Bottom-placed Giants meet a Bengal side leaning heavily on their captain
Match 64 of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 brings together two sides in desperate need of points as Gujarat Giants (12th) face Bengal Warriorz (10th) in Chennai. The fixture pits Dhaakad Devank, the league’s most dominant raider, against Showstopper Shadloui, who is enduring his toughest season yet.
Devank – A Season of Pure Brilliance
Devank’s rise has been the story of PKL 12. With 156 raid points in nine matches at a 73% success rate, he has produced a Super 10 in every single outing. Back-to-back masterclasses—22 raid points vs Patna Pirates and 25 vs Puneri Paltan—have underlined his unmatched dominance.
What sets him apart is consistency across all match phases, maintaining above 60% success in every quarter, and excelling even against full defensive lines with an 84% strike rate. His record-breaking efficiency has powered Bengal to the highest average raid points this season (26.9 per game).
Yet, Gujarat has been a rare stumbling block—Devank averages only 8 raid points across two matches against the Giants, making this duel one of his trickier assignments.
Shadloui’s Uncharacteristic Decline
On the opposite side, Mohammadreza Shadloui, once the PKL’s most feared defender, has struggled to find form. With just 13 tackle points in 10 games and no High 5s to his name, this season has been his leanest return.
Ironically, his best numbers have come in raiding rather than defending, including a 4-point raiding cameo against UP Yoddhas. But history offers him hope—against Bengal, he averages 4 tackle points per game at 55% success, his best record against any opponent.
The Shadloui-Devank battle could decide the game, and a strong performance here might reignite the Iranian’s campaign.
Gujarat Giants – Searching for Leadership in Attack
The Giants’ campaign has been plagued by inconsistency. They sit bottom of the table with only two wins from ten matches, largely due to their blunt attack.
- Lowest average raid points in PKL 12 (16.7 at 39% success)
- Over-reliance on Rakesh (62 raid points, 6.2 average)
- Support raiders struggling to cross even 5 points per game
Their defence too has been erratic, with Shadloui unable to anchor the backline. Without a major turnaround in both raiding and tackling, Gujarat’s playoff hopes are quickly fading.
Bengal Warriorz – Brilliant Captain, Fragile Defence
While Bengal boasts the league’s best raider, their defence has been the weakest. They average just 8.6 tackle points per match at a 31% success rate, the lowest in PKL 12.
Ashish has been the standout defender with 31 tackle points at 54% SR, including 5 High 5s, but he has received little support from teammates. In matches they’ve won, Bengal has averaged 12 tackle points, while in defeats, that number drops to just 6.8—a stark indicator of their reliance on one or two defensive performances.
If the defence fails to back up Devank, Bengal risk slipping further behind in the playoff race.
Head-to-Head Record
History favours Gujarat in this matchup:
- Total meetings: 13
- Gujarat Giants: 7 wins
- Bengal Warriorz: 4 wins
- Tied: 2
The Giants also beat Bengal twice last season, including a dominant 47–28 victory. However, form this season suggests the Warriorz may finally tilt the balance.
Key Player Battles
- Devank vs Shadloui – Star raider against a defender who’s historically excelled against Bengal.
- Rakesh vs Ashish – Gujarat’s only consistent raider faces the league’s most in-form defender.
- Parteek Dahiya vs Bengal corners – If Parteek can chip in, Gujarat’s attack could look less predictable.
What to Expect
This clash is likely to be defined by the supporting cast. Devank will get his Super 10—that much feels inevitable—but whether Bengal’s defence can withstand even Gujarat’s struggling attack remains the bigger question.
For Gujarat, Rakesh needs help and Shadloui must rediscover his defensive bite. For Bengal, Ashish cannot do it all alone. The team that provides more support around their star man will walk away with the points.
Match Details
- Fixture: Gujarat Giants vs Bengal Warriorz – Match 64, PKL Season 12
- Date: Saturday, 4th October 2025
- Time: 9:00 PM IST
- Venue: SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai