Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas Head-to-Head: PKL Record, Stats and Results
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas is a rivalry between two franchises that joined the Pro Kabaddi League together in Season 5 and are both still chasing their first title. Gujarat have the clear edge, with nine wins in 15 meetings, and they won both Season 12 matches, including a 41-39 thriller decided in the final minute. This guide covers the full head-to-head record, both Season 12 results, the players who switched sides, and how new coaches on both benches could reshape the fixture in Season 13.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas Head-to-Head Record
| Record | Figure |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 15 |
| Gujarat Giants wins | 9 |
| UP Yoddhas wins | 4 |
| Ties | 2 |
| Season 12 meetings | Gujarat won both (33-27 and 41-39) |
| Season 11 meetings | UP Yoddhas won both |
| Since Season 9 (8 matches) | Gujarat 5, UP 3 |
The record favours Gujarat, but recent seasons have swung back and forth. UP won both meetings in Season 11, and Gujarat answered by winning both in Season 12.
Why Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas Matters
Both franchises entered the league in the Season 5 expansion of 2017, alongside Haryana Steelers and Tamil Thalaivas. Haryana have since won the title, but Gujarat and UP are still waiting. Gujarat reached the final in each of their first two seasons, while UP became regular playoff qualifiers under long-time coach Jasveer Singh without reaching a final. This fixture is a battle between two clubs with something to prove.
| Detail | Gujarat Giants | UP Yoddhas |
|---|---|---|
| Home city | Ahmedabad | Lucknow |
| First season | Season 5 (2017) | Season 5 (2017) |
| PKL titles | None yet | None yet |
| Best finish | Runners-up in Seasons 5 and 6 | Regular playoff qualifiers |
| Season 12 finish | 11th | 9th |
| Season 13 head coach | Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Upendra Malik |
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas in Season 12
Match 53: Gujarat Giants 33-27 UP Yoddhas
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Result | Gujarat Giants won by 6 points |
| Standout | Mohammadreza Shadloui, 8 points (4 raid, 4 tackle) |
The first meeting was a controlled Gujarat win. Captain Mohammadreza Shadloui, the most expensive player of the Season 12 auction, showed his all-round value with four raid points and four tackle points.
Match 74: Gujarat Giants 41-39 UP Yoddhas
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date | October 9, 2025 |
| Venue | SDAT Multipurpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai |
| Result | Gujarat Giants won by 2 points |
| Star | Rakesh Sungroya, career-best 20 raid points |
| Milestone | Guman Singh reached 600 league raid points |
The second meeting was one of the most dramatic games of the Chennai leg. Rakesh Sungroya scored ten of Gujarat’s early points and inflicted the first All Out for a 20-16 lead, then a second All Out pushed Gujarat ten points clear. UP fought back with an All Out of their own, and Bhavani Rajput’s do-or-die raid levelled the score at 36-36. With the match tied 38-38 and about a minute left, Shadloui’s raid put Gujarat 40-39 ahead, and Ankit Dahiya’s tackle on Guman Singh sealed the win. Guman completed a Super 10 in defeat.
| Season 12 Meeting | Winner | Score | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 53 | Gujarat Giants | 33-27 | 6 |
| Match 74 (Chennai) | Gujarat Giants | 41-39 | 2 |
| Combined | Gujarat 2-0 | 74-66 | 8 |
Despite two derby wins, Gujarat finished 11th overall, while UP finished 9th. This fixture went Gujarat’s way even in a difficult season.
Players Who Switched Sides
This rivalry has a strong crossover story. Guman Singh was Gujarat’s main raider in Season 11, scoring 139 raid points in his first 19 matches that season, before UP Yoddhas signed him for INR 1.073 crore for Season 12. In Match 74 he faced his former team, scored a Super 10 and reached 600 league raid points, but was tackled on the final raid.
Coaches have moved too. UP’s long-time head coach Jasveer Singh has joined Patna Pirates, and Gujarat have appointed Randhir Singh Sehrawat, who coached Bengaluru Bulls from Season 1 to Season 11.
| Person | Previous Team | New Team |
|---|---|---|
| Guman Singh (raider) | Gujarat Giants (Season 11) | UP Yoddhas (Season 12) |
| Randhir Singh Sehrawat (coach) | Bengaluru Bulls | Gujarat Giants (Season 13) |
| Upendra Malik (coach) | UP Yoddhas assistant | UP Yoddhas head coach (Season 13) |
Key Players in Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas
| Player | Team | Role | Season 12 Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Gujarat Giants | All-rounder, captain | INR 2.23 crore signing; winning raid in Match 74 |
| Rakesh Sungroya | Gujarat Giants | Raider | 114 raid points; 20 in Match 74 |
| Lucky Sharma | Gujarat Giants | Right cover | Four tackles in Match 74 |
| Gagana Gowda | UP Yoddhas | Right raider | 130 raid points |
| Guman Singh | UP Yoddhas | Raider | Super 10 against his former team |
| Sumit | UP Yoddhas | Left corner, captain | 46 tackle points |
Full rosters are in our Gujarat Giants squad and UP Yoddhas squad guides.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas: Key Battles
Rakesh Sungroya vs Sumit
Rakesh was Gujarat’s most consistent raider in Season 12, and his career-best game came against UP. Sumit, UP’s captain and left corner, will be central to stopping him in Season 13.
Gagana Gowda vs Lucky Sharma
Gagana Gowda was UP’s top raider and led the league in bonus points at one stage of Season 12. Lucky Sharma had one of the best tackle success rates in Gujarat’s defence.
Shadloui’s All-Round Influence
Shadloui can win this fixture with raids or tackles, as Match 53 showed. Whether Gujarat keep him at his high price is one of the biggest retention questions in the league.
| Battle | Season 12 Edge |
|---|---|
| Rakesh Sungroya vs Sumit | Gujarat Giants |
| Gagana Gowda vs Lucky Sharma | Even |
| Captains: Shadloui vs Sumit | Gujarat Giants (2-0) |
How the Rivalry Has Changed
| Stage | Matches | Gujarat | UP | Ties |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seasons 5 to 8 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Seasons 9 to 12 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 15 | 9 | 4 | 2 |
Gujarat built an early lead in the rivalry’s first seasons, and both ties came in that period. Since Season 9, the matches have been more competitive, with UP winning three of eight, including both Season 11 meetings, one of them 35-29.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas in Season 13
Season 13 brings new head coaches to both benches. Randhir Singh Sehrawat, who won the Season 6 title with Bengaluru Bulls, takes over Gujarat after an 11th-place finish. Upendra Malik, promoted from assistant coach, takes charge of UP. Both will shape their squads at the auction, with big decisions on Shadloui at Gujarat and Guman Singh at UP. Our PKL auction hub explains how those decisions work.
| Season 13 Factor | Gujarat Giants | UP Yoddhas |
|---|---|---|
| New coach | Randhir Singh Sehrawat | Upendra Malik |
| Key decision | Retaining Mohammadreza Shadloui | Retaining Guman Singh |
| Young core | To be confirmed | Gagana Gowda, Hitesh, Shivam Chaudhary (reported to stay) |
| Derby momentum | Won both Season 12 meetings | Won both Season 11 meetings |
Prediction
Gujarat lead the series and won both Season 12 meetings, but the pattern of each team winning both games in alternate seasons shows how quickly momentum can shift. With new coaches and new squads, the Season 13 meetings are genuinely hard to call.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas: Season 12 Team Comparison
Comparing the two teams across the full Season 12 league stage gives context to their head-to-head meetings.
| Season 12 Stat | Gujarat Giants | UP Yoddhas |
|---|---|---|
| League position | 11th | 9th |
| Wins-losses | 6-12 | 7-11 |
| Score difference | -73 | -65 |
| League points | 12 | 14 |
| Leading raider | Rakesh Sungroya (114) | Gagana Gowda (130) |
| Key defender | Lucky Sharma | Hitesh (48) |
UP actually finished two places higher than Gujarat in Season 12, yet Gujarat won both meetings. It is one of several rivalries where the head-to-head results run against the wider league table.
How Each Team Can Win the Next Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas Match
What Gujarat Giants Need
- Rakesh Sungroya’s consistency as the lead raider.
- Shadloui’s all-round influence, if he is retained.
- A quick start under new coach Randhir Singh Sehrawat.
What UP Yoddhas Need
- Gagana Gowda leading the attack with support from a second reliable raider.
- The corner pairing of Sumit and Hitesh controlling Gujarat’s raiders.
- Better closing in tight finishes, after losing Match 74 by two points.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas: Rivalry Facts
- Gujarat lead the series 9-4 after 15 meetings, with two ties.
- Both teams joined the league in Season 5 in 2017.
- Rakesh Sungroya scored a career-best 20 raid points in Match 74 of Season 12.
- Guman Singh reached 600 league raid points against his former team.
- Both teams have new head coaches for Season 13.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas Rivalry Timeline
These moments shaped the rivalry from its first meeting to the end of Season 12.
| When | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Season 5 (2017) | Both teams join the league |
| Seasons 5 and 6 | Gujarat reach back-to-back finals |
| Season 11 | UP win both meetings, including 35-29 |
| Season 12, Match 53 | Gujarat win 33-27 |
| October 9, 2025 | Gujarat win 41-39 in Chennai |
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas: Fantasy Kabaddi Picks to Watch
For fans who play fantasy kabaddi, these players stood out in the most recent meetings. Squads may change after the Season 13 auction, so check line-ups before each match.
| Player | Why to Watch |
|---|---|
| Rakesh Sungroya | Career-best 20 raid points against UP |
| Gagana Gowda | UP’s top raider in Season 12 |
| Hitesh | One of UP’s most reliable young defenders |
Raiders usually score more fantasy points, but defenders who collect High 5s and super tackles can be valuable differentials in close derby matches. Our raid points and tackle points guide explains how PKL scoring works.
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas: Our Verdict
Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas is a rivalry defined by swings. Gujarat lead 9-4 overall and won both Season 12 meetings, but UP won both in Season 11, and the last match was decided by a single raid and a single tackle in the final minute. Season 13 brings fresh leadership to both dugouts: a title-winning coach at Gujarat and a promoted assistant who knows every UP player. Whoever builds the more balanced squad at the auction is likely to take the upper hand in this fixture.
For fans of either team, the key storylines to follow before the season starts are whether Gujarat keep Mohammadreza Shadloui, whether UP keep Guman Singh, and how quickly each new coach puts his stamp on the squad.
Where to Watch Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas
The Season 13 broadcaster has not been announced. In Season 12, matches were shown on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar. Check our PKL live streaming guide for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas head-to-head record?
After 15 meetings up to the end of Season 12, Gujarat Giants have 9 wins, UP Yoddhas have 4, and two matches were tied.
Who won Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas in Season 12?
Gujarat Giants won both meetings: 33-27 in Match 53 and 41-39 in Match 74 in Chennai on October 9, 2025.
Who starred in the 41-39 match?
Rakesh Sungroya scored a career-best 20 raid points for Gujarat, Shadloui made the go-ahead raid, and Ankit Dahiya’s tackle on Guman Singh sealed the win.
Have Gujarat Giants or UP Yoddhas won the PKL title?
No. Both joined in Season 5 and neither has won the title. Gujarat were runners-up in Seasons 5 and 6.
Which player has played for both teams?
Raider Guman Singh played for Gujarat Giants in Season 11 and UP Yoddhas in Season 12.
Who are the new coaches for Season 13?
Randhir Singh Sehrawat is the new Gujarat Giants head coach, and Upendra Malik has been promoted to head coach of UP Yoddhas.
Did UP Yoddhas finish above Gujarat Giants in Season 12?
Yes. UP finished 9th and Gujarat 11th in the league table, even though Gujarat won both head-to-head meetings.
When will Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas be played in Season 13?
The Season 13 schedule has not been released. Fixtures are expected after the player auction, with the season due to start in late December 2026.
What was the closest Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas match in Season 12?
Match 74 on October 9, 2025, which Gujarat Giants won 41-39. The score was tied 38-38 with about a minute left before Shadloui’s raid and Ankit Dahiya’s tackle decided it.
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