Two teams seeking playoff momentum clash in Match 89 of PKL 12 as third-placed Telugu Titans host inconsistent U Mumba. The dynamic raiding partnership of Vijay Malik and Bharat Hooda faces the ultimate test against Captain Sunil Kumar's defensive resurgence, whilst Ajit Chouhan's return from injury meets the Titans' balanced defensive unit in a battle of contrasting fortunes.

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

U Mumba

  • Right Corner – Rinku
  • Right In – A Zafardanesh
  • Right Cover – Sunil Kumar (C)
  • Centre – Sandeep
  • Left Cover – Parvesh Bhainswal
  • Left In – Ajit Chouhan
  • Left Corner – Vijay Kumar

Headlines

➢ Dynamic duo vs. Captain Sunil's defence
 ➢ Vijay Malik and Bharat keep on delivering points for Titans
 ➢ Telugu Titans' defence key to their form
 ➢ Telugu Titans are coming to the match after a nail-biting loss against Warriorz in the tie-breaker
 ➢ U Mumba is coming to the match after a big margin loss against UP Yoddhas
 ➢ Ajit Chouhan and Sandeep are forming a raiding duo for U Mumba
 ➢ Support raiders not doing enough – Anil, Satish Kannan and Zafardanesh need to have more impact

Top Stories of the Match

Dynamic Duo Vijay Malik and Bharat Hooda Face Off Against Sunil's Defence

Vijay Malik and Bharat Hooda continue their rich form and lead the raiding unit of the Titans. Together, they contribute an extraordinary 82% of Telugu Titans' raid points – a partnership that has propelled their team to third position.

Vijay Malik and Bharat Hooda in PKL 12:

Vijay Malik:

  • 113 raid points
  • 8.1 average
  • 49% SR
  • 4 Super 10s
  • 37% contribution

Bharat Hooda:

  • 136 raid points
  • 9.7 average
  • 62% SR
  • 7 Super 10s
  • 45% contribution

Bharat has been leading superbly and has maintained a raid success rate above 50% in 5 of the last 6 matches. His consistency has been remarkable – three consecutive Super 10s in the last three matches, with no fewer than 8 raid points in any of his last six games.

Bharat in PKL 12 (Last 6 matches):

  • M#85 vs Bengal Warriorz: 16 raid points (73% SR)
  • M#71 vs Haryana Steelers: 16 raid points (89% SR)
  • M#65 vs UP Yoddhas: 14 raid points (70% SR)
  • M#55 vs Patna Pirates: 8 raid points (57% SR)
  • M#47 vs Gujarat Giants: 8 raid points (47% SR)
  • M#42 vs Tamil Thalaivas: 8 raid points (67% SR)

Vijay Malik remains an expert at securing bonus points, ranking third in the entire league with 47 bonus points this season:

Most Bonus Points in PKL 12:

  • Devank: 65
  • Gagan Gowda: 60
  • Vijay Malik: 47

The duo will face U Mumba's defence, which has been the fourth-best in terms of average tackle points at 11.2 per match, with a 43% success rate. More crucially, there's a stark correlation between defensive performance and match results for U Mumba.

U Mumba Defence in PKL 12:

Overall:

  • 14 matches
  • 157 tackle points
  • 11.2 average
  • 43% SR

Wins (7 matches):

  • 97 tackle points
  • 13.9 average
  • 54% SR

Losses (7 matches):

  • 60 tackle points
  • 8.6 average
  • 33% SR

All three of their main defenders have exceeded 25 tackle points with success rates near 50%:

  • Sunil Kumar: 39 tackle points (2.8 average, 54% SR)
  • Rinku: 31 tackle points (2.2 average, 47% SR)
  • Lokesh Ghosliya: 25 tackle points (2.3 average, 50% SR)

Captain Sunil Kumar is in Prime Form

After struggling through the first four matches, Captain Sunil Kumar has completely transformed his form, emerging as one of PKL 12's most consistent defenders. His High 5 against Bengal Warriorz (7 tackle points at 78% SR) and solid performance against UP Yoddhas (2 tackle points at 67% SR from 3 tackles) demonstrate his current excellence.

His 41 assists lead U Mumba in PKL 12, showcasing his support for fellow defenders.

Sunil Kumar Defence in PKL 12:

First 4 matches:

  • 18 tackles
  • 4 tackle points
  • 1.0 average
  • 0 High 5s
  • 22% SR

Next 10 matches:

  • 54 tackles
  • 35 tackle points
  • 3.5 average
  • 4 High 5s
  • 64% SR

Currently averaging more than 3 tackle points per match, Sunil Kumar's defensive resurgence has been instrumental in U Mumba's seven victories this season.

Team Stories

Telugu Titans – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#85 vs Bengal Warriorz – Lost 45–45 (5-7 tie-breaker)
  • M#71 vs Haryana Steelers – Won 46–29 (17-point dominance)
  • M#65 vs UP Yoddhas – Won 40–35 (5-point victory)
  • M#55 vs Patna Pirates – Won 37–28 (9-point victory)
  • M#47 vs Gujarat Giants – Won 30–29 (1-point thriller)

Telugu Titans sit in third position on the table, having lost their first match in six games – a heartbreaking tie-breaker defeat against Bengal Warriorz that ended their five-match unbeaten streak.

Skipper Vijay Malik has shouldered responsibility brilliantly, combining with Bharat to lead the raiding unit superbly throughout the season, whilst their defensive unit has provided crucial support.

Titans' Defence Second Half Magic Not Enough as They Lose Nail-Biter

Telugu Titans' defence produced an extreme performance across both halves in their last match – scoring just 1 tackle point in the first half before exploding for 12 tackle points in the second. Even this inspired second-half turnaround couldn't prevent the tie-breaker defeat.

Telugu Titans Defence in M#85:

1st Half:

  • 16 tackles
  • 1 tackle point
  • 6% SR

2nd Half:

  • 20 tackles
  • 12 tackle points
  • 60% SR

The Titans have picked up form over the second half of the tournament, now averaging more than 11 tackle points per game (156 tackle points, 11.1 average, 43% SR over 14 matches).

Their defence has been key in supporting Vijay Malik and Bharat through their remarkable run:

Telugu Titans Defence in PKL 12:

Wins (8 matches):

  • 199 tackles
  • 95 tackle points
  • 11.9 average
  • 48% SR

Losses (6 matches):

  • 161 tackles
  • 61 tackle points
  • 10.2 average
  • 38% SR

This season, Telugu Titans' defence has performed exceptionally well in recent matches, securing 10+ tackle points in 5 of their last 6 encounters. In fact, their tackle success rate exceeded 45% in 4 of those matches – a primary reason for their winning streak.

Telugu Titans Defence in PKL 12 (Last 6 matches):

  • M#85 vs Bengal Warriorz: 13 tackle points (36% SR) – Lost
  • M#71 vs Haryana Steelers: 14 tackle points (52% SR) – Won
  • M#65 vs UP Yoddhas: 10 tackle points (38% SR) – Won
  • M#55 vs Patna Pirates: 14 tackle points (45% SR) – Won
  • M#47 vs Gujarat Giants: 8 tackle points (50% SR) – Won
  • M#42 vs Tamil Thalaivas: 13 tackle points (54% SR) – Won

They excel when facing 6-7 defenders or in super tackle situations, but struggle when 4-5 defenders remain on the mat – ranking second-worst in the league for that scenario:

Lowest Tackle SR% in 4-5 DIP in PKL 12:

  • Haryana Steelers: 37% (2.5 average)
  • Telugu Titans: 39% (2.6 average)
  • Patna Pirates: 39% (2.9 average)

Corners Shubham Shinde and Ankit have been their best defenders, with all four defenders maintaining tackle success rates between 40-50%:

  • Shubham Shinde: 33 tackle points (2.4 average, 47% SR)
  • Ankit: 31 tackle points (2.2 average, 43% SR)
  • Ajit Pawar: 27 tackle points (1.9 average, 45% SR)
  • Avi Duhan: 23 tackle points (1.8 average, 48% SR)

Ankit's tackling performance mirrors last season, but his assists have increased dramatically – from just 5 in PKL 11 to 32 this season, showcasing improved teamwork. Ajit Pawar leads the team with 43 assists.

Chetan Sahu's Do-or-Die Mastery

Beyond the dynamic duo, Chetan Sahu has been securing crucial points for Telugu Titans. Though his overall raid success rate sits below 40% (23 raid points, 1.9 average, 36% SR in 12 matches), he's been outstanding in Do-or-Die situations.

He's one of only three raiders this season with at least 10 raid points and 100% success rate in DoD situations:

Raiders with 10+ Raid Points and 100% Raid SR in DoD – PKL 12:

  • Ashu Malik: 21 (100% SR)
  • Chetan Sahu: 10 (100% SR)
  • Gagan Gowda: 10 (100% SR)

U Mumba – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#82 vs UP Yoddhas – Lost 24–40 (16-point thrashing)
  • M#76 vs Bengal Warriorz – Won 48–29 (19-point demolition)
  • M#72 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 27–37 (10-point defeat)
  • M#60 vs Gujarat Giants – Won 40–25 (15-point dominance)
  • M#58 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 42–24 (18-point victory)

U Mumba suffered a heavy defeat against UP Yoddhas by a significant margin in their last match. With Sandeep leading the raiding unit alongside Ajit Chouhan, who has returned from injury, the team needs winning momentum to ensure playoff qualification.

Captain Sunil Kumar has found form after a slow start, but U Mumba's defence remains inconsistent – clearly affecting match results based on performance levels.

Ajit Chouhan and Sandeep Forming a Raiding Duo for U Mumba

Ajit Chouhan returned from injury with back-to-back Super 10s, with U Mumba winning both those matches. However, he couldn't get going in the last match against UP Yoddhas, managing only 4 raid points and contributing to the team's loss.

Ajit Chouhan in the Last Three Games:

  • M#82 vs UP Yoddhas: 4 raid points (31% SR)
  • M#76 vs Bengal Warriorz: 12 raid points (80% SR)
  • M#72 vs Puneri Paltan: 10 raid points (77% SR)

An analysis of Ajit Chouhan's raiding reveals significant situational variance. He's secured almost 90% of his raid points when facing 6-7 defenders, but struggles dramatically when 4-5 defenders remain:

Ajit Chouhan Raiding DIP-wise in PKL 12:

  • 6-7 defenders: 58 raid points (82% SR)
  • 4-5 defenders: 5 raid points (17% SR)
  • 2-3 defenders: 3 raid points (33% SR)

U Mumba now possesses an excellent 1-2 raiding punch with Ajit Chouhan and Sandeep. Remarkably, Sandeep stands just 1 raid point away from reaching 100 raid points in a season for the first time in his career – a significant milestone within reach.

Sandeep in PKL 12:

  • 12 matches
  • 99 raid points
  • 8.2 average
  • 53% SR
  • 5 Super 10s

Sandeep has been in unbelievable form, stepping up magnificently when Ajit Chouhan missed games through injury:

Sandeep Raiding in PKL 12:

First 5 matches:

  • 41 raids
  • 20 raid points
  • 4.0 average
  • 49% SR

Next 7 matches:

  • 137 raids
  • 79 raid points
  • 11.3 average
  • 58% SR

Interval analysis reveals an interesting pattern – Sandeep starts both halves strongly but loses momentum in the second 10-minute intervals:

Sandeep Raiding Interval-wise in PKL 12:

  • 1-10 minutes: 28 raid points (67% SR)
  • 11-20 minutes: 18 raid points (44% SR)
  • 21-30 minutes: 30 raid points (56% SR)
  • 31-40 minutes: 23 raid points (45% SR)

However, Sandeep struggled in the last match, getting tackled six times by UP Yoddhas' defence (7 raid points, 35% SR from 20 raids).

U Mumba's Raiding Concerns

U Mumba's raiding unit presents concerns – they're one of four teams averaging fewer than 20 raid points per game, and possess the second-lowest raid success rate in the league:

Lowest Raid SR% in PKL 12:

  • Gujarat Giants: 42% (18.3 average)
  • U Mumba: 46% (19.8 average)
  • Tamil Thalaivas: 47% (19.1 average)

Their support raiders – well-known names like Anil and Zafardanesh – haven't performed well this season. Both maintain success rates below 40%, whilst Satish Kannan has shown flashes without significant opportunities:

U Mumba Support Raiders in PKL 12:

  • A Zafardanesh: 31 raid points (2.8 average, 39% SR)
  • Anil: 31 raid points (2.8 average, 34% SR)
  • Satish Kannan: 21 raid points (2.3 average, 57% SR)

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 21 | Telugu Titans – 8 | U Mumba – 10 | Tied – 3

Telugu Titans beat U Mumba in M#25 this season and will be looking to complete the double over them. The Titans also won both matches against U Mumba in PKL 11, establishing recent dominance in this fixture.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 12 M#25: Telugu Titans won 45–37
  • PKL 11 M#82: Telugu Titans won 41–35
  • PKL 11 M#66: Telugu Titans won 31–29
  • PKL 10 M#130: Match tied 45–45
  • PKL 10 M#47: U Mumba won 52–34

Key Player Battles

Telugu Titans' Raiders vs U Mumba Defenders

  • Chetan Sahu 1–3 Sunil Kumar
  • Vijay Malik 5–9 Sunil Kumar
  • Vijay Malik 6–1 Parvesh Bhainswal
  • Vijay Malik 6–5 Rinku
  • Bharat 10–11 Sunil Kumar

U Mumba Raiders vs Telugu Titans' Defenders

  • Ajit Chouhan 3–1 Shubham Shinde
  • Zafardanesh 4–0 Shankar Gadai
  • Zafardanesh 2–0 Shubham Shinde

What to Expect

This encounter promises a fascinating tactical battle between two teams seeking playoff momentum. Telugu Titans' balanced excellence through their dynamic duo meets U Mumba's defensive resurgence and inconsistent attacking output.

The key battles – Bharat and Vijay Malik versus Sunil Kumar's defensive leadership, and Ajit Chouhan's raiding against the Titans' balanced defensive unit – will likely determine the outcome.

Expect Telugu Titans to leverage their recent dominance in this fixture, though U Mumba's defensive capabilities could produce an upset if their raiders rediscover consistency. The team maintaining defensive discipline whilst maximising their attacking potential will emerge victorious.

Match Details:

  • Match: Telugu Titans vs U Mumba – Match 89, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Thursday, 16th 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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