Last 5 Matches)

• M#37 vs Dabang Delhi: Lost 29-33 (4-point defeat)
• M#34 vs Bengaluru Bulls: Lost 32-34 (2-point defeat)
• M#32 vs Puneri Paltan: Lost 33-39 (6-point defeat)
• M#25 vs U Mumba: Won 45-37 (8-point victory)
• M#19 vs Bengal Warriorz: Won 44-34 (10-point victory)

Following defeats in their opening two matches, Telugu Titans mounted a comeback with three consecutive victories before losing momentum against Puneri Paltan. They have subsequently lost two additional close contests against Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi.

Captain Vijay Malik has assumed significant responsibility, combining superbly with Bharat in recent encounters. The team hopes this partnership will continue delivering in upcoming fixtures.

Telugu Titans Defence Should Improve

Telugu Titans have significantly improved defensively compared to last season. In PKL 11, they finished last in average tackle points, becoming the only team recording fewer than 10 tackle points per match.

This season has shown improvement, averaging more than 10 tackle points per match and occupying eighth position in the points table, though consistency remains elusive.

Telugu Titans Defence in PKL 12

• Matches: 8
• Tackles: 200
• Tackle Points: 84
• Tackle Success Rate: 42%

Despite possessing experienced defenders, none have emerged as the lead defender or provided adequate support to the raiders. Notably, the raiding unit has contributed significantly through tackle points and assists.

Most Tackle Points for Titans in PKL 12

• Ajit Pawar: 18 points (2.2 avg, 55% SR)
• Ankit: 16 points (2.0 avg, 40% SR)
• Avi Duhan: 14 points (2.0 avg, 52% SR)
• Shubham Shinde: 14 points (1.7 avg, 41% SR)

Shubham Shinde, expected to be their lead defender, has struggled, contributing to defensive problems. Although defence has improved since the opening two matches, it remains insufficient.

Telugu Titans Defence in PKL 12

• First 2 matches: 20 tackle points (10.0 avg, 37% SR, 33 assists)
• Next 6 matches: 64 tackle points (10.7 avg, 44% SR, 72 assists)

They have gradually improved but lack consistency, experiencing frequent fluctuations between highs and lows.

Telugu Titans Defence (Match-wise PKL 12)

• vs Tamil Thalaivas (M#1): 11 points (44% SR)
• vs UP Yoddhas (M#3): 9 points (31% SR)
• vs Jaipur Pink Panthers (M#13): 14 points (44% SR)
• vs Bengal Warriorz (M#19): 10 points (45% SR)
• vs U Mumba (M#25): 12 points (57% SR)
• vs Puneri Paltan (M#32): 10 points (48% SR)
• vs Bengaluru Bulls (M#34): 6 points (24% SR)
• vs Dabang Delhi (M#37): 12 points (48% SR)

Shubham Shinde possesses a strong record against Thalaivas, and Titans hope he will deliver similar output in this encounter.

Shubham Shinde vs Tamil Thalaivas (Overall)

• Matches: 9
• Tackle Points: 24
• Average Tackle Points: 2.7
• Tackle Success Rate: 55%
• High 5s: 2

Face Off in PKL

Overall: Matches: 17 | Tamil Thalaivas: 10 | Telugu Titans: 6 | Tied: 1

Since PKL 9, Tamil Thalaivas have dominated this fixture, with Telugu Titans managing only one victory in PKL 11.

Since PKL 9: Matches: 7 | Tamil Thalaivas: 6 | Telugu Titans: 1

Last 5 Match Results

• PKL 12 M#1: Tamil Thalaivas won 38-35
• PKL 11 M#38: Telugu Titans won 35-34
• PKL 11 M#3: Tamil Thalaivas won 44-29
• PKL 10 M#88: Tamil Thalaivas won 54-29
• PKL 10 M#21: Tamil Thalaivas won 38-36

Key Player Battles

Tamil Thalaivas Raiders vs Telugu Titans Defenders

• Arjun Deshwal 10-2 Shubham Shinde
• Arjun Deshwal 6-0 Ajit Pawar
• Narender Kandola 7-5 Shubham Shinde
• Narender Kandola 7-5 Ajit Pawar

Telugu Titans Raiders vs Tamil Thalaivas Defenders

• Bharat 6-3 Nitesh Kumar
• Bharat 8-2 Himanshu
• Vijay Malik 0-3 Nitesh Kumar

Upcoming Milestones

Nitesh Kumar: Requires 3 tackle points to complete 100 tackle points in PKL

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a captivating battle between contrasting philosophies. Tamil Thalaivas, led by the exceptional Arjun Deshwal, will look to maintain their recent momentum and extend their dominance over Telugu Titans. The pressure lies on Arjun to continue his perfect record as captain whilst managing the team's over-dependence on his scoring ability.

Telugu Titans present a fascinating challenge with their potent raiding duo of Bharat and Vijay Malik. Their ability to bounce back from recent defeats will be tested against a defensively solid Thalaivas unit. The key battle will unfold between Arjun's individual brilliance and the Titans' collective raiding strength.

Expect a closely contested match where Thalaivas' defensive consistency meets Titans' attacking unpredictability, with small margins likely to determine the outcome in this revenge-driven encounter.

Match Details

• Match: Tamil Thalaivas vs Telugu Titans – Match 42, PKL Season 12
• Date: Friday, 19th September 2025
• Time: 9 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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