The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 is well underway, and the action continues with an exciting clash between the three-time champions Patna Pirates (PAT) and the Tamil Thalaivas (TAM) in the 15th match of the season. This much-anticipated encounter will take place on October 24, 2024, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. The two teams come into this match with contrasting fortunes.
The Patna Pirates, one of the most successful teams in PKL history with three titles to their name, have entered Season 11 with a revamped and youthful squad. Under the captaincy of right-corner defender Shubham Shinde, the Pirates are still finding their footing, especially after starting their campaign on a disappointing note.
In their PKL 11 opener against defending champions Puneri Paltan, the Pirates struggled to make an impact, losing 40-25. The raiding unit, which has traditionally been a strength of Patna, managed only 12 raid points collectively. This underperformance left them vulnerable, and the defense was unable to hold off Pune’s attack. The only bright spot in the match was Ankit at the left corner, who secured his first High 5 of the season with six tackle points. Shubham Shinde contributed three tackle points, but the young squad was clearly outmatched.
With the Pirates looking to bounce back from their opening loss, the pressure will be on the raiding department to step up and provide the offensive push that Patna desperately need.
On the other side, the Tamil Thalaivas have made a statement with two back-to-back wins to start their PKL 11 campaign. They first cruised to a 44-29 victory over the Telugu Titans in their opening match, thanks to an all-round performance. However, it was their most recent win against Puneri Paltan, where they upset the defending champions 35-30, that truly showcased their form and confidence.
Sachin Tanwar and Narender Kandola were exceptional in the raiding department, combining for 16 raid points and keeping Pune’s defensive corners quiet. In defense, left-corner Nitesh Kumar led the charge with five tackle points, while Sahil Gulia, who is captaining the team in the absence of Sagar Rathee, added three tackle points to solidify their backline.
Despite missing their regular skipper Sagar Rathee, the Thalaivas have shown tremendous depth. Sahil Gulia’s leadership has been effective, and their cohesive performance makes them the favorites heading into the clash against Patna.
Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas Match Details
Match: Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas, Match 15, PKL 2024
Date: October 25, 2024, 8:00 PM IST
Venue: Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad
Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas Form Guide in PKL 2024
Patna Pirates (PAT): L
Tamil Thalaivas (TAM): WW
Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas Player Squads
Patna Pirates (PAT): Kunal Mehta, Sudhakar M, Sandeep Kumar, Sahil Patil, Deepak, Ayan, Jang Kun Lee, Meetu Sharma, Devank, Pravinder, Manish, Abinand Subhash, Navdeep, Shubham Shinde (C), Hamid Mirzaei Nader, Thiyagarajan Yuvraj, Deepak Rajender Singh, Prashant Kumar Rathi, Aman, Sagar, Babu Murugasan, Ankit, Gurdeep
Tamil Thalaivas (TAM): Sahil Gulia, Dhiraj Bailmare, M. Abishek, Amirhossein Bastami, Himanshu, Ramkumar Mayandi, Ronak, Sachin, Nitesh Kumar, Sagar Rathee (C), Mohit, Sourabh Fagare, Anuj Gawade, Narender, Moein Safaghi, Aashish, Vishal Chahal
Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas Expected Playing 7
Patna Pirates (PAT): Devank, Gurdeep, Deepak, Ayan, Sandeep, Shubham Shinde (C), Ankit
Tamil Thalaivas (TAM): Narender Kandola, Abhishek M, Nitesh Kumar, Sachin Tanwar, Anuj Gawade, Amir Hossein, Sahil Gulia (C)
Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas Match Prediction
Considering Tamil Thalaivas’ dominant start to the season and Patna Pirates' shaky opening performance, the Thalaivas are expected to have the upper hand in this matchup. The Pirates will need their young raiders to find their form quickly, while Tamil Thalaivas’ defense, led by Sahil Gulia and Nitesh Kumar, should be able to contain Patna’s offense. The Thalaivas’ combination of strong defense and consistent raiding makes them the favorites to win this contest comfortably.
Prediction: Tamil Thalaivas to win comfortably.
Patna Pirates vs Tamil Thalaivas Telecast Details
TV: Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 HD, Star Sports 2 and Star Sports 2 HD, Star Sports 1 Hindi, Star Sports 1 Hindi HD, Star Sports 1 Tamil, Star Sports 1 Telugu and Star Sports 1 Kannada
Live Stream: Disney+ Hotstar