Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants has always given us interesting plays and scorecards. Neither of them has ever dominated the Pro Kabaddi League consistently, but against each other, they seem an equal match that doesn’t leave their fans unsatisfied.
The two sides have played 12 times, and many of those matches went down to the last few minutes. Sometimes Gujarat’s defence turned the game, and sometimes Tamil’s young raiders stole the win.
That’s what keeps this rivalry interesting. With Season 12 starting fresh, both teams will look to improve their record, and fans can expect another round of thrilling kabaddi between them.
Let us see which of the teams has a better chance of beating the other.
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants: What To Expect In Season 12
Tamil Thalaivas are entering this season with new hope and the much-celebrated star raider Arjun Deshwal. Led by the ever-daring captain Pawan Sehrawat, they seem to have found their tune.
Tamil vs Gujarat is set to match on September 6 in Vizag. This match is the one capable of telling us how each of the teams is setting up for the season, and if their new formations and acquisitions are clicking in.
The Thalaivas’ attacking trio of Narender Kandola, Deshwal, and Pawan promises fireworks, each capable of flipping a game in a single raid.
Gujarat Giants bring a very different flavour, led by Mohammadreza Shadloui, last season’s MVP and now the ₹2.23 crore captain, backed by coach Jaiveer Sharma’s steady plans.
It’s the age-old question: will explosive raids break through a rock-solid wall? Fans might just get a thriller right from the start.
Who Leads Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants Head-To-Head Records?
Gujarat Giants and Tamil Thalaivas have had a neutral past in the Pro Kabaddi League.
Playing against each other only 12 times, Gujarat edges the tally with 6 wins, while the Thalaivas have managed 5 victories, and there has been 1 tie in between.
| Stat | Gujarat Giants | Tamil Thalaivas |
|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 12 | 12 |
| Wins | 6 | 5 |
| Losses | 5 | 6 |
| Tied | 1 | 1 |
| Highest Score | 50 | 44 |
| Lowest Score | 25 | 21 |
What makes this contest exciting is how wildly the results swing. Gujarat once smashed Tamil with a record 50-21 scoreline, while the Thalaivas have their own proud moment in a 44-25 win.
The lowest scores of 25 from Gujarat Giants and 21 from Tamil Thalaiva indicate how easily either side might collapse under pressure.
Ultimately, this match-up is not one-sided at all. Whether it comes from both teams doing exceptionally well against each other or both teams being underwhelming, the teams themselves will have to prove it this season.
The Best Of Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants Moments
Tamil Thalaivas and Gujarat Giants have consistently exhibited opposing strengths as teams.
Thalaivas place a great deal of emphasis on raids, whereas Gujarat focuses on defense, believing it is where you can bring the enemy down. The records reflect this back-and-forth nature.
Gujarat’s proudest moment was a 50-21 demolition in 2019, a reminder of how unstoppable they can be when their corners click.
On the other hand, the Thalaivas have owned the recent contests, especially with their double win in Season 11, 44-25 and 40-27, where raiders like Narender and Arjun Deshwal shredded the Giants’ defense. Some games, though, have been knife-edge thrillers.
The 31-31 tie in Season 9 and the 33-30 squeaker in 2023 showed how both sides can push each other right to the final raid.
Giants’ current captain Mohammadreza Shadloui is known for his brutal ankle holds and dash tackles, making life miserable for the raiders. But the Thalaivas’ attacking trio of Pawan, Deshwal, and Narender are exactly the kind of players who test his patience.
The rivalry also carries streaks: Gujarat dominated early seasons, but Tamil Thalaivas have taken the upper hand lately. Put simply, it’s defense versus raid power, and history says you never know which side of kabaddi will win the day.
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants Key Team Members 2025
The contrast between the two teams is sharp this season. Where the Thalaivas are boasting a start-heavy raiding lineup, Gujarat is banking on a defensive wall.
Both single-sided approaches can be tricky, but if either of the units clicks and gets the right support, it could be an easy match for one of them.
| Team | Tamil Thalaivas | Gujarat Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Pawan Sehrawat | Mohammadreza Shadloui |
| Coach | Sanjeev Baliyan | Jaiveer Sharma |
| Key Raiders | Arjun Deshwal, Narender Kandola | Rakesh Sungroya, Parteek Dahiya |
| Key Defenders | Sagar Rathee, Nitesh Kumar | Rohit Nandal, Milad Jabbari |
| All-Rounders | Moein Shafaghi, Suresh Jadhav | Mohammadreza Shadloui, Nitin Panwar |
Tamil Thalaivas enter Season 12 with a clear attacking identity. Pawan Sehrawat’s leadership brings experience, while Arjun Deshwal and Narender Kandola provide firepower that can dismantle even disciplined defenses.
Their backline has been upgraded too, with Nitesh Kumar, known for his chain tackles, joining Sagar Rathee, giving the Thalaivas a corner duo that looks far more secure than in previous years.
Coach Sanjeev Baliyan is focusing on a balanced approach, not wanting their famous raiding unit to take away from their defense skills.
Gujarat, though, still seems to stick with a powerful defense. Mohammadreza Shadloui, captain and now the most expensive player of the season, is known for ankle holds and sudden dashes that lead the team by example.
Alongside him, Milad Jabbari adds Iranian steel, while Rohit Nandal provides cover consistency. Rakesh Sungroya and Parteek Dahiya are two solid scorers for the team’s attacks with their quick and smooth raids.
Coach Jaiveer Sharma of Gujarat Giants is leading a team that is a mixed bag in terms of age, skill, and experience. But with his focus on discipline, it might just flow favourably for them.
It will surely be exciting to see how the teams come together.
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants Full Squad 2025
Both sides have stacked squads this season, but their strengths lie in different places. Let’s break down their line-ups position by position.
| Position | Tamil Thalaivas | Gujarat Giants |
|---|---|---|
| Captain | Pawan Sehrawat (All-Rounder) | Mohammadreza Shadloui (All-Rounder) |
| Vice-Captain | Arjun Deshwal (Raider) | – |
| Raider 1 | Arjun Deshwal | Rakesh Sungroya |
| Raider 2 | Narender Kandola | Parteek Dahiya |
| Raider 3 | Vishal Chahal | V. Ajith Kumar |
| Raider 4 | Dhiraj Bailmare | Himanshu Singh |
| Raider 5 | Rohit Beniwal | Ankit Dahiya |
| Raider 6 | Abhiraj Pawar | Harish |
| Raider 7 | Yogesh Yadav | Shridhar Kadam |
| Defender 1 | Nitesh Kumar | Rohit Nandal |
| Defender 2 | Sagar Rathee | Lucky Sharma |
| Defender 3 | Anuj Gawade | Milad Jabbari |
| Defender 4 | Himanshu | Amit |
| Defender 5 | Ronak | Shubham Kumar |
| Defender 6 | Mohit | Sumit |
| Defender 7 | Tarun | – |
| Defender 8 | Aashish | – |
| Defender 9 | Alireza Khalili | – |
| All-Rounder 1 | Pawan Sehrawat | Mohammadreza Shadloui |
| All-Rounder 2 | Moein Shafaghi | Nitin Panwar |
| All-Rounder 3 | Suresh Jadhav | Himanshu Yadav |
| All-Rounder 4 | – | Visvanth V |
The table shows how balanced these squads are. Tamil Thalaivas clearly load up on raiders, while Gujarat Giants double down on defenders and all-rounders.
It’s a classic contrast of firepower versus structure. Experts feel Tamil Nadu’s young raiding trio could overwhelm defenses if they click, but Gujarat’s Iranian-led defense might just smother them into mistakes.
Who Has Performed Better In History, Tamil Thalaivas or Gujarat Giants?
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants records highlight contrasting journeys in the league. Tamil have shown flashes of brilliance but remain inconsistent, while Gujarat’s early years were strong, though recent seasons exposed gaps in their attack.
| Metric | Tamil Thalaivas (All-Time) | Gujarat Giants (All-Time) | Tamil Thalaivas – Season 11 | Gujarat Giants – Season 11 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches Played | 158 | 163 | 22 | 22 |
| Wins | 20 | 16 | 8 | 5 |
| Draws | 49 | 69 | 1 | 3 |
| Losses | 89 | 78 | 13 | 14 |
| Highest Score | 74 | 51 | 60 | 47 |
| Biggest Winning Margin | 37 | 29 | 31 | 19 |
| Total Raids | 6852 | 6911 | 971 | 943 |
| Successful Raids | 1637 | 1642 | 257 | 259 |
| Raid Success % | 36% | 35% | 34% | 31% |
| Total Tackles | 3931 | 3763 | 576 | 560 |
| Successful Tackles | 1536 | 1526 | 316 | 215 |
| Tackle Success % | 39% | 41% | 45% | 38% |
| All-Out Points | 346 | 406 | 56 | 32 |
Tamil’s Season 11 was a mix of highs and lows. Their 60-point explosion against Bengal Warriorz showed their attacking ceiling, but inconsistency cost them playoff qualification.
But surprisingly, Tamil Thalaivas have a 45% tackle success rate, which highlights their amazing defense and proves their ability to show competition.
But Gujarat, which is known for defense first, lost ranks in season 11 as well when they banked only 5 matches in their favour.
Their raid success fell to 31%, and defensive output wasn’t enough to cover the gaps. The historical numbers suggest Gujarat still edges Tamil defensively, but Tamil’s current rise in raid depth gives them a sharper edge moving forward.
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants: Which Players Could Decide The Match?
Tamil’s attack is built to entertain. Pawan Sehrawat remains the match-winner who can single-handedly lift a scoreboard, while Arjun Deshwal and Narender Kandola supply speed, ricochet raids, and desperation touches that force defenses to rush.
Gujarat’s spine, unsurprisingly, is defence-first. Mohammadreza Shadloui is the kind of corner defender whose ankle-hold plus dash combos stop momentum cold. He sets the physical tone and reads raid intent brilliantly.
Key match-ups you need to watch are Pawan’s power and trickery versus Shadloui’s iron-clamp tackling; Deshwal/Narender’s movement against Milad Jabbari and Rohit-style cover defenders who thrive on anticipation.
All-rounders like Moein Shafaghi and Nitin Panwar add tactical depth because they aren’t flashy, but their turnovers and bonus discipline can swing tight games. Expect battles of patience, then sudden bursts of chaos; the team that times its raids better will likely win.
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants: Who Can Win?
Tamil Thalaivas look sharper this year. Pawan Sehrawat, focused and fit, is laser-locked on making this his redemption season, with no flash, just finishing at crucial moments.
And with Arjun Deshwal added as strategic depth and coach Sanjeev Baliyan bringing championship DNA, they’re a well-balanced, low-insecurity team that blends attack flair with defensive solidity.
Gujarat Giants, meanwhile, have rebuilt with purpose. With Mohammadreza Shadloui’s budget-breaking presence anchoring defense and a revamped raids unit including Parteek, Rakesh, and Ajith, the Giants have roster talent. But their huge turnover may take time to gel.
My prediction or opinion is that Thalaivas should open strong, by pacing and leadership tilt early in their favor. Giants, defensively elite, could challenge late, but Thalaivas’ cohesion gives them the edge in both fixtures.
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Conclusion: Tamil Thalaivas Are Settled, But Gujarat Giants Remain Dangerous
Tamil Thalaivas vs Gujarat Giants always promise intensity because their styles clash. The Thalaivas rely on sharp raiding led by Pawan Sehrawat and Narender Kandola, backed by a defense that has grown more reliable each season.
They look like a more balanced unit heading into Season 12. Gujarat, however, are built around Mohammadreza Shadloui’s defensive dominance. If he controls the game from the back, the Giants can still frustrate even the strongest raiders.
Both teams have traded big wins in the past, so fans know momentum can flip quickly. Tamil Nadu may be the safer bet, but Gujarat’s fighting edge means neither side can take these encounters lightly.
FAQs
Tamil Thalaivas enjoy stronger fan support in Chennai, but Gujarat has loyal backers in Ahmedabad and across Gujarat.
Tamil Thalaivas generally rely on fast, attacking raids, while Gujarat focuses more on defense-first kabaddi.
Both teams are expected to host games in their home cities, Chennai and Ahmedabad.
Tamil Thalaivas often spend big on star raiders, while Gujarat invests heavily in defenders.
Most games are competitive, with a history of narrow wins and occasional one-sided results.
