Kabaddi

Delhi’s Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium is the venue for Match 87 of PKL Season 12, where two teams are battling for the last available playoff spot. Gujarat Giants are entering the fight with a new lease of life after a good run, while Tamil Thalaivas want to recover from their recent loss. Giants Discover Their Groove Gujarat Giants have made a comeback in the season right at the moment. The scenario has changed drastically for them after being stuck at the bottom for weeks. Their newfound toughness comes from better defense as well as the input of some surprise individuals.​ The Giants had back-to-back matches where they scored 15 tackle points, which is an indication that the defensive unit has gelled well. Their record in recent fixtures tells a story of momentum:​ Beat Patna Pirates 40-32​ Lost to Dabang Delhi 33-39​ Beat UP Yoddhas 41-39​ Beat Bengal Warriorz 47-40​ Three victories in four matches have given them the push they needed to climb the standings. Currently sitting in 10th position, they remain just outside playoff spots but possess the form to challenge higher-ranked teams. On Kheloexch, fans are keeping a close eye on their surge up the table.​ Himanshu Singh Steps Up Big Himanshu Singh, coming off the bench, has been the revelation that everyone is talking about. He produced two Super 10 performances in a row that completely altered the direction of the Giants’ recent matches.  In the match against Patna Pirates, he made 11 points at the rate of 52% success from across 21 raids, and then he made another 11 points at the astonishing rate of 92% success against Dabang Delhi. Captain Rakesh has achieved 4 Super 10s in 14 matches this season, scoring 107 raid points at an average of 7.6. H However, his performances show interesting patterns:​ First half: 76 points at 63% success rate​ Second half: 31 points at 36% success rate​ This split suggests stamina concerns or tactical adjustments by opponents as matches progress. Himanshu’s impact off the bench has provided the perfect solution when Rakesh needs support.​ Shadloui’s Defensive Transformation Mohammadreza Shadloui started the season slowly but has become a defensive force in recent weeks. His evolution tells a remarkable story of adaptation and improvement.​ Comparing his first 8 matches to his next 6 matches shows the dramatic shift: Early season: 9 tackle points at 29% success rate with zero High 5s​ Recent form: 20 tackle points at 54% success rate with 2 High 5s​ Shadloui has been a strong nemesis against the Tamil Thalaivas since the inception of his career in the Pro Kabaddi League. He has managed to get 35 points from tackles with a success rate of 58%, with 4 of those being High 5s, in all the 9 matches performed against this team.  He has really turned the tide in the second half of the games this season, for he has scored 18 points at 49% success rate compared to just 11 points at 35% in first halves. So, the fans who are following on Kheloexch, his defensive stats have been a major talking point. ​ Arjun Deshwal Chases PKL History The Tamil Thalaivas’ leading raider Arjun Deshwal is very close to creating PKL history. He is currently level with Pawan Sehrawat on the lifetime rankings at 1,340 career raid points, which puts him in third place overall. Hitting just one point would be sufficient to get him over the great raider’s shoulder and into solo third place. ​ This season, Arjun has been the second-most productive raider of PKL 12 with 166 points scored at a 56% success rate. His recent form has been inconsistent though, with brilliant Super 10 performances alternating with struggles:​ 26 points at 93% success rate vs Patna Pirates​ 22 points at 79% success rate vs Haryana Steelers​ 7 points at 39% success rate vs UP Yoddhas​ 6 points at 40% success rate vs Puneri Paltan​ Against full defensive lines with 6-7 defenders, Arjun excels with 101 points at 65% success rate. However, his head-to-head record against Shadloui heavily favors him at 21-8.​ Nitesh Kumar Leads Defensive Charts Nitesh Kumar, the first defender of the current season, reached the 50- tackle- point milestone, and he is still the leader among all defenders with 56 points in 15 matches.  He is very consistent with his average of 3.7 tackle points per match at 56% success rate.  What makes Nitesh stand out is his ability to do well regardless of the match outcome. His defensive contributions remain the same whether Tamil Thalaivas might be victorious or lose. His understanding of the situation with different defender counts shows tactical intelligence, especially in super tackle scenarios where he succeeds at 75%.  Sagar Rathee Returns From Injury  Tamil Thalaivas has been given a big lift with Sagar Rathee’s return from injury. In his first match back against UP Yoddhas he was impressive with a High 5 performance right away with 5 tackle points at a success rate of 71%.  He is the franchise’s all-time leading tackler with 232 points, so his experience and quality make a huge contribution to their defensive unit. Head-to-Head History Gujarat Giants hold a slight edge in the overall head-to-head record with 7 victories compared to Tamil Thalaivas’ 5 victories and 1 tie. Earlier this season in Match 18, the Giants secured a 9-point victory with Nitin Panwar’s High 5 performance proving decisive.​ What This Match Means Both teams need points desperately to keep playoff hopes alive. Gujarat Giants’ momentum meets Tamil Thalaivas’ need to stop their slide, setting up a tense tactical battle. The outcome could define both teams’ playoff aspirations as the season enters its crucial phase.​

Introduction The first point in the tie-breaker went to The Warriorz who executed a smart tackle, and they also made a successful raid to get two points up, 2-0. Bharat for the Titans replied with a powerful raid, and the score was 3-3. If you’re watching these intense cabbadi moments on Kheloexch, then you surely know that momentum can shift in a heartbeat in tight situations like this. Manjeet was the one who went for the Warriorz and finally got a point for his team with the raid, so Bengal was again in the lead. However, Chetan Sahu was determined to leave his mark as he energized the Titans and got rewarded with an extraordinary raid which leveled the scores at 5-5.  With all the cards on the table and the contest score still tied at 5-5, Devank took his turn for the last time. His successful act won the match-deciding points, thus granting the Bengal Warriorz a 7-5 tie-breaker victory. Devank’s Extraordinary Season Goes On Devank shone brilliantly by recording 14 Super 10s in the 12th Season during this tournament, carrying fortune and his ability right through to the end. He ended the contest with 18 raid points, thus confirming again that he has been the star of the Warriorz this season.  The Bengal Warriorz head coach, Naveen Kumar, stated that the team performed well as a group, although some of the raiders’ wrongdoings at the end of the match turned it into a tie-breaker. The coach, besides, gave the credit to Devank for assuming the role of the leading person who took charge in the front. Furthermore, he mentioned Manjeet as a athlete who’s been acting like an all-rounder, thus galvanizing the whole defense in terms of confidence. Whether through Kheloexch or other modes, viewers saw why Devank has been an epitome of still winds and consistency throughout this season. The Warriorz weren’t done yet:​ They landed another All Out before halftime The score jumped to 26-15 in their favor When the break was called, they stood 28-17 ahead points wise. Their defense and raiding units worked together smoothly​ Second Half Comeback Drama The second half was a wild one for the Telugu Titans. First of all, Ajit Pawar was the one that brought about that change with his deft tackle, earning the first point for his team. warriorz’ Parteek remained unshaken, thanks to his solid defensive maneuvers, but the Titans’ Bharat Hooda did not want to stay quiet and he finished with a Super 10, thus, bringing back his team in the contest.​ The Titans succeeded in executing an All Out which narrowed the score difference to 32-26. Even before the second Strategic Time Out, Shubham Shinde’s brilliant tackle on Himanshu Narwal had the scores so close at 34-31. When action resumed after the timeout, here’s how things unfolded: Bengal pushed their lead to five points Vijay Malik hit back with two quick raids for the Titans A tackle from Aman kept the pressure on The Warriorz grabbed a Super Tackle worth two points​ Just beyond two minutes, the Titans and their All Out turned the tides and put them in front. His main move was a two-pointer followed by a single-point one. Both teams’ defenses got tough in the last seconds, and a great defensive stop ended the contest at 45-45, so a tie-breaker was the only way out.​ Tie-Breaker Decides Everything The Warriorz took the first point in the tie-breaker with a clever tackle, then added a successful raid to their tally for a 2-0 lead. Bharat made a point for the Titans bringing the score to 3-3 with a powerful raid. If you’re watching such exciting kabaddi moments on platforms like Kheloexch, you realize how fast the flow can change in such tight situations.​ Manjeet got for the Warriorz and took a necessary point with his raid, giving Bengal the upper hand one more time.  But Chetan Sahu was not retreating – he brought the score to 5-5 with a sure raid that kept the Titans breathing. With all the marbles on the table and the contest score at 5-5, Devank went for the last raid. His successful raid got the match-deciding points, and with that, the Bengal Warriorz had a 7-5 tie-breaker victory sealed. ​ Devank’s Exceptional Season Continues Devank’s amazing form was still there in the tournament as he raided for 18 points in the match. According to Bengal Warriorz head coach Naveen Kumar, the team was coordinated, yet the raiders made some mistakes late in the match that led to the team being pushed into a tie-breaker.  Devank was singled out for taking charge and steering the team forward. The coach also praised the ‘all-roller’ that was Manjeet, who was raising the spirit of the whole defense. What Does This Result Mean? The victory was a great deal for Bengal Warriorz as they were in need of a good performance after their last few poor matches. Though they have had their ups and downs this season, occasions like these remind one of their prowess when all the pieces are together. Telugu Titans did a good job of performing and almost came back, but they just couldn’t do it in the tie-breaker.  The match was a clear demonstration once again that in Pro Kabaddi, no team can have the satisfaction of a victory until the end. Both the teams put in their maximum efforts and so the match easily becomes one of the most memorable ones of Season 12 so far.

In the aftermath of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 match where Dabang Delhi outplayed U Mumba 47-26, one could only hear praise from Dabang Delhi’s defender Fazel Atrachali towards his captain Ashu Malik. The Iranian athlete unambiguously stated that the team’s performance was completely different with Ashu present on the court.​ At the post-match press conference, Fazel narrated how the presence of Ashu makes their job much simpler. The defender not only expressed joy over the return of his captain from injury but also admitted that it has led to the team’s overall performance improvement. This statement came after Ashu scored a record-high 23 raid points in the match. Back to the Top Spot The match against U Mumba on September 25 was special for several reasons. Here’s what made this performance stand out:​ Dabang Delhi moved back to the top of the points table after the victory​ The 21-point margin was the second highest in PKL 12 that season​ Ashu Malik scored his career-best 23 raid points​ The team bounced back after losing their previous match in the dying seconds​ Coach Joginder Narwal acknowledged that their previous loss was a mistake from both him and the team. He told his athletes before the U Mumba match that they needed to focus and perform well until the final whistle, which they did perfectly.​ Coming Back From Tough Times Ashu Malik went through leg trouble, which made him stay away from the sport for a while. The captain mentioned that the injury had troubled him for around 12-13 days but was feeling fine when they confronted U Mumba. His presence turned the whole contest upside down with the team’s performance that day.​ The captain gave a detailed account of their previous match’s mistakes and how they corrected them. They reviewed their contest tape and found a lot of mistakes especially in the second half. The athletes made a pact that they would not let any of those errors to reoccur in the match against U Mumba.​ Team Adjustments Dabang Delhi’s cleanup of their performance was mainly through the mistakes they did not repeat. The skipper admitted that even though they performed good the last match, too many mistakes led to a lost case. The team against U Mumba was a perfect blend of excellent offense and defense.  Fazel’s compliment for Ashu was not limited to just one contest. The defender has actually been a key figure in the team’s success during the entire season and even grabbed the captaincy when Ashu was not around. Coach Joginder Narwal told that Fazel’s vast experience was the quality that made him the right choice in such scenarios.  For kabaddi fans that keep themselves well-informed, Kheloexch gives detailed coverage of PKL matches and participant performances. All the important moments from each season are being tracked by the platform. Building Team Confidence Ashu talked about how being at the top of the table gave everyone a boost. The team enjoyed their victory and felt confident about belonging in that position. They were following the plans their coach gave them and hoped to continue performing at that level.​ The SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur witnessed a ruthless display from Dabang Delhi that day. Both defenders and raiders stepped up their contest, making it tough for U Mumba to find any rhythm. Fazel’s defense was particularly strong, helping the team tackle more successfully as the match went on.​ What Made Ashu Special? The statement from the veteran defender regarding Ashu was not simply a passing remark. Fazel has been part of kabaddi at the highest level for a lengthy time and realizes what it takes to perform over a long period. When an athlete of his stature claims that an athlete is making every match easy, it is taken seriously. The 23-point performance of Ashu was a clear demonstration of why he is so highly regarded by his teammates. The captain took the lead by showing that he is now fit again after his injury layoff. His movement on the mat and decision-making were significant factors in Dabang Delhi’s being victorious in their matches right from the beginning to the end. Kheloexch has been providing the kabaddi fans with daily coverage and analysis updates, especially during the season, about the PKL teams and their performances. Looking Forward Fazel was a vital athlete for Dabang Delhi all through the season. He got 49 tackle points in 17 matches with four High 5s during this time. The Iranian superstar proved that age is merely a number when you have the right skills and mindset. The team’s bonding was getting stronger by every match. The presence of athletes like Fazel and Ashu who comprehend each other’s contest made the contest easier for them on the mat. Their partnership of defense and offense was one of the major reasons why Delhi remained at the top for a long time. The season of Dabang Delhi has been a wake-up call to the importance of the experienced athletes in the team who can guide the younger ones. Fazel’s leadership during Ashu’s absence was not only a proof of the depth of the team but also of its character. They did not panic with the captain out but rather came together to make sure they kept their position.

Kabaddi fans all over the country can now finally breathe a sigh of relief. The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 has come to its most exciting phase, and everything is set to take place in the capital city.  The Thyagaraj Stadium, New Delhi, will be the venue for the knockout matches starting from the play-ins to the finals on the last day of October.​ The Place of Action The movement of the action to one venue comes after the completion of the 108-league matches staged in four different cities. Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium transforms into the competing ground where eight teams will fight for the biggest kabaddi prize. Delhi’s part of the tournament began on October 11, and after it was finished on October 23, the playoff phase started. ​ This is a significant time for the Delhi fans since playoffs have not been held in the city for quite a number of years. Besides, having everything at one venue implies that the teams will not have to move around during matches which will keep them fresh and focused. How The New Format Works Season 12 brought in a completely revamped playoff structure that makes things tougher for everyone involved. Instead of the old system, there’s now a play-in round where teams ranked 5th through 8th get their shot at survival. Here’s how it breaks down:​ Matches started on October 25 with four teams fighting for two spots​ Haryana Steelers took on Jaipur Pink Panthers in the opening match​ Patna Pirates faced U Mumba in the second play-in contest​ Only the teams that come out on top move forward to the next stage​ The playoff matches then run from October 26 through October 29, featuring a series of knockout rounds and qualifiers. Each day brings new eliminations until only two teams remain standing for the grand finale.​ Top Teams Get Special Treatment Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi K.C. were the lucky ones in the league stage, getting to the top spots and lucrative picks as a result. With 26 points, the teams were the fastest to get their playoff places. They meet in Qualifier 1 on October 27, and the surprising thing is that one of them will definitely be in the finals!​ The team that’s victorious will be the one who advances directly to the October 31 final. The other, however, will still have a chance, albeit a harder one, via Qualifier 2. Middle Of The Pack Gets Messy Teams that finished between third and eighth positions have a much tougher road ahead. Bengaluru Bulls grabbed the third spot with 22 points, while Telugu Titans, Haryana Steelers, and U Mumba all tied at 20 points. Patna Pirates rounded out the playoff picture with their late-season surge.​ These teams face a brutal gauntlet: The 3rd and 4th placed teams meet in a mini qualifier​ Play-in teams enter through Eliminator 1​ Eliminator 2 happens on October 27​ Eliminator 3 takes place on October 28​ One loss at any point, and the season ends right there. Fans following all the action through platforms like Kheloexch can track every moment of these intense matchups as teams battle for survival.​ What Makes This Season Different PKL’s Business Head Anupam Goswami termed Season 12 as one of the most competitive tournaments ever. The majority of the matches were decided in the very last moments and by a miniscule point difference. New captains and vibrant athletes took the ground all over the season, thus making predictions more tough than ever.  The inclusion of the play-in rounds has made it more difficult to deal with. In the previous seasons, the teams that could have easily made it to the playoffs now have to fight their way through the sudden-death matches right from the start. This format makes every match a high-stakes and an exciting one.  Defending Champions Put To Hard Test Jaipur Pink Panthers stepped in as the ones with the victorious title, but they had to wrestle their way through the play-in round. Their battle against Haryana Steelers was so close that it literally went down to the wire, with Aryan Kumar competing the crucial role in defense and Nitin Kumar scoring the important points. They managed to move on but nothing is easy in such a format.  On the other hand, the three-time champions Patna Pirates surprised everyone by defeating U Mumba in their play-in match. The Pirates’ solid performance not only sent them through to the next round but it also was a reminder of their year’s championship mentality that had made them so unbeatable in the previous seasons. Catch All The Action For those wanting to follow every raid and tackle, matches air on Star Sports Network starting at 7:30 PM IST. Fans can also stream everything through JioHotstar from October 25 through the final on October 31. Platforms like Kheloexch provide additional coverage and updates throughout the playoff run.​ The Road To October 31 After weeks of league matches and several days of intense knockouts, two teams will step onto the mat for the championship. Whoever lifts the trophy will have earned it through one of the toughest paths in PKL history. The new format means no easy roads exist anymore – every team must prove themselves match after match.​ With the capital city ready to host and eight teams ready to throw down, PKL Season 12 heads into its most exciting phase. October 31 can’t come soon enough.​