PKL 12 Predictions: Can Patna Pirates Win Pro Kabaddi League Title after Season 3, 4 and 5 Respectively?

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 will come with his twist and turns so brace yourself up once again as tentative dates most probably as 17th August 2025 will mark the resumption of Next Edition for Pro Kabaddi League.

Patna Pirates one of the most decorated franchise of PKL would be looking to reclaim their winning glory of winning titles in Season 3, 4 and 5 and finished as runner up in last edition would be looking to better their performance and go one notch higher to win PKL Season 12 title will be perfect comeback story in itself.

The most surprising Factor for Patna Pirates last edition most Pundits didn’t gave them chance, once last year auction was conducted based on the way performed in back to back matches where they registered victories on consistent basis kudos to Devank Dalal astounding raider for them complemented brilliantly by Ayan Lochab and Ankit Jaglan and Shubham Shinde in defense made them a formidable squad.

The credit should be given to their last year coach, Nardender Redu who is no more part of this franchise as coach will be tactically guiding Jaipur Pink Panthers for PKL Season 12.

The team looked completely revamped with Legendary Coach, Anup Kumar who is an absolute legends of the game and here in this article, we will talk about Whether Patna Pirates could possibly lift their 4th Title next year to be shared in the below format:

Before that let’s dive deep into their retained and List of Players bought by them, to be shared in the below format:

Full Squad for Patna Pirates for PKL Season 12 :

Ankit Jaglan
Deepak Rajender Singh
Sanket Suresh Sawant
Maninder Singh
Balasaheb Shahji Jadhav
Sombir
Amin Ghorbani
Mandeep
Hamid Mirzaei Nader
Thiyagarajan Yuvaraj
Sudhakar M
Ayan
Navedeep
Deepak
Sahil Patil
Saurabh
Prianshu
Milan
Ankit

Strength:

The Patna Pirates enter the upcoming season with a solid defensive unit that can be a game-changer against top-tier teams. Anchoring their defense are Ankit Jaglan, known for his smart tackling and controlled aggression from the Left Corner, Sombir Gulia with his rock-solid presence at Right Corner, and Sanket Sawant, another Left Corner who adds versatility and reliability in defensive chains. The defensive structure has been the Pirates’ trademark in recent seasons, and this time around, it looks even more formidable.

What sets them apart is the balance between youth and experience. While the defenders bring in steadiness, the team management has invested in young, athletic players with high potential who are hungry to prove themselves. This blend gives the team flexibility to rotate players and maintain energy levels throughout a long and demanding season.

Moreover, Patna Pirates have always been known for their strategic gameplay and intelligent on-mat leadership. Their coaching setup has worked consistently on nurturing raw talent into match-winners. They have role-specific defenders who are capable of handling agile raiders, as well as those who are experts in chain tackles and advanced holds. If they maintain their defensive shape and discipline, Patna’s backline can easily become one of the most feared in the league.

Another key strength lies in their team culture and legacy. Patna Pirates, with three PKL titles to their name, carry a championship mindset — and that winning DNA helps the younger squad members rise to pressure moments. If their defense clicks early in the season, they could lay a strong foundation for dominating matches.

Weakness:

Despite the defensive excellence, Patna Pirates’ biggest concern lies in their raiding department. While they have recruited Maninder Singh, a veteran raider with proven PKL credentials, his recent form has shown signs of decline. His strike rate and average raid points per match have dropped significantly, raising questions about whether he can still lead the raiding department with the consistency and firepower he once possessed.

Adding to the pressure is the presence of Ayan Lochab, a promising young raider who has shown sparks of brilliance but still lacks the big-match temperament and match-winning experience. If he doesn’t get consistent support from other raiders, the entire responsibility of scoring will fall on his shoulders, which could lead to mental and physical fatigue over the season.

The lack of depth in raiding options could expose Patna in high-pressure games, especially when opponents neutralize their lead raiders early in the match. The team does not currently boast a multi-dimensional raiding unit—there’s an absence of variety in raid styles such as bonus specialists, dubki experts, and toe-touch raiders. This lack of diversity makes the attack one-dimensional and easier to strategize against.

Additionally, in-game recovery after failed raids is a lingering issue. A weak raiding unit often fails to regain momentum after consecutive empty raids, which in turn forces the defense into repeated pressure situations. Unless they identify and groom a third dependable raider, the team may struggle to maintain a balanced scoreboard against elite squads.

Expectation and Results:

When it comes to expectations, Patna Pirates have always been a high-stakes team in the Pro Kabaddi League, and the pressure to perform is immense. Having surprised fans and critics alike last season by making it to the final and finishing as runners-up, the Pirates have already shown that they can punch above their weight. That unexpected success has set a new benchmark for the squad.

This season, the expectations are even higher. While fans will want them to go one step further and lift the trophy, experts know it won’t be easy. The margin of error is razor thin, especially in a tournament format where momentum and injury management play a crucial role. Their performance will depend heavily on how consistently their raiders perform, and whether their defense can continue to deliver at a high level across all matches.

What will work in their favor is their experience of playing in high-pressure situations. The team has shown resilience under pressure, particularly in the knockout stages. If they can replicate that mental toughness from last season and fix their raiding inconsistencies, they are very much capable of being strong playoff contenders again.

Consistency is key—if Patna can score in clusters and maintain scoreboard pressure, they can dominate mid-table teams and pick up crucial points. But failure to build raiding partnerships and overreliance on a single star can derail their campaign. Ultimately, the Pirates’ journey in PKL Season 12 will be determined by how well they adapt their strategy mid-tournament and respond to challenges thrown by stronger, more balanced sides.

Get Ready to Witness another edition of Pro Kabaddi League Live on Star Sports Channel and the same will be streamed on Jiohotstar app where the best in the business would compete against each other for the prestigious crown.