The stage is set for a thrilling Mini Qualifier in PKL Season 12 as Bengaluru Bulls take on Telugu Titans at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi. Both teams have already surpassed expectations, finishing third and fourth respectively in the league standings—and even if they lose, they retain a secondary chance to make it further in the playoffs. Still, with pride, momentum and a direct slot in Qualifier 2 at stake, this Southern Derby promises high-intensity action.
Match Overview
- Bengaluru Bulls: 3rd place, 11 wins from 18 matches
- Telugu Titans: 4th place, 10 wins from 18 matches
- Coaches: BC Ramesh (Bulls) vs Krishan Kumar Hooda (Titans)
- Both sides have been transformed by experienced coaches who have injected fresh tactical approaches and self-belief into their teams.
Battle of Masterminds: BC Ramesh vs Krishan Kumar Hooda
This encounter is as much about strategy as it is about skill.
- BC Ramesh, with three PKL titles (as head or assistant coach), has transformed a team that finished last season at the bottom into a formidable defensive force with one of the highest tackle success rates in the league.
- Krishan Kumar Hooda, the architect of Dabang Delhi’s championship triumph in PKL 8, has ended Telugu Titans’ seven-season wait for a playoff spot.
Raiding Supremacy vs Defensive Wall
Titans’ Raiding Duo: Vijay Malik & Bharat
- Bharat: 172 raid points, 60% success rate, 8 Super 10s
- Vijay Malik: 142 raid points, 49% success rate, 5 Super 10s, and 57 bonus points (third-highest in PKL 12)
- They thrive in bonus situations but struggle when 4-5 defenders are present on court (22% raid SR).
Bulls’ Defensive Backbone
- Bengaluru boasts the second-best tackle strike rate (46%) this season.
- Their corner pairing is among the best in the league:
- Deepak Sankar: 59 tackle points at 60% SR
- Yogesh: 51 tackle points at 52% SR
- In 4-5 DIP scenarios, Bulls dominate with a 55% tackle success rate—the best in the league.
Alireza Mirzaian Leads Bengaluru’s Attack
While Akash Shinde was expected to lead the attack this season, Alireza Mirzaian has emerged as the Bulls’ primary raider:
- 180 raid points, 58% SR
- 12 Super 10s—third-most in the league
- Joint-most Do-or-Die raid points in PKL 12 (34)
However, like the Titans, Bulls also falter in raids when 4-5 defenders are on the mat, ranking third-lowest in strike rate in these situations.
Titans’ Defence: Collective Consistency Over Star Power
- Telugu’s defence averages 11.1 tackle points per match (5th-best).
- All four core defenders—Ankit, Shubham Shinde, Ajit Pawar, and Avi Duhan—have tackle success rates between 43–48%.
- Ankit has shown massive improvement this season, rising to 47 tackle points and a jump to 38 assists from just 5 last season.
What to Expect
- A tactical showdown where Titans’ powerful raiding unit challenges Bulls’ elite defensive structure.
- The outcome will likely hinge on 4-5 defender (DIP) situations, where both teams show contrasting strengths and weaknesses.
- Expect Titans to start aggressively, as Bharat is particularly lethal in the first half, while Bulls grow stronger as the game progresses thanks to Deepak Sankar’s late-game dominance.
- With both teams already assured of another chance even if they lose, expect calculated risks—but neither side will want to miss the direct ticket to Qualifier 2.