Two former champions collide in a high-pressure knockout battle as Jaipur Pink Panthers take on Patna Pirates in Eliminator 1 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi. Jaipur sealed their playoff spot by edging out defending champions Haryana Steelers in Play-In 1, while Patna Pirates storm into this match on the back of a stunning six-match winning streak, including a dominant win over U Mumba in Play-In 2.
Adding an emotional twist to the contest, Jaipur’s head coach Narender Redhu faces his former team—the very franchise he led to consecutive playoff appearances before parting ways.
Probable Starting 7s
Jaipur Pink Panthers
- Right Corner: Deepanshu Khatri
- Right In: Ali Samadi
- Right Cover: Mohit
- Centre: Nitin Kumar
- Left Cover: Reza Mirbagheri
- Left In: Parvinder
- Left Corner: Aryan Kumar
Patna Pirates
- Right Corner: Navdeep
- Right In: Milan Dahiya
- Right Cover: Deepak
- Centre: Ankit Kumar (C)
- Left Cover: Balaji D
- Left In: Ayan
- Left Corner: Ankit
Key Storylines to Watch
Ayan vs Jaipur’s Defensive Wall
Patna’s star raider Ayan has been in searing form, amassing 255 raid points in 19 matches at a 71% strike rate, including 13 Super 10s. He’s the second-highest average raider of the season and has scored over 15 raid points in three of his last five games.
However, against Jaipur, Ayan hasn’t hit a Super 10 this season, scoring just 15 points in two matches (50% raid SR) — an area Jaipur will try to capitalize on.
Nitin Kumar and Ali Samadi – Jaipur’s Offensive Backbone
Before his injury, Nitin Kumar was enjoying his finest PKL season. Since his return, he has delivered 3 Super 10s in 4 games, playing a key role in the win over Haryana Steelers.
Nitin Kumar in PKL 12:
- Raid Points: 155
- Avg. Raid Points: 10.3
- Super 10s: 10
In his absence, Ali Samadi stepped up and continues to support with 111 raid points and a 57% strike rate this season.
Coach Narender Redhu’s Redemption Story
After guiding Patna Pirates to playoffs in PKL 10 and a final in PKL 11, Redhu was released by the franchise. Jaipur trusted his tactical acumen, and he has rewarded them with another playoff berth. Facing his former side, this Eliminator carries personal significance.
Jaipur Pink Panthers: Season Overview
- Defeated Haryana Steelers 30–27 in Play-In 1
- Mixed form throughout the league, strong comeback after Nitin’s return
- Defensive concerns: 4th-lowest tackle strike rate (40%) in PKL 12
Top Defenders (PKL 12):
Defensive stability improved after Mohit replaced Aashish Kumar in right cover, closing a major gap in their system.
Patna Pirates: Season Overview
- Enter Eliminator on 6-match unbeaten run
- Beat U Mumba 40–31 in Play-In 2
- Ayan has been the driving force in attack
Head-to-Head Record
Overall Patna Pirates – 14 Jaipur Pink Panthers – 10
Since PKL 9 Patna – 5 Jaipur – 3
This Season 1–1 (one win each)
In playoffs, both teams have one win each against the other.
What to Expect Tonight
This match is a classic battle of Patna’s momentum vs Jaipur’s resilience. Ayan’s red-hot form will test Jaipur’s corner defence of Aryan and Deepanshu, while Nitin and Samadi’s raiding prowess will challenge Patna’s inconsistent cover defence.
Coach Redhu’s strategies against his former players add further spice to this Eliminator. Both teams have flaws in defence, but it may come down to which team handles pressure better in the final 10 minutes.