Table-toppers Puneri Paltan clash with third-placed Telugu Titans in Match 95 of PKL 12, with playoff positioning on the line. The formidable Vijay Malik-Bharat raiding partnership faces the league's most potent defensive unit led by Gaurav Khatri in what promises to be a tactical masterclass.

Probable Starting 7

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

Puneri Paltan

  • Right Corner – Gaurav Khatri
  • Right In – Aditya Shinde
  • Right Cover – Abinesh Nadarajan
  • Centre – Pankaj Mohite
  • Left Cover – Vaibhav Rabade
  • Left In – Aslam Inamdar (C)
  • Left Corner – Vishal Bhardwaj

Headlines

➢ Puneri Paltan in dominant form with a 24-point win in the last match

➢ Their defence is in top form – had 20 tackle points vs JPP in the last game

➢ Vaibhav Rabade came into the lineup as left cover – had High 5

➢ Gaurav Khatri and Vishal Bhardwaj – corners in great form

➢ Telugu Titans' impressive run despite loss to U Mumba last game

➢ They sit in third place in the table, but third to sixth are tied on points

➢ Vijay Malik, leading from the front, almost had a Super 10 despite the loss

➢ The defence unit let the team down, had just 2 tackle points in the second half

Top Stories of the Match

Will the Mighty Puneri Defence Stop the Vijay-Bharat Duo?

Puneri Paltan's defence is entering this match in scintillating form, having recorded 20 tackle points in their dominant victory over Jaipur Pink Panthers – only the second time this season they've reached that milestone.

Puneri Paltan Defence in M#86 vs JPP:

  • 31 tackles: 20 tackle points (65% SR)

Gaurav Khatri delivered another masterclass performance, whilst new addition Vaibhav Rabade made an immediate impact with a High 5 on debut:

Puneri Paltan Defenders in M#86 vs JPP:

  • Gaurav Khatri: 7 tackle points (64% SR)
  • Vaibhav Rabade: 6 tackle points (86% SR)

Gaurav Khatri has established himself as Puneri Paltan's defensive cornerstone, reaching 50 tackle points in PKL 12 to become the third defender to achieve this feat:

Most Tackle Points in PKL 12:

  • Nitesh Kumar: 62 tackle points
  • Jaideep: 54 tackle points
  • Gaurav Khatri: 50 tackle points

His performance correlation with team results is striking – Puneri Paltan have won all four matches where he recorded High 5s:

Gaurav Khatri Result-wise in PKL 12:

  • In wins (13 matches): 3.5 average tackle points at 61% SR (4 High 5s)
  • In losses (3 matches): 1.3 average tackle points at 40% SR (0 High 5s)

The right corner defender also reached a career milestone in the last match, becoming one of the elite defenders with 200 tackle points in PKL history:

Gaurav Khatri in PKL Overall:

  • 77 matches: 200 tackle points (2.6 average, 59% SR, 14 High 5s)

Vishal Bhardwaj (34 tackle points, 2.1 average, 58% SR, 2 High 5s) and Gurdeep (37 tackle points, 2.5 average, 46% SR, 3 High 5s) provide excellent support, creating a three-pronged defensive threat.

Puneri Paltan's defensive dominance is unmatched in PKL 12 – they are the only team averaging more than 12 tackle points per match:

Best Average Tackle Points in PKL 12:

  • Puneri Paltan: 12.3 tackle points (47% SR)
  • U Mumba: 11.4 tackle points (44% SR)
  • Gujarat Giants: 11.3 tackle points (48% SR)

However, they face a formidable challenge in the Telugu Titans' raiding duo of Vijay Malik and Bharat, who have carried the attacking burden almost single-handedly this season.

Vijay Malik and Bharat in PKL 12:

Stat

Vijay Malik

Bharat

Raid Points

122

141

Avg Raid Points

8.1

9.4

Raid SR%

50%

60%

Super 10s

4

7

Bharat's consistency had been exceptional before being halted by U Mumba, having recorded three consecutive Super 10s:

Bharat in PKL 12 | Last 6 Matches:

  • M#89 vs U Mumba: 5 raid points (33% SR)
  • M#85 vs Bengal Warriorz: 16 raid points (73% SR) – Super 10
  • M#71 vs Haryana Steelers: 16 raid points (89% SR) – Super 10
  • M#65 vs UP Yoddhas: 14 raid points (70% SR) – Super 10

Against Puneri Paltan earlier this season, Bharat showcased his quality despite the defeat:

Bharat vs Puneri Paltan in M#32:

  • 16 raids: 11 raid points (69% SR) – Super 10

Captain Vijay Malik has established himself as PKL 12's bonus point specialist, becoming the third raider to reach 50 bonus points this season with three bonus points in their last match:

Most Bonus Points in PKL 12:

  • Devank: 75 bonus points
  • Gagan Gowda: 63 bonus points
  • Vijay Malik: 50 bonus points

Team Stories

Telugu Titans – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#89 vs U Mumba – Lost 26–33 (7-point defeat)
  • M#85 vs Bengal Warriorz – Lost 45(5)–45(7) (tie-breaker defeat)
  • M#71 vs Haryana Steelers – Won 46–29 (17-point victory)
  • M#65 vs UP Yoddhas – Won 40–35 (5-point triumph)
  • M#55 vs Patna Pirates – Won 37–28 (9-point dominance)

Telugu Titans have orchestrated a remarkable turnaround after losing their opening two matches, climbing to third place in the standings. However, consecutive defeats have raised concerns at a crucial juncture, with third to sixth places tied on points.

A victory would secure their top-eight finish and strengthen their playoff positioning, making this encounter vital for their campaign.

Captain Vijay Malik and Bharat have shouldered the raiding responsibilities admirably, though the team requires greater support from secondary raiders. Despite the recent loss, Vijay Malik showed excellent form, narrowly missing a Super 10.

Titans' Defence Needs to be Consistent in Both Halves

Telugu Titans' defensive performances have been plagued by inconsistency across both halves in recent matches, proving costly in tight encounters.

Against Bengal Warriorz, they struggled initially with just one tackle point in the first half before improving dramatically. However, against U Mumba, the opposite occurred – a decent first-half showing (6 tackle points) was followed by a disastrous second half (2 tackle points) that sealed their defeat:

Telugu Titans Tackle Points by Half:

  • M#89 vs U Mumba: 6 (1st half), 2 (2nd half)
  • M#85 vs Bengal Warriorz: 1 (1st half), 12 (2nd half)

Overall, the Titans average 10.9 tackle points per match at 43% success rate – respectable but requiring improvement against elite opposition.

The defensive correlation with results is stark:

Telugu Titans Defence in PKL 12:

  • In wins (8 matches): 11.9 average tackle points at 48% SR
  • In losses (7 matches): 9.9 average tackle points at 38% SR

Corners Shubham Shinde (35 tackle points, 2.3 average, 47% SR) and Ankit (34 tackle points, 2.3 average, 44% SR) lead the defensive unit, supported by covers Ajit Pawar (27 tackle points, 1.8 average, 42% SR) and Avi Duhan (25 tackle points, 1.8 average, 47% SR).

Shubham Shinde performs best against full defensive lines:

Shubham Shinde Defence DIP-wise in PKL 12:

  • 6-7 defenders: 19 tackle points (42% SR)
  • 4-5 defenders: 8 tackle points (38% SR)
  • 2-3 defenders: 8 tackle points (89% SR)

In raiding, Chetan Sahu has emerged as a Do-or-Die specialist, ranking third-best in DoD situations among raiders with at least 10 raid points:

Best Raid SR% in DoD Situations in PKL 12 (10+ Raid Points):

  • Ashu Malik: 21 raid points (100% SR)
  • Ayan: 24 raid points (96% SR)
  • Chetan Sahu: 10 raid points (91% SR)

Puneri Paltan – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#86 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Won 57–33 (24-point demolition)
  • M#79 vs Dabang Delhi – Won 38(6)–38(5) (tie-breaker victory)
  • M#78 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 36–23 (13-point triumph)
  • M#72 vs U Mumba – Won 37–27 (10-point dominance)
  • M#63 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Won 41–36 (5-point victory)

Puneri Paltan are in sensational form, having won seven consecutive matches to secure top spot in the standings and confirm their playoff qualification. Their dominant 24-point victory over the Jaipur Pink Panthers showcased their championship credentials.

Aditya Shinde, Pankaj Mohite, and Aslam Inamdar have contributed at different stages, with Aditya leading the raiding charge. The defence reached peak performance in the last match with 20 tackle points, whilst Vaibhav Rabade's immediate impact from left cover adds another dimension.

Pankaj Mohite Coming Into Form in the Second Half of the Tournament

After a slow start, Pankaj Mohite has found exceptional form in the second half of the season, transforming Puneri Paltan's attacking options:

Pankaj Mohite in PKL 12:

Period

Raid Points

Avg Raid Points

Raid SR%

Super 10s

First 8 matches

35

4.4

40%

1

Next 8 matches

64

8.0

56%

2

He nearly recorded a Super 10 in their last match against the Jaipur Pink Panthers:

Pankaj Mohite vs JPP in M#86:

  • 15 raids: 9 raid points (60% SR)

Pankaj's super tackle expertise is remarkable, ranking third-best in 2-3 DIP situations among raiders with at least 10 raid points:

Best Raid SR% in 2-3 DIP (10+ Raid Points):

  • Aditya Shinde: 21 raid points (95% SR)
  • Ali Samadi: 14 raid points (88% SR)
  • Pankaj Mohite: 15 raid points (83% SR)

Aditya Shinde has been the primary raider, establishing himself as one of PKL 12's most consistent performers:

Puneri Paltan Raiders in PKL 12:

  • Aditya Shinde: 118 raid points (7.9 average, 64% SR)
  • Pankaj Mohite: 99 raid points (6.2 average, 49% SR)

Aditya's consistency across time intervals is exceptional, maintaining a 65%+ success rate in three of four ten-minute periods:

Aditya Shinde Interval-wise in PKL 12:

  • 1-10 minutes: 35 raid points (69% SR)
  • 11-20 minutes: 20 raid points (45% SR)
  • 21-30 minutes: 40 raid points (71% SR)
  • 31-40 minutes: 23 raid points (68% SR)

As a collective unit, Puneri Paltan's raiding has been highly effective, averaging 21.4 raid points per match at a 52% success rate.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 23 | Telugu Titans – 8 | Puneri Paltan – 14 | Tied – 1

Since PKL 9: Matches – 7 | Telugu Titans – 2 | Puneri Paltan – 5

Puneri Paltan have dominated the historical rivalry, winning 14 of 23 encounters and maintaining superiority in recent seasons with five victories in the last seven meetings.

Their earlier PKL 12 encounter saw Puneri Paltan triumph 39–33, despite Bharat's valiant Super 10 performance. Corners Vishal Bhardwaj and Gaurav Khatri both recorded High 5s to secure victory.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 12 M#32: Puneri Paltan won 39–33
  • PKL 11 M#124: Telugu Titans won 48–36
  • PKL 11 M#43: Telugu Titans won 34–33
  • PKL 10 M#97: Puneri Paltan won 60–29 (31-point rout)
  • PKL 10 M#51: Puneri Paltan won 54–18 (36-point demolition)

Key Player Battles

Telugu Titans' Raiders vs Puneri Paltan's Defenders:

  • Bharat 3–6 Gaurav Khatri
  • Bharat 7–6 Vishal Bhardwaj
  • Bharat 3–3 Abinesh Nadarajan
  • Vijay Malik 3–1 Vishal Bhardwaj

Puneri Paltan's Raiders vs Telugu Titans' Defenders:

  • Aslam Inamdar 3–2 Shubham Shinde
  • Pankaj Mohite 3–1 Ankit
  • Pankaj Mohite 4–7 Shubham Shinde

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a fascinating contest between contrasting strengths. Puneri Paltan's balanced excellence and momentum meet Telugu Titans' resilience and individual brilliance in a match with significant playoff implications.

The key battles – Bharat versus Gaurav Khatri's defensive mastery and the Telugu Titans' defence maintaining consistency across both halves – will likely prove decisive.

Expect a closely contested affair where defensive execution could determine the outcome, with Puneri Paltan's seven-match winning streak adding psychological advantage. Telugu Titans must find defensive consistency and support their star raiding duo to overcome the league's best defensive unit.

Match Details:

  • Match: Telugu Titans vs Puneri Paltan – Match 95, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Saturday, 18th October 2025
  • Time: 8:30 PM IST
  • Venue: Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi
  • 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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