Delhi and Jaipur don’t come with the history of Patna or Bengaluru, but whenever they meet, the game usually tells us something new about both teams.
Delhi has often relied on a healthy mix of fierce raiding and grounded defense, but Jaipur has been more unpredictable, with its younger players being more prominent.
Their head-to-head records have been a close match, thus leaving fans to anticipate the next outcome. And now that this year, Delhi has a lineup of star players, with Jaipur a known 2-star team, the setup seems more interesting than ever.
I have covered the past performance of both teams against each other, their key players, and how they are shaping the plays. Ultimately, I have also included a prediction that may or may not come true.
Let’s discuss all the possibilities between Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers: Shape of Season 12
Dabang Delhi K.C. are rolling into Season 12 with a clear blueprint, and that is to lean on Ashu Malik’s raiding leadership and staff a defence so fearsome it reads like a kabaddi greatest-hits list.
They used their FBM card to keep Malik for ₹1.9 crore, then backed it up with marquee defensive buys: Fazel Atrachali (the league’s top-ever tackler), Surjeet Singh, Saurabh Nandal, Amir Hossein Bastami, and Neeraj Narwal as promising raider support.
Coach Joginder Narwal has reassembled a unit that blends experience and youth. Yet, losing MVP Naveen Kumar leaves a void in raiding depth, and those around Malik will need to step up fast.
Across the arena, the Jaipur Pink Panthers appear to have bet on their defensive might. Under new coach Narender Redhu, they’ve kept their defensive spine intact with Reza Mirbagheri, Ronak Singh, and Abhishek KS.
Also, with the addition of captain-level all-rounder Nitin Rawal. But they’re also scrambling to rebuild an attack after losing Arjun Deshwal; the price tag on Nitin Kumar Dhankhar signals they’re searching for a new “Raid Machine”.
Head-to-Head History Of Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Few rivalries in Pro Kabaddi carry such unpredictable swings as Delhi vs Jaipur. Across 24 meetings, neither team has ever dominated for long. Every season adds a fresh twist, with big wins, tight thrillers, and the occasional collapse defining this duel.
| Stat | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 24 | 24 |
| Wins | 9 | 12 |
| Losses | 12 | 9 |
| Tied | 3 | 3 |
| Highest Score | 48 | 57 |
| Lowest Score | 21 | 21 |
What makes this rivalry so fascinating isn’t just the numbers, but how unpredictable the swings are.
Jaipur’s record 57-32 demolition of Delhi stands out like a bolt from the blue, yet Delhi’s nerve-narrowing 33-31 win earlier this season shows they’re more than just underdogs.
A lowest score of 21 apiece suggests both can collapse spectacularly if the pressure mounts.
This is not heavily leaning on either side. Both teams are well aware of the other’s weak spots. Jaipur’s firepower faces Delhi’s defensive discipline, and the outcome will depend less on history and more on who can deliver on the night.
Past Highlights Of Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers has seen heavy pressure, teeth-grinding plays, and even frustrating ties. Jaipur’s most emphatic win came in Season 10, when they dismantled Delhi 57-32, which was a statement of raiding firepower that stunned many.
But Delhi has had its say too. In Season 6, they turned a corner with a confident 40–29 win. Season 10 ended with a tense result too, with a 32–32 tie in Chennai. Delhi had surged ahead early, only for Jaipur to erase a 13-point lead with late heroics.
The pendulum swung again in Season 11, where Delhi ended Jaipur’s flawless run in only that campaign, beating them 33–31. Ashu Malik’s Super 10 and a last-minute touch from Naveen Kumar sealed it.
Looking back, Jaipur surged in patches, using raiding leg-drives like 2022’s final push, while Delhi has often leaned on structured raids and defensive grit.
There’s no single pattern: sometimes raids run hot, other times clutches of defence turn tides. And if one thing’s clear, it’s that every chapter of this rivalry unfolds unpredictably.
Both teams also share streaks that swing momentum sharply. Jaipur dominated mid-seasons with consistent double wins, while Delhi’s best patches came when their defence was locked tight.
The contrast in playing styles has ensured that their meetings rarely feel routine, always loaded with a surprise.
The Deciding Players Between Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Delhi arrives with a clear spine: Ashu Malik hunts points while a seasoned cover-corner unit sets the line.
Jaipur, with Nitin Rawal in charge, leans on structure first and rotates raiders for spark. If Jaipur’s new raiding mix settles early, Delhi’s defence won’t be allowed easy angles.
| Team | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Ashu Malik | Nitin Rawal |
| Coach | Joginder Narwal | Narender Redhu |
| Key Raiders | Ashu Malik, Neeraj Narwal, Ajinkya Pawar | Nitin Kumar, Meetu, Vinay, Ali Choubtarash |
| Key Defenders | Fazel Atrachali, Saurabh Nandal, Surjeet Singh | Reza Mirbagheri, Ronak Singh, Aashish Kumar |
| All-Rounders | Amir Hossein Bastami | Nitin Rawal |
Delhi’s build is straightforward and effective. Ashu finished Season 11 with 262 raid points (second in the league), and he’s opened Season 12 still carrying the load. That lets Delhi keep three at the line and trust single-cover support when needed.
With Fazel (all-time 500+ tackle points) calling the corners and Surjeet marshalling the cover, they can squeeze bonus and funnel raiders to Nandal on the opposite corner. The auction kept that identity intact: Ashu via FBM, plus Surjeet and Nandal for depth and balance.
Jaipur’s shape reads defence-first. Rawal’s a steadying all-rounder, Reza is the enforcer on cover, and the corners cycle based on matchups. The question is the new-look raid rotation. They paid up for Nitin Kumar and added Ali Choubtarash.
With Meetu and Vinay around, Jaipur can keep raids short and frequent, target do-or-die, and wait for mistakes. If the chain times its dashes, they don’t need a single marquee scorer every night, but just enough clean exits to let the defence reset the mat.
2025 Full Squads Of Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Both teams bring depth this season, but their balance tilts differently. Delhi leans on a heavy defensive core with Fazel and Surjeet, while Jaipur spreads its bets across a wider raiding unit.
| Position | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Ashu Malik (Raider) | Nitin Rawal (All-Rounder) |
| Vice-Captain | Fazel Atrachali (Defender) | Reza Mirbagheri (Defender) |
| Raider 1 | Ashu Malik | Nitin Kumar |
| Raider 2 | Neeraj Narwal | Meetu |
| Raider 3 | Ajinkya Pawar | Vinay |
| Raider 4 | Mohit | Ali Choubtarash |
| Raider 5 | Akshit | Ritik Sharma |
| Raider 6 | Anil Gurjar | Sahil Satpal |
| Raider 7 | Vijay | Uday Kumar Parte |
| Defender 1 | Fazel Atrachali | Reza Mirbagheri |
| Defender 2 | Surjeet Singh | Abhishek KS |
| Defender 3 | Saurabh Nandal | Ronak Singh |
| Defender 4 | Gaurav Chhillar | Nitin Kumar (Defender) |
| Defender 5 | Mohit Narwal | Mohit |
| Defender 6 | Anurag Kumar | Aashish Kumar |
| Defender 7 | Raman Singh | Aryan Kumar |
| Defender 8 | Amir Hossein Bastami | Deepanshu Khatri |
| All-Rounder 1 | Amit | Nitin Rawal |
| All-Rounder 2 | Naveen | – |
| All-Rounder 3 | Ashish Sangwan | – |
| All-Rounder 4 | Arkam Shaikh | – |
The squads underline a simple contrast where Delhi’s structure starts with its veteran defense, while Jaipur focuses on building a multi-option raiding pack.
If Delhi’s leaders keep control, their corners can squeeze out games; if Jaipur’s raiders find rhythm, the balance can quickly tilt.
The Better Team In History: Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Delhi and Jaipur have had contrasting arcs in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Jaipur carries the legacy of being the inaugural champions and two-time winners, while Delhi’s strength has grown more recently, peaking with their 2021 title run.
| Metric | Dabang Delhi K.C. (All-Time) | Jaipur Pink Panthers (All-Time) | Delhi – Season 11 | Jaipur – Season 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 221 | 220 | 23 | 23 |
| Wins | 99 | 110 | 13 | 12 |
| Draws | 23 | 19 | 4 | 2 |
| Losses | 99 | 91 | 6 | 9 |
| Highest Score | 60 | 67 | 47 | 52 |
| Biggest Winning Margin | 23 | 37 | 22 | 30 |
| Total Raids | 9407 | 9245 | 970 | 957 |
| Successful Raids | 3538 | 3299 | 370 | 346 |
| Raid Success % | 38% | 36% | 38% | 36% |
| Total Tackles | 5342 | 5106 | 526 | 507 |
| Successful Tackles | 1919 | 2024 | 218 | 231 |
| Tackle Success % | 36% | 40% | 41% | 46% |
| All-Out Points | 552 | 556 | 66 | 58 |
Delhi’s history shows a steady rise, with nearly equal wins and losses all-time, and a reputation for strong raids.
Season 11 highlighted that, with Ashu Malik leading them to 463 raid points, the defensive trio of Fazel, Surjeet, and Nandal delivered consistency.
Jaipur, though, holds the edge overall. Their two championships and better tackle success rate (40% all-time, 46% in Season 11) underline a defence-first identity.
Season 11 again reflected this balance: Jaipur’s defenders produced 246 points, often keeping them in games despite raids being less explosive.
In short, Delhi has turned into an attacking powerhouse in recent seasons, while Jaipur remains anchored by disciplined defending, making their historical rivalry one of styles rather than dominance.
The Deciding Players Between Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Between these two teams, it is not just the usual suspects who can tilt the matches. We have talked enough about the power Ashu Malik, Fazel and Nitin Rawal and Kuamr bring on both sides, but it needs way more to make a proper team.
On Delhi’s side, Neeraj Narwal is more than backup. He’s the kind of raider who finds gaps Ashu leaves, a subtle, sneaky, and a rising headache for defenses.
Ajinkya Pawar, another pocket dynamo, can sneak in bonus raids that shift pace when games stall. Watch Surjeet Singh too, because he doesn’t flash but anchors the cover like glue, helping Delhi’s structure hold.
For Jaipur, Manjeet Dahiya brings seasoned raids with split-second decision-making, and his efficiency can cover gaps if Dhankhar struggles. Vinay isn’t a name to shout about, but his bursts of speed sneak points when everyone chills.
Ali Samadi Choubtarash is that wild card whose raids look random, but defenders know chaos hurts. And on defense, Aashish Kumar, after stepping in for Ankush Rathee, wants to prove he belongs.
Probable Winner Of Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers
Delhi looks the steadier outfit on paper. Ashu Malik’s raiding last season was the only reason they stayed competitive, and with Naveen Kumar fit again, they finally have a pairing that can stretch defenses.
Their corner defense of Fazel Atrachali and Saurabh Nandal isn’t just about flashy tackles; it’s about slowing games into their rhythm and letting the raiders finish the job.
Jaipur is coming in with different questions. Nitin Rawal is their captain and defensive shield, but they need Nitin Dhankhar or Vinay to put up numbers if they want to match Delhi raid for raid.
Reza Mirbagheri gives them the kind of corner muscle that can flip raids, but consistency hasn’t always been there.
If Delhi’s raiders stay healthy, they have the upper hand. Jaipur’s best chance is to turn it into a grind and hope their new raiders click early. My edge is Delhi.
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Conclusion: Delhi Push Forward in Front of Jaipur, Who Seek Its Footing
Season 12 puts Delhi in a position where expectations are higher than ever. With their raiding core back at full strength and a defence stacked with veterans, they are shaping up as a team with playoff ambitions, not just survival goals.
Jaipur, in contrast, is in a building phase. Their leadership has shifted, their attack is still finding its rhythm, and their defensive unit needs to hold strong if they want consistency across the season.
The clashes between them may show two sides at different stages. One is ready to push for glory, the other is still searching for balance.
FAQs
Jaipur Pink Panthers were part of the inaugural PKL season in 2014, while Delhi have gradually risen as contenders in later years, peaking with their Season 8 title win.
Delhi hosts games at Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in the capital, whereas Jaipur Pink Panthers’ home base is Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, both drawing packed local crowds.
Delhi has been led by stalwarts like Joginder Narwal and Naveen Kumar, while Jaipur’s list includes stars such as Deepak Hooda and Fazel Atrachali.
Both teams have leaned on Iranian talent. Fazel Atrachali anchored Delhi’s defense, while Jaipur recently relied on Reza Mirbagheri to strengthen their defensive corners.
It’s less a classic rivalry and more a clash of styles, with Delhi focusing on raiding depth and Jaipur emphasizing structured defense and disciplined teamwork.
