U Mumba and Jaipur Pink Panthers face off in Match 101 of PKL Season 12 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi. Both teams are locked in a battle for playoff qualification, with U Mumba slightly ahead at 5th place and Jaipur Pink Panthers at 7th. Expect a riveting clash as captain Sunil Kumar faces his former team, while Nitin Dhankar leads Jaipur’s raiding charge.
Probable Starting Lineups
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
Jaipur Pink Panthers
- Right Corner: Deepanshu Khatri
- Right In: Ali Samadi
- Right Cover: Aashish
- Centre: Nitin Dhankar
- Left Cover: Reza Mirbagheri
- Left In: Nitin Rawal (C)
- Left Corner: Aryan Kumar
Headlines
- Both teams riding back-to-back wins.
- U Mumba and Jaipur Pink Panthers battle for crucial playoff points.
- Nitin Dhankar returns in style with consecutive Super 10s.
- U Mumba’s corners and Sunil Kumar’s leadership remain key strengths.
- Previous tie-breaker victory gives U Mumba confidence.
U Mumba: Sunil Kumar Leading the Defence
Sunil Kumar faces his former team Jaipur Pink Panthers, where he won the PKL 9 title. His defensive acumen and leadership have been pivotal to U Mumba’s campaign.
- Season Stats: 45 tackle points at 56% success, 2.8 average, 4 High 5s
- Partner Rinku: 36 tackle points at 48% success, 2.2 average, 2 High 5s
- Assists: 53 – highest in U Mumba this season
Sunil Kumar has shown remarkable improvement in the second half of matches, consistently boosting U Mumba’s defensive output.
U Mumba Defence Highlights:
- 3rd-best tackle points in PKL 12: 11.6 average at 45% success
- Strong in super tackle situations: 44 tackle points at 76% success (2nd-highest in PKL 12)
- Recent matches: 4 consecutive games with 10+ tackle points, maintaining over 50% tackle success in 3 of them
Jaipur Pink Panthers: Nitin Dhankar Back with a Bang
Nitin Dhankar is enjoying the best raiding season of his career with 135 raid points in 13 matches, 10.4 average, 60% success rate, and 9 Super 10s. Returning from injury, he has produced back-to-back Super 10s, showcasing his versatility across all defenders-in-play scenarios.
Key Stats:
- 6-7 defenders: 84 raid points at 68% success
- 4-5 defenders: 24 raid points at 40% success
- 2-3 defenders: 25 raid points at 63% success
- Interval-wise performance: Strongest in opening and closing 10-minute periods
He had a stellar 14-point performance against U Mumba earlier this season, forcing overtime with crucial raids.
Team Form & Analysis
U Mumba – Last 5 Matches:
- M#98 vs Haryana Steelers: 37-37 (won tie-breaker)
- M#89 vs Telugu Titans: 33-26 (won)
- M#82 vs UP Yoddhas: 24-40 (lost)
- M#76 vs Bengal Warriorz: 48-29 (won)
- M#72 vs Puneri Paltan: 27-37 (lost)
Raiding inconsistencies persist, particularly in super tackle situations, but Sandeep has exceeded 100 raid points this season. Supporting raiders A Zafardanesh and Anil have underperformed, while Satish Kannan offers a potential breakthrough.
Jaipur Pink Panthers – Last 5 Matches:
- M#96 vs Bengal Warriorz: 38-30 (won)
- M#93 vs UP Yoddhas: 42-29 (won)
- M#86 vs Puneri Paltan: 33-57 (lost)
- M#77 vs Bengaluru Bulls: 26-47 (lost)
- M#67 vs Dabang Delhi: 26-29 (lost)
Jaipur’s defence remains vulnerable, especially in full-defence (6-7 defender) scenarios, but corners Deepanshu Khatri and Aryan Kumar have contributed significantly. Reza Mirbagheri excels in 4-5 defender situations.
Head-to-Head
Overall Record: Matches: 26 | U Mumba: 11 | Jaipur Pink Panthers: 12 | Tied: 3
Since PKL 9: Matches: 7 | U Mumba: 1 | Jaipur Pink Panthers: 5 | Tied: 1
Jaipur Pink Panthers have dominated recent encounters, winning 5 of the last 7 matches, though U Mumba won a thrilling tie-breaker in their previous PKL 12 clash.
Key Player Battles
U Mumba Raiders vs Jaipur Defenders:
- Ajit Chouhan leads against Nitin Rawal 3–1 and Reza Mirbagheri 4–3
Jaipur Raiders vs U Mumba Defenders:
- Nitin Dhankar dominates Sunil Kumar 7–0, Parvesh Bhainswal 4–1, and Rinku 3–2
These battles are likely to decide the outcome.
Match Outlook
Expect a tactical clash with U Mumba’s defensive discipline against Jaipur Pink Panthers’ raiding brilliance. Sunil Kumar vs Nitin Dhankar will be the key contest. U Mumba could exploit Jaipur’s weaknesses in full-defence situations, while Jaipur aims to counter U Mumba’s challenges in super tackle scenarios.
Match Details:
- Match: U Mumba vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Match 101, PKL Season 12
- Date: Tuesday, 21st October 2025
- Time: 8:30 PM IST
- Venue: Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi