PKL 12: Key player battles to watch out for in Match 27, U Mumba vs Patna Pirates

Patna Pirates will look to continue their winning momentum against U Mumba in PKL 12.

U Mumba have once again started the season on a positive note with three wins and two defeats. So far, they have faced two narrow losses in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12). On the other hand, their victories have been pretty dominating.

On Thursday, September 11, 2025, U Mumba will face Patna Pirates, who will be high on confidence after their impressive win against table-toppers Puneri Paltan. The Pirates began their campaign with three consecutive defeats, but they will be backing themselves after a convincing win in their previous match.

On the last day of the first leg, both these teams would be looking to end it on a positive note. Ajit Chouhan could return for Mumba today, but if he doesn’t, they will have to come up with a better strategy than the one they used against the Titans.

On the other hand, the Pirates would want Ayan to continue his form and the defenders to play as a well-oiled unit. On that note, let’s take a look at the key battles to watch out for between the U Mumba and Patna Pirates in PKL 12.

Amirmohammad Zafardanesh vs Deepak Singh

Amirmohammad Zafardanesh hasn’t been given regular opportunities in the starting 7 for U Mumba this season. However, he has made his contributions whenever given the responsibility. He was substituted in in the previous match, and he scored a good 7 points to narrow the points difference.

Zafardanesh might get a chance in the starting 7 in the next match, and if he does, his all-round capabilities may help U Mumba get back to winning ways.

On the other hand, Deepak Singh has been one of the most consistent defenders for Patna Pirates this season. He has scored 9 tackle points in 4 matches with a success rate.

Going into the next match, the Pirates would want him to maintain his consistency and do positive defending to restrict U Mumba’s raiding unit, which is not in their best form.

Also Read: PKL 12: U Mumba vs Patna Pirates prediction, possible starting 7, head-to-head & free live stream

Ajit Chouhan vs Ankit Jaglan

Ajit Chouhan has been the backbone of U Mumba, and it got pretty clear in their last outing. Chouhan didn’t play against the Titans as he wasn’t match-fit, and the team struggled immensely in his absence.

The raiding unit looked weak in his absence, and the team would want Chouhan to make a comeback in the next match and provide the impact he is known for.

Chouhan has scored 39 tackle points in 4 matches, including 2 Super 10s. If he plays against the Pirates and can bring his impact with complete fitness, he might raise difficulties for Anup Kumar’s Pirates.

When the difficulty arrives, the captain will have to hold his ground. If Ajit Chouhan has to be stopped, Patna Pirates’ captain, Ankit Jaglan, has to step up and score some tackle points to break the rhythm of U Mumba’s main raider.

Jaglan hasn’t been in his best form this season, but he made 3 fabulous tackles in their previous clash, and if he can do the same in the next match, the Pirates might get a big help.

Ayan Lohchab vs Lokesh Ghosliya

Ayan Lohchab has been the star of the Patna Pirates. He scored a spectacular 21 points in their previous match and completely dominated the opponents.

Pirates’ performance in the upcoming game will rely on Ayan’s form. If he can steal crucial points from U Mumba’s solid defence at regular intervals, then Pirates’ chances will emerge higher.

Lokesh Ghosliya is one of the most successful defenders of the season. He has scored 15 tackle points in 5 matches. However, he failed to score any points against the Telugu Titans yesterday.

Despite a bad game, Ghosliya will have to back himself and go into the next game with a positive attitude. He is one of the crucial defenders in U Mumba who can stop the force of Ayan with his current form.

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