Two teams with contrasting fortunes clash in Match 53 of PKL 12 as UP Yoddhas host bottom-placed Gujarat Giants. The Yoddhas seek to build momentum behind Gagan Gowda's league-leading exploits, whilst the Giants desperately need wins with their legendary captain Shadloui surprisingly finding success as a raider rather than his traditional defensive role.

Probable Starting 7

UP Yoddhas

  • Right Corner – Hitesh
  • Right In – Bhavani Rajput
  • Right Cover – Ashu Singh
  • Centre – Shivam Chaudhary
  • Left Cover – Mahender Singh
  • Left In – Gagan Gowda
  • Left Corner – Sumit (C)

Gujarat Giants

  • Right Corner – Lucky Sharma
  • Right In – Parteek Dahiya
  • Right Cover – Nitin Panwar
  • Centre – Rakesh
  • Left Cover – Shubham Kumar
  • Left In – Visvanth V
  • Left Corner – Mohammadreza Shadloui (C)

Headlines

➢ Shadloui as a raider – a new level unlocked?
➢ Will Shadloui show his mettle as a defender in PKL 12?
➢ UP Yoddhas can depend on Gagan Gowda supremacy
➢ Gujarat Giants desperate for more support across raiding and defence
➢ Yoddhas building momentum with their strong defence

Top Stories of the Match

Shadloui Has Not Yet Clicked as a Defender – Maybe as a Raider – New Level Unlocked?

The Iranian legend's PKL 12 campaign represents the nadir of his illustrious career, forcing an unexpected tactical pivot that could prove revolutionary. After eight matches, his defensive statistics make for sobering reading: just 9 tackle points at 29% success rate – his worst return since PKL debut.

Career-low defensive metrics:

  • Zero High 5s this season (first time in five seasons)
  • Failed to reach double-digit tackle points after 8 matches
  • Averages barely 1.1 tackle points per match
  • 11 assists and 22 failed tackle attempts indicate systemic struggles

His captaincy record compounds the concern: just 1 win in 8 matches as leader, with the team performing better when he spends extended periods off the court.

However, an intriguing development has emerged – Shadloui's effectiveness as a raider. His 6-point performance at 75% success rate against Telugu Titans coming off the bench suggests a potential solution to Gujarat's dual problems.

Raiding exploits this season:

  • 12 raid points in 8 matches (1.5 average)
  • 75% success rate vs Telugu Titans (6 points from 8 raids)
  • 5 raid points vs Tamil Thalaivas in their only victory

His PKL 11 form as Haryana Steelers' third-best raider provides precedent for this tactical shift. The experimentation makes tactical sense – utilising his game intelligence and experience in attack whilst addressing Gujarat's chronic raiding shortage.

The historical matchup offers hope for defensive revival. Against UP Yoddhas, Shadloui averages 4.2 tackle points at 62% success rate across 10 encounters – significantly better than his current form suggests possible.

The dual-threat capability could prove transformational for Gujarat's season, though questions remain about whether it represents genuine tactical evolution or desperate improvisation.

UP Yoddhas Can Depend on Gagan Gowda

Gagan Gowda has established himself as PKL 12's most devastating raider, carrying UP Yoddhas almost single-handedly through their recent resurgence. His dominance transcends mere statistics, representing tactical mastery across all game situations.

Season-defining statistics:

  • 82 raid points in 8 matches (10.2 average, 71% success rate)
  • 4 Super 10s demonstrate consistent excellence
  • Contributes 48% of UP Yoddhas' total raid points
  • League leader with 41 bonus points – 3 more than second-placed Devank

His situational analysis reveals tactical intelligence that separates him from peers:

By Defenders in Play (DIP):

  • 6-7 defenders: 73 points at 83% SR (second-most points, joint-best SR)
  • 4-5 defenders: 5 points at 26% SR (struggles in transition)
  • 2-3 defenders: 4 points at 50% SR (decent in super tackle situations)

Time-wise brilliance shows clutch mentality:

  • 1-10 minutes: 15 points at 54% SR (steady start)
  • 11-20 minutes: 17 points at 68% SR (building momentum)
  • 21-30 minutes: 15 points at 52% SR (third quarter consistency)
  • 31-40 minutes: 35 points at 106% SR (phenomenal finishing)

His 106% success rate in the final 10 minutes represents extraordinary clutch performance, demonstrating ability to deliver when matches hang in the balance.

The supporting cast provides adequate backup:

  • Bhavani Rajput: 32 raid points (4.0 average, 40% SR) with 1 Super 10
  • Guman Singh: 27 raid points (3.9 average, 45% SR)
  • Shivam Chaudhary: 23 raid points (3.3 average, 43% SR)

Tactical flexibility in team selection shows coaching intelligence – deploying extra defenders against stronger opponents (vs Bengal Warriorz) whilst giving opportunities to emerging talent like Shivam Chaudhary.

Team Stories

UP Yoddhas – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#49 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Won 36–36 (6-5 tie-breaker victory)
  • M#46 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 39–22 (dominant 17-point victory)
  • M#35 vs Bengal Warriorz – Lost 37–41 (4-point defeat)
  • M#31 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Lost 29–41 (12-point defeat)
  • M#26 vs Puneri Paltan – Lost 32–43 (11-point defeat)

After a promising start, UP Yoddhas endured a concerning mid-season slump with four consecutive defeats. However, their recent resurgence – dominant victory over Tamil Thalaivas followed by tie-breaker triumph over Bengaluru Bulls – suggests they've rediscovered their rhythm.

Currently sitting in 7th position, they remain in playoff contention but need consistent performances to cement their qualification.

The formula for success is clear: Gagan Gowda's brilliance complemented by Sumit's defensive leadership. When both perform, the Yoddhas become formidable opponents.

Yoddhas Are Slowly Building Momentum with a Strong Defence

The defensive transformation has been remarkable, with the unit's performance directly correlating to match results. They average 10.0 tackle points per match at 41% success rate, but the splits reveal the true story:

Performance by results:

  • In wins (4 matches): 12.7 average tackle points at 51% SR
  • In losses (4 matches): 7.2 average tackle points at 30% SR

Sumit remains the defensive cornerstone, averaging 3.6 tackle points per match – the third-best in PKL 12. His 29 tackle points at 62% success rate with 3 High 5s represent consistent excellence throughout the campaign.

Recent defensive resurgence:

  • vs Tamil Thalaivas: Sumit (5 points at 83% SR), Ashu Singh (4 points at 80% SR), Mahender Singh (4 points at 67% SR)
  • vs Bengaluru Bulls: Sumit (4 points at 80% SR), Ashu Singh (4 points at 67% SR), Hitesh (3 points at 50% SR)

Ashu Singh's emergence as a consistent contributor (21 tackle points at 66% success rate) provides crucial support to Sumit's leadership. His recent form suggests the defensive unit has found the balance necessary for sustained success.

The 51% tackle success rate in victories demonstrates their potential when executing game plans effectively.

Gujarat Giants – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#47 vs Telugu Titans – Lost 29–30 (heartbreaking 1-point defeat)
  • M#45 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 24–28 (4-point defeat)
  • M#33 vs Haryana Steelers – Lost 37–40 (3-point defeat)
  • M#28 vs Dabang Delhi – Lost 28–38 (10-point defeat)
  • M#24 vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Lost 30–30 (Golden Raid defeat)

The Giants' season epitomises frustration – 7 defeats in 8 matches with 2 tie-breaker losses leave them anchored at the bottom of the table. Despite competitive performances in several matches, their inability to close out games has proved costly.

Their lone victory against Tamil Thalaivas demonstrated their potential when all departments click, but consistency remains elusive.

Gujarat Giants Desperate for More Coordination on the Mat

The fundamental issues plague both departments, with Gujarat averaging the lowest raid points per game (17.0) and worst success rate (39%) in PKL 12. They're the only team below 40% raid success rate, highlighting systemic attacking problems.

Raiding struggles:

  • Only 2 Super 10s from all raiders in 8 matches
  • Rakesh carries the burden with 53 raid points (6.6 average, 45% SR) and both Super 10s
  • Support raiders averaging under 5 points per match

Support raiding statistics:

  • Himanshu Singh: 2.8 average at 35% SR
  • Parteek Dahiya: 4.3 average at 43% SR
  • Aryavardhan Navale: 2.7 average at 33% SR
  • Shridhar Kadam: 1.5 average at 56% SR

Defensively, only Nitin Panwar provides consistent returns with 17 tackle points at 57% success rate. His joint-leading 4 super tackles demonstrate individual excellence amidst collective struggles.

Lucky Sharma's occasional brilliance (5 points at 100% SR vs Bengaluru Bulls) offers hope, but sustained contributions remain elusive.

The coordination issues manifest in their inability to string together complete performances – strong defensive displays immediately followed by poor showings in subsequent matches.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 13 | Gujarat Giants – 7 | UP Yoddhas – 4 | Tied – 2

The historical record favours Gujarat Giants, but recent form tells a different story. UP Yoddhas swept both PKL 11 encounters, including a dominant 36-point victory that remains one of the season's most emphatic results.

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):

  • PKL 11 M#121: UP Yoddhas won 59–23 (36-point rout)
  • PKL 11 M#20: UP Yoddhas won 35–29 (6-point victory)
  • PKL 10 M#125: Gujarat Giants won 36–29 (7-point victory)
  • PKL 10 M#37: Gujarat Giants won 38–30 (8-point victory)
  • PKL 9 M#93: UP Yoddhas won 35–31 (4-point victory)

The momentum clearly lies with UP Yoddhas, who have solved Gujarat's tactical puzzles in recent encounters.

Key Player Battles

UP Yoddhas' Raiders vs Gujarat Giants' Defenders

  • Gagan Gowda 7–5 Shadloui
  • Bhavani Rajput 8–6 Shadloui
  • Guman Singh 7–6 Shadloui
  • Bhavani Rajput 1–1 Shubham Kumar

Gujarat Giants' Raiders vs UP Yoddhas' Defenders

  • Rakesh 10–2 Sumit
  • Parteek Dahiya 7–1 Sumit
  • Rakesh 4–6 Mahender Singh
  • Parteek Dahiya 3–2 Hitesh

What to Expect

This encounter promises to be a fascinating study in contrasts – UP Yoddhas' momentum and star power against Gujarat Giants' desperation and tactical experimentation.

Gagan Gowda's brilliance will be tested against a Gujarat defence that has historically troubled him, whilst Shadloui's dual-threat capability could prove the wildcard that changes the match dynamics.

The key battle lies in whether Gujarat's coordinated team effort can overcome the individual excellence that has defined UP Yoddhas' recent success.

Match Details

  • Match: UP Yoddhas vs Gujarat Giants – Match 53, PKL Season 12
  • Date: Monday, 29th September 2025
  • Time: 7:30 PM IST
  • Venue: SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai
  • 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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