The SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur will witness an intriguing clash in Match 42 of PKL 12, as Tamil Thalaivas take on Telugu Titans. While Arjun Deshwal is looking to maintain his unbeaten streak as captain, the Titans will be desperate to avenge their narrow 3-point loss in the reverse fixture.
- Raid machine Arjun Deshwal continues to shine as captain courageous
- Unbeaten in captaincy – Arjun looks to extend his winning streak
- Bharat & Vijay Malik remain Titans’ biggest hopes in attack
- Titans eye revenge for opening-match defeat
- Thalaivas defence consistent, while Titans’ defence still searching for rhythm
Top Stories of the Match
Arjun Deshwal – The Raid Machine Leading by Example
Arjun Deshwal has been a nightmare for defenders since PKL 8. With over 1,200 raid points in his career and the most raid points since PKL 8, he is the Thalaivas’ engine and their captain courageous.
- PKL 12 stats: 59 raid points in 5 matches (11.8 avg, 58% SR, 4 Super 10s).
- Impact as captain: Win record of 2/2, with improved strike rate (63% as captain vs 54% as player).
- Record vs Titans: 137 raid points in 11 matches (12.5 avg), including 9 Super 10s – the most against any team.
If Arjun maintains this form, Thalaivas will have the edge once again.
Bharat & Vijay Malik – Titans’ Twin Hopes
Despite inconsistencies, the Titans’ raiding duo has carried the team:
- Bharat Hooda: 66 raid points (8.2 avg, 56% SR), 4 Super 10s. Dominates against full defensive lines (81% SR vs 6-7 defenders).
- Vijay Malik: 63 raid points (7.9 avg, 51% SR), 27 bonus points (3rd most this season). Known for his bonus-seeking ability.
Bharat’s scoring power and Vijay’s bonus mastery give Titans a balanced raiding arsenal, though both will face a disciplined Thalaivas defence.
Defence: Thalaivas’ Consistency vs Titans’ Instability
Tamil Thalaivas: 59 tackle points in 5 matches (11.8 avg, 46% SR) – joint 2nd best in PKL 12. Their defence has not dropped below 10 tackle points in a game.
- Nitesh Kumar: 16 points, 55% SR, close to 100 career tackle points.
- Ronak: 25 assists (joint 2nd most in PKL 12).
Telugu Titans: 84 tackle points in 8 matches (10.5 avg, 42% SR). The defence is improving but still inconsistent.
- Ajit Pawar: 18 tackle points, 55% SR.
- Shubham Shinde: 14 points, 41% SR but has a strong record vs Thalaivas (24 tackle points in 9 matches).
Face-Off History
- Overall: 17 matches – Thalaivas 10 | Titans 6 | Tied 1
- Since PKL 9: Thalaivas have dominated (6 wins in 7 matches).
Last 5 meetings:
- PKL 12 M#1 – Thalaivas 38–35 Titans
- PKL 11 M#38 – Titans 35–34 Thalaivas
- PKL 11 M#3 – Thalaivas 44–29 Titans
- PKL 10 M#88 – Thalaivas 54–29 Titans
- PKL 10 M#21 – Thalaivas 38–36 Titans
Key Player Battles
- Arjun Deshwal vs Shubham Shinde: 10–2 (Arjun dominant)
- Narender Kandola vs Ajit Pawar: 7–5 (closely matched)
- Bharat vs Nitesh Kumar: 6–3 (Bharat slightly ahead)
- Vijay Malik vs Nitesh Kumar: 0–3 (Nitesh dominant)
Match Details
- Match: Tamil Thalaivas vs Telugu Titans – Match 42, PKL Season 12
- Date: Friday, 19th September 2025
- Time: 9:00 PM IST
- Venue: SMS Indoor Stadium, Jaipur