Bottom-placed Patna Pirates take on the unbeaten Dabang Delhi K.C. in Match 43 of PKL Season 12 at the SMS Indoor Stadium, Jaipur. The Pirates are struggling with just one win this season, while Delhi are flying high with a perfect record of seven wins from seven. This clash pits form against history, with Patna boasting a strong head-to-head record despite their poor campaign.
Dabang Delhi’s Dream Run
Delhi have been the standout side of PKL 12, winning all their matches so far. Captain Ashu Malik has been sensational, averaging nearly 13 raid points per game with five Super 10s. Even when he faltered against Telugu Titans, Neeraj Narwal stepped up with a strong performance, proving Delhi’s depth.
Defensively, veterans Fazel Atrachali, Saurabh Nandal, and Surjeet Singh have formed a rock-solid unit. Fazel, in particular, has been in vintage form, registering back-to-back High 5s and becoming the all-time leader for most High 5s in PKL history (35). Their 15-tackle-point performance against the Titans underlined their championship credentials.
Pirates’ Struggles Continue
The three-time champions find themselves in turmoil with only one win from six games. Ayan has been the lone bright spark, averaging over 12 raid points per match at a 68% success rate. However, Patna’s defence has been their Achilles heel, averaging just 8.2 tackle points per game – the lowest in the league.
Their only win came against Puneri Paltan, powered by Ayan’s 21-point masterclass and rare defensive solidity. But inconsistency has plagued them, with corner defenders showing fight while the covers have failed to contribute meaningfully.
Key Battle: Ashu Malik vs Ayan
This match features a mouth-watering clash between two of the league’s best raiders:
- Ashu Malik (Delhi): 12.8 raid points per game, 140% Do-or-Die success rate.
- Ayan (Patna): 12.2 raid points per game, highest first-half raid success rate in PKL 12.
Both rely on different skills – Ashu with his jumps and clutch raids, Ayan with his lethal hand touches. With both teams heavily reliant on their lead raiders, this duel could decide the game’s outcome.
Head-to-Head Record
- Matches: 20
- Patna Pirates: 11 wins
- Dabang Delhi K.C.: 9 wins
- Tied: 3
Match Details
- Fixture: Patna Pirates vs Dabang Delhi K.C., Match 43 – PKL Season 12
- Date: Saturday, 20th September 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: SMS Indoor Stadium, Jaipur