In an action-packed match at the GMCB Indoor Stadium on Friday, the Patna Pirates secured a thrilling 43-41 victory over Jaipur Pink Panthers in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11. Young raiders Ayan Lohchab and Devank Dalal combined to score 25 points, both earning Super 10s, while a late defensive effort sealed the win for Patna, placing them third on the points table as they wrapped up the Hyderabad leg.
Jaipur dominated early with Deshwal’s play
Jaipur Pink Panthers took an early lead, thanks to their captain Arjun Deshwal’s impressive start. Supported by Neeraj Narwal and a well-organized defence, Jaipur applied pressure from the outset, forcing Patna into errors.
Despite sporadic contributions from Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab, the Pirates struggled to gain momentum. Jaipur’s aggressive strategy led to an ALL OUT on Patna within the first 10 minutes, establishing a solid lead.
Patna Pirates strike back before halftime
As the first half neared its end, Patna Pirates regrouped, narrowing the gap. The duo of Devank (8 points) and Ayan (10 points) carried Patna’s offence, leading to an ALL-OUT on Jaipur with just three minutes left in the half. This momentum shift allowed Patna Pirates to edge ahead, closing the first half with a 25-21 lead.
Deshwal’s heroics not enough as Patna prevail
In the second half, Arjun Deshwal continued his stellar performance, pulling off a massive Super Raid that earned Jaipur 5 points and brought them back into the lead. Another successful raid by Deshwal reduced Patna to a single player, resulting in a second ALL-OUT for the Pirates. However, Patna managed to stay in contention, with Ayan completing his Super 10 and inspiring a comeback.
With 10 minutes left, Deshwal reached the 20-point mark, a remarkable milestone, but Patna Pirates were only trailing by 1 point. As the game entered its final moments, Devank secured a bonus point to complete his Super 10, though Jaipur’s Ankush Rathee managed a tackle on him. Patna’s defenders then executed consecutive Super Tackles, keeping the scores level as the clock ticked down.
Patna Pirates seal the win in final moments
In the final three minutes, Patna’s Shubham Shinde clinched a crucial tackle, while Devank’s bonus point on a Do-Or-Die raid secured a hard-fought 43-41 victory. With this win, the three-time PKL champions ended their Hyderabad campaign on a high note, propelled by the impressive performances of their young raiders.
