Sixteen matras, 4+4+4+4, khali on 9 — the structure of Teentaal with a swung, syncopated theka ("Dha Dhin Ta Traka...") that belongs to thumri and the light-classical world. The Traka pickups tilt the walk of the cycle; nothing about it sits square.
It rewards restraint and lilt rather than density: the accompanist's job here is groove, with laggi passages and small mukhdas for lift. It is a standard test of whether a classically trained player can actually swing.