The action in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 rolls into Match 5 with a mouth-watering clash between Tamil Thalaivas and U Mumba. Both sides opened their campaigns with confidence-boosting wins and will now aim to build momentum in what promises to be one of the early highlights of the tournament.

This contest has all the ingredients of a classic — superstar raiders on one side, a battle-hardened defensive unit on the other, and a rivalry that has only grown closer in recent seasons.

Tamil Thalaivas’ preview
The Thalaivas began PKL 12 with a convincing win over Telugu Titans. The raiding duo of Arjun Deshwal and Pawan Sehrawat lived up to the hype, combining for 21 raid points and making their presence felt from the very first raid. Nitesh Kumar marshalled the defence alongside Himasnhu in the absence of Sagar Rathee. Their starting seven showcased depth in both departments, and with Sagar likely to return, the Thalaivas could become even more formidable.

U Mumba’s preview
U Mumba’s campaign started on a thrilling note as they edged past Gujarat Giants in a hard-fought battle. Captain Sunil Kumar produced a decisive last-minute tackle to seal the win, proving once again why he is regarded as one of the finest defenders in the league. Alongside him, Parvesh Bhainswal, Lokesh Ghosliya and Rohit Raghav stood tall in defence. In the attack, young Ajit Chouhan impressed with 5 raid points, ably supported by Sandeep Kumar and Anil.

Head-to-Head Record: Tamil Thalaivas vs U Mumba

  • Total Matches: 13
  • U Mumba: 9 wins
  • Tamil Thalaivas: 3 wins
  • Tied: 1

U Mumba holds an overall advantage. However, the momentum has balanced in recent years, with the Thalaivas winning 2 of the last 5 meetings.

Key Face-offs to Watch

  • Arjun Deshwal & Pawan Sehrawat vs Sunil Kumar & Parvesh Bhainswal
     One of the marquee battles of PKL 12 so far. The Thalaivas’ high-scoring raiding duo will directly challenge U Mumba’s rock-solid cover combination. Whoever wins this battle could tilt the match in their team’s favour.
  • Ajit Chouhan vs Nitesh Kumar
     The youngster was U Mumba’s surprise package in their opener, but facing an experienced campaigner like Nitesh will be a sterner test. If Ajit can hold his nerve, U Mumba’s raiding department will look much more threatening.
  • Sagar Rathee’s Possible Return vs Zafardanesh’s All-Round Impact
     If Sagar returns to the Thalaivas’ starting 7, his duel with Amirmohammad Zafardanesh could become a pivotal mini-battle within the game.

Tamil Thalaivas Full Squad (PKL 12)

Raiders: Arjun Deshwal, Narender Kandola, Vishal Chahal, Dhiraj Bailmare, Rohit Beniwal, Abhiraj Pawar, Yogesh Yadav
 Defenders: Sagar Rathee, Mohit, Nitesh Kumar, Himanshu, Aashish, Anuj Gawade, Ronak, Alireza Khalili, Tarun
All-Rounders: Pawan Sehrawat, Moein Shafaghi, Suresh Jadhav

U Mumba Full Squad (PKL 12)

Raiders: Ajit Chouhan, Sandeep, Sathish Kannan, Abhimanyu Raghuvanshi, Mukesh Kannan
Defenders: Sunil Kumar, Parvesh Bhainswal, Rinku, Lokesh Ghosliya, S Mukilan, Ravi, Deepak Kundu, Vijay Redhu
All-Rounders: Amirmohammad Zafardanesh, Rohit Raghav, Anil, Amarjeet Yadav, Mohammad Ghorbani.

What to Expect

  • Momentum Clash: Both teams are riding high after opening wins, and a second successive victory would provide a big boost in the playoff race.
  • Raiding Depth vs Defensive Solidity: Thalaivas will rely heavily on their superstar raiders, while U Mumba will look to frustrate them with organised defence.
  • Tactical Coaching Battle: Sanjeev Baliyan (Thalaivas) faces a U Mumba side led by Sunil Kumar — his former captain during Jaipur Pink Panthers’ PKL 9 triumph — adding an intriguing subplot.

Match Details

  • Match: Tamil Thalaivas vs U Mumba
  • Tournament: Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 – Match 5
  • Date: Sunday, August 31, 2025
  • Time: 7:30 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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