Bengal Warriorz and Tamil Thalaivas meet in Match 100 of PKL Season 12 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi, both teams battling for survival and vital points. While bottom-placed Bengal Warriorz fight to end their winless slump, ninth-placed Tamil Thalaivas are desperate to keep their playoff hopes alive. Fans can expect a thrilling raiding showdown between the league’s top raider Devank and Tamil’s prolific Arjun Deshwal.
Probable Starting Lineups
Bengal Warriorz
- Right Corner: Ankit
- Right In: Devank (C)
- Right Cover: Shivansh Thakur
- Centre: Himanshu Narwal
- Left Cover: Parteek
- Left In: Manjeet
- Left Corner: Ashish
Tamil Thalaivas
- Right Corner: Sagar Rathee
- Right In: Arjun Deshwal (C)
- Right Cover: Ronak
- Centre: Moein Shafaghi
- Left Cover: Aashish
- Left In: Abhiraj Pawar
- Left Corner: Nitesh Kumar
Key Headlines
- Devank aims to bounce back after a rare off-day.
- Arjun Deshwal closes in on the 200-raid-point milestone.
- Bengal Warriorz’s defence remains a major concern.
- Tamil Thalaivas defence looks to recover after a subpar previous outing.
- Clash of top raiders versus leading defenders could decide the match.
Bengal Warriorz: Devank Leading the Charge
Devank has been the standout performer of PKL 12, amassing 271 raid points in 16 matches, including 15 Super 10s. Despite a rare low-scoring game last round (9 points), his season remains historic. He continues to shoulder Bengal Warriorz’s raiding responsibilities, contributing 64% of the team’s raid points.
Himanshu Narwal has emerged as a useful secondary threat with 47 raid points, providing some support, but the team’s overall struggles have overshadowed individual performances.
Tamil Thalaivas: Arjun Deshwal Anchoring the Attack
Arjun Deshwal remains Tamil Thalaivas’ primary raiding threat, recording 189 raid points in 17 matches with 10 Super 10s. He contributes 59% of the team’s raid points, highlighting the reliance on his form.
After a brief dip in form, Arjun returned to scoring double-digit points in recent fixtures against Dabang Delhi and Gujarat Giants. He now requires just 11 more points to reach the 200-raid-point milestone this season, joining the exclusive club alongside Devank and Ayan.
Raid Performance by DIP:
- 6-7 defenders: 120 points at 64% SR
- 4-5 defenders: 31 points at 36% SR
- 2-3 defenders: 34 points at 57% SR
His overall PKL career places him third on the all-time raid points list, behind Pardeep Narwal and Maninder Singh.
Defence: The Deciding Factor
Bengal Warriorz have struggled defensively all season, maintaining the league’s lowest tackle success rate (32%) with only 9.1 average tackle points per match. Ashish has been the lone consistent performer, with 47 tackle points across 15 matches. However, the rest of the defence has been unreliable, especially in the second halves of matches.
Tamil Thalaivas had a rare off-day last round, registering just 9 tackle points at 39% success. Nitesh Kumar and Sagar Rathee remain key defensive pillars, consistently achieving high tackle rates across different phases of the game.
Head-to-Head & Recent Form
Overall, Tamil Thalaivas hold the upper hand in this rivalry:
- Total Matches: 17
- Bengal Warriorz Wins: 10
- Tamil Thalaivas Wins: 6
- Ties: 1
In recent encounters, Thalaivas have dominated the Warriors, including a 10-point victory earlier this season. Bengal Warriorz will need a collective defensive and raiding resurgence to challenge them.
Key Player Battles
Bengal Raider vs Tamil Defender:
- Devank 6–6 Ronak
- Devank 3–0 Aashish
- Devank 8–2 Nitesh Kumar
Tamil Raider vs Bengal Defender:
- Arjun Deshwal 6–0 Shivansh Thakur
- Arjun Deshwal 5–1 Parteek
- Arjun Deshwal 15–7 Nitesh Kumar
These matchups are likely to determine the outcome, given both sides’ dependence on star performers.
Match Outlook
Expect a high-intensity clash as both teams fight for critical points. Bengal Warriorz will rely heavily on Devank’s brilliance, while Tamil Thalaivas count on Arjun Deshwal and corner specialists to secure victory. Defence may be the decisive factor, and with recent form favoring Tamil Thalaivas in this rivalry, they start as favourites—but Bengal Warriorz could pull off an upset if their raiders fire collectively.
Match Details:
- Match: Bengal Warriorz vs Tamil Thalaivas – Match 100, PKL Season 12
- Date: Tuesday, 21st October 2025
- Time: 7:30 PM IST
- Venue: Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi