Top 5 Moments of PKL 12 From The Last Week

The last week of PKL Season 12 has been full of surprises, drama, and outstanding performances. From player controversies to golden raids, the Pro Kabaddi League has given fans everything they could ask for. Here are the top 5 moments that made headlines during the past week of PKL 12 action.

1. Ankush Rathee Unfollows Bengaluru Bulls – Captain’s Shocking Exit

The biggest shock of PKL 12 came when Ankush Rathee, the appointed captain of Bengaluru Bulls, suddenly disappeared from the team. The 22-year-old defender unfollowed Bengaluru Bulls on Instagram and removed all posts related to the franchise from his profile.

Ankush Rathee led the Bulls in their first two matches of PKL 12 against Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi. However, after scoring just 5 points in two matches, he was dropped from the starting lineup. The situation became more serious when he did not travel with the team for their match against Patna Pirates.

The Bengaluru Bulls management refused to discuss Ankush Rathee during post-match press conferences. Coach BC Ramesh changed the topic whenever asked about the former captain. The franchise later unfollowed Ankush on social media, making the split official.

Yogesh Dahiya was named as the new captain, and under his leadership, Bengaluru Bulls won their next two matches against Patna Pirates and Jaipur Pink Panthers. This dramatic change shows how quickly things can change in PKL 12.

2. Pawan Sehrawat Missing From Tamil Thalaivas Jaipur Trip

Another major controversy emerged when Pawan Sehrawat, captain of Tamil Thalaivas, did not travel with the team to Jaipur for the second leg of PKL 12. The star raider was notably absent from the team’s travel video and social media posts.

Pawan Sehrawat, who was brought back by Tamil Thalaivas for ₹59.5 lakhs at the PKL 12 auction, was expected to lead the team’s revival. However, his absence from the Jaipur leg raised serious questions about his future with the franchise.

Tamil Thalaivas played their first match in Jaipur against Bengal Warriorz without their captain. Arjun Deshwal, the vice-captain, led the team in Pawan’s absence. The team management did not provide any official reason for his absence, leading to speculation about a possible rift between the player and management.

Reports suggest that Pawan Sehrawat may have been sent back home mid-season due to disagreements with the team management. His performance in PKL 12 had been below expectations with only 22 raid points in three matches and no Super 10 performances.

The absence of their captain and star raider puts Tamil Thalaivas in a difficult position as they struggle at 10th place in the points table with just 2 points from their first three matches.

3. Dabang Delhi’s Perfect Unbeaten Streak Continues

While other teams faced internal problems, Dabang Delhi KC continued their perfect start to PKL 12. The defending champions completed their fifth consecutive win by defeating Gujarat Giants 38-28 in the last match of the Vizag leg.

Captain Ashu Malik has been the star performer for Dabang Delhi, scoring consistently in every match. In their win against Gujarat Giants, Ashu scored 14 raid points and completed his fifth consecutive Super 10. His leadership and clutch raiding have been crucial for Delhi’s success.

Fazel Atrachali, the experienced defender, anchored the defense with a High Five against Gujarat Giants. The Iranian defender has been key to Delhi’s defensive structure throughout their unbeaten run.

Dabang Delhi are the only team to remain unbeaten in PKL 12 so far. Their perfect record of 5 wins from 5 matches puts them at the top of the points table with 10 points. The team has shown great composure in close matches, winning their last two games on the final raid.

This unbeaten streak makes Dabang Delhi the early favorites for PKL 12 as they head into the Jaipur leg of the tournament.

4. Nitin Kumar’s Golden Raid Magic Against Gujarat Giants

One of the most exciting moments of the last week came when Jaipur Pink Panthers defeated Gujarat Giants in a thrilling golden raid finish. The match ended 30-30 in regular time, forcing a tie-breaker and eventually a golden raid.

Nitin Kumar was the hero for Jaipur Pink Panthers, scoring 15 raid points in the match. After making a costly error in the final raid against Dabang Delhi in the previous match, Nitin redeemed himself perfectly.

The young raider held his nerve in the golden raid to seal a memorable victory for the two-time champions. This was the second golden raid of PKL 12, showing how competitive the league has become this season.

Nitin Kumar has been carrying Jaipur’s raiding almost single-handedly with 3 Super 10s from 4 games. He averages the third highest raid points per match in PKL 12 and excels under pressure situations.

The golden raid victory against Gujarat Giants was crucial for Jaipur Pink Panthers’ confidence, though they later lost to Bengaluru Bulls in their next match. Still, Nitin Kumar’s performance in the golden raid remains one of the standout moments of PKL 12.

5. U Mumba’s Thrilling One-Point Victory Over Patna Pirates

The last week also saw one of the closest finishes of PKL 12 when U Mumba defeated Patna Pirates by just one point. The match ended 34-33 in favor of U Mumba, with the result decided in the final moments.

Amirmohammad Zafardanesh was the star performer for U Mumba with 12 raid points. The Iranian raider’s consistent scoring helped U Mumba maintain their advantage throughout the match.

For Patna Pirates, Ayan had been performing well but made a costly error in his last raid by stepping into the lobby. This mistake sealed Patna Pirates’ fate and gave U Mumba the narrow victory.

The one-point victory was crucial for U Mumba as it helped them move into the top 3 of the points table. Meanwhile, Patna Pirates continue to struggle near the bottom of the table with just 2 points from their first 5 matches.

This match showed how tight the competition is in PKL 12, where every raid and tackle can decide the outcome. Both teams fought hard, but U Mumba’s experience in close matches proved to be the difference.

Conclusion

The last week of PKL 12 has been full of drama both on and off the mat. While Ankush Rathee and Pawan Sehrawat’s controversies dominated the headlines, the action on the mat has been equally exciting. Dabang Delhi’s perfect record, Nitin Kumar’s golden raid heroics, and U Mumba’s thrilling victory show why PKL 12 is turning out to be one of the most competitive seasons ever.

These moments have set the tone for the Jaipur leg of PKL 12, which promises to bring more excitement and surprises. With teams dealing with internal issues and others building momentum, the coming weeks will be crucial in determining the playoff race. The drama and quality of kabaddi in PKL 12 continues to entertain fans across the country.