In Match 46 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, Tamil Thalaivas take on UP Yoddhas at Jaipur’s SMS Indoor Stadium in a contest that could define the trajectories of both struggling sides.
The Thalaivas are coming off back-to-back defeats and sit 8th on the points table, while UP Yoddhas are rooted at the bottom in 10th position, reeling from four consecutive losses. With playoff hopes dwindling, both teams will be desperate to arrest their slide and get their campaigns back on track.
Arjun Deshwal – The Raiders’ Powerhouse
Arjun Deshwal has been a consistent force in the league since PKL 8, crossing 1,000 career raid points, a feat unmatched by most of his contemporaries. Despite a hiccup against Telugu Titans, he bounced back against Haryana Steelers with a sensational Super 10, registering 13 raid points with a 68% success rate.
Deshwal has traditionally performed well against UP Yoddhas, though he endured a rare off-day in last season’s eliminator with Jaipur Pink Panthers. Expect him to lead Thalaivas’ charge, with his ability to maintain high raid success in the final minutes proving crucial.
Gagan Gowda – Leading UP Yoddhas’ Charge
For UP Yoddhas, Gagan Gowda has emerged as the standout raider this season. With a league-leading raid success rate among raiders with 30+ points, he averages 11.5 raid points per match, placing him among the top raiders in PKL 12.
Gowda is particularly dangerous in crunch situations, excelling during the final 10 minutes and in 6-7 defender scenarios, where he ranks second in both raid points and success rate. With supporting raiders like Guman Singh and Bhavani Rajput, Yoddhas will look to Gowda to spearhead their fightback.
Team Analysis
Tamil Thalaivas – Reviving the Defence
The Thalaivas have struggled defensively in recent matches, contributing to narrow losses. Nitesh Kumar has been the defensive lynchpin, supported by the in-form Ronak, who has improved tackle success rate to 50% in recent games and provided 30 crucial assists this season.
Arulnanthababu’s introduction from the bench has also added depth to the defence and raiding, and he could feature prominently in upcoming matches.
UP Yoddhas – Raiding Reliant, Defensive Gaps
While Sumit has led Yoddhas’ defensive efforts, the unit has lacked cohesion, reflected in the team’s low tackle success rate (36%, third-lowest in the league). Ashu Singh and Hitesh showed promise recently but need to maintain consistency if they hope to contain Thalaivas’ raiders.
Offensively, Gagan Gowda remains the key, supported by Guman Singh and Bhavani Rajput, though the latter has struggled with form this season.
Head-to-Head Insights
Historically, Tamil Thalaivas have edged UP Yoddhas, winning 8 of 17 encounters with three ties. Since PKL 9, the Thalaivas have dominated, winning 5 of 7 matches, including a dramatic tiebreaker victory in the eliminator.
Key battles to watch:
- Arjun Deshwal vs UP Yoddhas’ Defenders: Deshwal’s raiding skills will be tested by Sumit, Ashu Singh, and Hitesh.
- Gagan Gowda vs Thalaivas’ Defence: Nitesh Kumar and Ronak will need to contain Gowda to tilt the game in Tamil Thalaivas’ favour.
Match Details
- Fixture: Tamil Thalaivas vs UP Yoddhas – Match 46, PKL Season 12
- Date: Monday, 22nd September 2025
- Time: 9:00 PM IST
- Venue: SMS Indoor Stadium, Jaipur