PKL 12: Key player battles to watch out for in Match 31, UP Yoddhas vs Jaipur Pink Panthers

Jaipur Pink Panthers will look to get their first win of the second leg against UP Yoddhas.

Two-time champions Jaipur Pink Panthers are currently in below-average form in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12). They have won two of the five matches and lost three by narrow margins. The Pink Panthers have started their home leg with a defeat against the Bengaluru Bulls.

Narender Redhu’s Jaipur Pink Panthers will face Jasveer Singh’s UP Yoddhas on Saturday, September 13, 2025. Both teams would look to get back to winning ways in this encounter.

Yoddhas’ squad looks extremely strong on paper. However, their last two outings have been disappointing for them.

On the other hand, the Pink Panthers are also struggling with a lack of depth in their unit. The defence of the Panthers have been terrible, to say the least. On the contrary, in the raiding, no one other than Nitin Dhankhar has been able to put any pressure on the opponents.

If UP Yoddhas are to turn victorious this Saturday, they have to win all three of these player battles and dominate the Pink Panthers from the very first minute. On that note, let’s take a look at the key battles to watch out for between the UP Yoddhas and Jaipur Pink Panthers in PKL 12.

Gagan Gowda vs Nitin Rawal

Gagan Gowda has had a decent season till now with 46 raid points, including three Super 10s. He scored a Super 10 in their last outing as well.

However, Gowda’s been seen to pick up more bonus points than touch points, which makes him a little less effective as he fails to make important revivals during the match.

However, he has been consistent, and Jasveer Singh would want him to continue bringing those points for the team. In this clash, he will face Nitin Rawal in the left corner, who has a mighty strong ankle hold, and that can be a problem for him.

If Gowda goes to Nitin Rawal and tries for a bonus, he might get trapped there. Rawal hasn’t been in his best form, but Gowda has just what Rawal might need to make a comeback this season.

Also Read: PKL 12: UP Yoddhas vs Jaipur Pink Panthers prediction, possible starting 7, head-to-head & free live stream

Ali Samadi vs Ashu Singh

Ali Samadi is slowly moulding into a decent second raider for the Pink Panthers. He has had his own ups and downs in the first five matches of the season. However, if he can support Nitin Dhankhar well in this contest, then he can bring Jaipur back on the path to victory.

On the other hand, UP Yoddhas have a stellar defence. Every defender has their strength and is playing quite decently. Ashu Singh is another experienced player who will have eyes on him in the next match.

He has had a decent start to the season. He scored 9 tackle points in 4 games. If he can support Sumit Sangwan in the defence, the Pink Panthers are going to be in deep trouble.

Nitin Dhankhar vs Sumit Sangwan

Nitin Dhankhar and Sumit Sangwan have been stupendous for their respective teams this season. Both of them are in the top 5 of their respective departments.

Dhankhar is the fourth-best raider this season at the moment with 63 raid points in 5 matches, whereas Sangwan is at the joint second spot with 15 tackle points to his name.

This battle is going to be a thriller, and if Sangwan succeeds in restricting Nitin Dhankhar from scoring points, UP Yoddhas’ chances of winning will increase. On the other hand, if Dhankhar can exploit the Yoddhas’ defence, he might make it easier for his other teammates to dominate the opponents.

Who do you think will end up on the winning side on Saturday, and which player will make the biggest contribution? Let’s know your thoughts in the comments section.

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