Puneri Paltan face Telugu Titans in Qualifier 2 of PKL 12 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi.
The Paltan (1st position, 13 wins from 18 matches) suffered a crushing defeat against Dabang Delhi in Qualifier 1, confronting the resurgent Titans (4th position, 10 wins from 18 matches) who ended Patna Pirates’ eight-match winning streak with an impressive 46-39 victory in Eliminator 3.
This encounter presents a compelling narrative as Bharat Hooda’s 23-point performance powers the Titans toward their first-ever PKL final, whilst the Season 10 champions seek redemption to reach their third final in four seasons.
PKL 2025 Qualifier 2 Preview
Match Details
The PKL 2025 Qualifier 2 will be held at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi, on Wednesday, October 30, 2025, at 8:00 PM. The winner will move on to face Dabang Delhi in the PKL Season 12 Final on October 31.
Head-to-Head Record
- This Season (PKL 12): Both teams have won one match each (1-1).
- Overall Record: Puneri Paltan lead 14-9 in 24 meetings.
- Recent Trend: Puneri have dominated the rivalry recently, winning 10 of the last 12 encounters.
Current Form
- Telugu Titans: In top form with 4 wins from their last 5 matches, carrying strong momentum.
- Puneri Paltan: On a 3-match losing streak, looking to bounce back after the Qualifier 1 heartbreak.
Both sides enter with contrasting momentum — Titans confident, Puneri desperate to recover.
A. Puneri Paltan – The Balanced Machine
Puneri Paltan, known for their structure and defensive discipline, topped the league with 13 wins in 18 matches and the best defensive average of 12.1 tackle points per game.
Key Raiders:
- Aslam Inamdar: The versatile leader who anchors raids with composure and smart timing; excels in Do-or-Die situations.
- Aditya Shinde: The season’s top scorer for Puneri, reliable across the court and efficient in multi-point raids.
Key Defenders:
- Gaurav Khatri (Cover): A rock in the centre, leading with 50 tackle points and commanding the defensive chain.
- Gurdeep (Corner): Known for quick dashes and supporting chain tackles that often change the momentum.
Puneri’s biggest challenge will be rediscovering their early-season sharpness and handling Telugu’s in-form raiders without losing shape.
B. Telugu Titans – The Explosive Force
Telugu Titans, the in-form playoff team, surged from mid-table to 4th with 10 wins, marking their first playoff return in seven seasons.
Key Raiders:
- Bharat Hooda: The heartbeat of Telugu’s attack, delivering explosive multi-point raids and a 23-point masterclass in the Eliminator.
- Vijay Malik (Captain): A consistent Super 10 scorer who complements Hooda perfectly and thrives under pressure.
Key Defenders:
- Shubham Shinde (Corner): Brings aggression and awareness, with several high-fives in crunch games.
- Ajit Pawar (Cover): The link between corners, crucial in chain tackles and maintaining discipline in tight situations.
The Titans’ defence will need to stay compact to neutralize Puneri’s balanced offence, while the raiders look to continue their scoring spree.
The Road to Qualifier 2 – Teams Journeys
Puneri Paltan’s Dominant League Campaign
Puneri Paltan topped the table with 13 wins in 18 matches, displaying the balance and discipline that defined their Season 10 title run. Led by Aslam Inamdar, the side combined sharp raids from Aditya Shinde with Gaurav Khatri’s defensive solidity, who registered 50 tackle points.
Key Victories
- League Standing: Finished top with 13 wins, 4 losses, and 1 tie in 18 matches.
- Historic Tie-breaker: Won PKL’s first-ever league tie-breaker vs Bengaluru Bulls (32-32, 6-4).
- Big Win: Dominated Tamil Thalaivas 36-23, with Mohite (9) and Inamdar (7) leading.
- Season High: Crushed Bengaluru Bulls 56-17 — their biggest win of the season.
- Defensive Strength: Best in PKL 12 with 12.1 average tackle points at 40% success rate.
- Heaviest Defeat: Lost 48-37 to Patna Pirates as Ayan Lohchab scored 21 points.
- Recent Slump: On a 3-match losing streak, including a 40-31 loss to Telugu Titans.
- Qualifier 1 Heartbreak: Lost 6-4 in a tie-breaker after a 34-34 draw with Dabang Delhi.
- Top Performers: Aditya Shinde top scorer; Gaurav Khatri led defence with 50 tackles.
- Championship Pedigree: Season 10 winners, finalists in two of the last three seasons.
Close Losses:
- Qualifier 1 vs Dabang Delhi (34-34, lost 6-4): Heartbreaking tie-breaker loss after a level finish in regulation time.
- vs Patna Pirates (48-37): Suffered their biggest defeat as Ayan Lohchab scored 21 points.
- vs Telugu Titans (40-31): Loss that began their three-match losing streak before Qualifier 2.
- Form Dip: Titans’ surge of 4 wins in 5 matches coincided with Puneri’s recent slump.
Telugu Titans’ Remarkable Playoff Surge
Telugu Titans finished 4th with 20 points from 18 matches, securing 10 wins to reach the playoffs after seven seasons. Guided by coach Krishan Kumar Hooda, the team began with five straight victories, led by the raiding duo of Bharat Hooda and captain Vijay Malik, who contributed 84% of their raid points.
Key Victories:
- Eliminator 3 vs Patna Pirates (46-39): Ended Patna’s 8-match streak with Bharat Hooda’s 23 points.
- Mini Qualifier vs Bengaluru Bulls (37-32): Vijay Malik and Bharat Hooda scored Super 10s.
- vs Jaipur Pink Panthers (37-32): First-ever win vs two-time champs; Ajit Pawar earned a High Five.
- vs Puneri Paltan (40-31): Beat table-toppers to secure playoff spot; Shubham Shinde starred in defence.
- vs UP Yoddhas (40-35): Bharat Hooda hit a Super 10, crossing 700 career raid points.
- vs Gujarat Giants (30-25): Won tight clash led by Vijay (8) and Bharat (7).
- vs Tamil Thalaivas: Defence grabbed 13 tackle points at 54% success.
- vs Patna Pirates: Defence solid with 14 tackles at 45% success.
- Dream Start: Began season with 5 straight wins under Krishan Kumar Hooda.
- Winning Streak: Defence recorded 10+ tackle points in 4 of last 5 matches.
Close Losses:
- vs U Mumba (39-40): Lost by just one point in a heartbreaking defeat.
- vs Bengaluru Bulls (32-34): Fell short by two points in a close encounter.
- vs Dabang Delhi (29-33): Lost by four points to the table-toppers after back-to-back defeats.
- Defensive Struggles: Maintained just 10.5 average tackle points at a 40% success rate throughout the season.
- Weak in 4-5 Defender Situations: Ranked among the weakest sides with 60 tackle points at a 42% strike rate.
Key Players To Look Out For
1. Puneri Paltan
| Player | Role | Key Stats / Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Aditya Shinde | Lead Raider | 128 raid points, 73% success rate, 8.2 average. Only raider with 100+ SR vs 2–3 defenders. Strong in Super Tackle situations. |
| Pankaj Mohite | Supporting Raider | Back-to-back Super 10s (14 vs Haryana, 10 vs Bengal). Improved average from 3.6 to 7.2 over last nine matches. |
| Gaurav Khatri | Defender | 50 tackle points, 57% success rate, 3 High 5s. Registered 7 tackles vs Telugu Titans earlier this season. |
2. Telugu Titans
| Player | Role | Key Stats / Highlights |
|---|---|---|
| Bharat Hooda | Lead Raider | 207 raid points in 20 matches (9.7 avg, 61% SR, 9 Super 10s). Scored 23 points in Eliminator 3. Strong in first halves (104 points at 65% SR). |
| Vijay Malik | Captain / Raider | 152 raid points (8.0 avg, 50% SR, 6 Super 10s). Bonus specialist with 44 bonus points — third-most this season. |
| Shubham Shinde | Defender | 48 tackle points (2.4 avg, 48% SR). Exceptional in 2–3 defender situations (75%+ SR). |
| Ajit Pawar | Defender | Leads Titans’ defence with 58 assists and 38 tackle points. |
| Aslam Inamdar | All-Rounder | Contributes 17% of Puneri’s total raids — provides balance on both ends of the mat. |
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Conclusion – Puneri Paltan vs Telugu Titans PKL Qualifier 2 Preview Intense Fight for a Final Spot
Gaurav Khatri’s tackle success will be the key factor, he averages 3.2 points in wins compared to 1.3 in losses. His duel with the in-form Bharat Hooda (184 raid points, 61% SR) could prove decisive in shaping the outcome.
Puneri Paltan’s league-topping defence and experience under pressure give them a slight edge, but Telugu Titans enter with momentum and confidence after four wins in their last five matches.
Both sides bring contrasting strengths, Puneri’s structure versus Telugu’s aggression, setting up a thrilling battle where every raid and tackle could swing the result.
