PKL 12 Final: Key player battles to watch out for in Dabang Delhi vs Puneri Paltan

Both teams will be eyeing their second PKL title.

It is the grand finale of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12), and a blockbuster contest awaits as the top two teams on the points table at the end of the league stage will battle it out for the title.

Table-toppers Puneri Paltan will take on home team Dabang Delhi on Friday in Delhi’s Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium. Both teams will be aiming for their second PKL title. Delhi won the title in season eight with Joginder Narwal as skipper, and the legend would want to win it as a coach as well.

On the other hand, their opponents, Puneri Paltan, will be playing their third final in four years, having registered an impressive win against Telugu Titans in the second qualifier.

On that note, let’s take a look at the key battles to watch out for between Dabang Delhi and Puneri Paltan in the PKL 12 final.

Aditya Shinde vs Fazel Atrachali

Aditya Shinde has been an outstanding asset for Puneri Paltan throughout the season. Shinde has emerged as the best raider for his team and has consistently posed many challenges to the opponents. The Season finale is going to be no different. He will be the biggest challenge for Delhi’s defensive unit.

Shinde has scored 153 raid points in 17 matches this season, including 8 Super 10s and an average of 8.76 raid points per match.

Dabang Delhi will have to restrict this young sensation to get a hold of the match in the final. Who better than the most experienced campaigner to be responsible for it? Fazel Atrachali has been a tremendous addition to the Dabang Delhi squad. He has been outstanding for them, and his experience has spoken loudly this season.

Fazel has scored 51 tackle points this season, and if his team wants to lift the trophy, he must deliver for them once again in the final. Shinde has been in great form recently, scoring 22 points in Qualifier 2. If the Iranian powerhouse can stop the young raiding sensation, Delhi could create a huge opportunity for themselves.

Pankaj Mohite vs Saurabh Nandal

Pankaj Mohite has proven out to be the man for the Paltan in crucial moments. He has extracted points in difficult situations and has used his experience to his team’s benefit.

Mohite has scored 116 raid points this season in 18 matches, including 4 Super 10s, and an average of 6.33 points per match. He is also coming in with a Super 10 in the last game, which shows his current form.

Once again, Dabang Delhi‘s experienced defence will have to take on the responsibility of dismantling this explosive raider. However, Delhi will be confident as their defenders have been in outstanding form. Another experienced defender, Saurabh Nandal, will also be relied upon to stop Pankaj.

Nandal has been outstanding for Delhi in the right corner. He has scored 50 tackle points, including 3 High 5s, and has been phenomenal with his assists in the tackles as well. If both he and Fazel Atrachali have a good day out tomorrow, they can certainly help their team lift the trophy.

Ashu Malik vs Gaurav Khatri

Ashu Malik is one of Dabang Delhi’s most impactful assets. However, his team has kept their form in his absence as well.

But if he is fully fit and plays 40 minutes for his team in the final, even at his average level, he can have the strongest impact on the game. With a powerful defence, Dabang Delhi will pose a tough challenge to their opponents

Ashu Malik missed many matches due to injury. Malik scored 150 raid points in 13 games, including 8 Super 10s, and averaged a whopping 11.53 raid points per match.

On the other hand, Puneri Paltan have had a mixed performance in defence. In the upcoming finale, they will be expecting their best defender of the season, Gaurav Khatri, to step up and put in a solid performance to restrict Ashu Malik, and even Neeraj Narwal, for that matter.

Khatri has scored 59 tackle points in 18 matches, including 6 High 5s, and has been fabulous for the Paltan. If he continues to dominate the opponents, Puneri Paltan can win their second PKL title.

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