PKL 10: Jaipur Pink Panthers and Dabang Delhi play out most interesting match of season
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is currently going on an interesting turn as the rise for climbing to the top spot speeds up. On Wednesday, the SDAT Multipurpose Indoor Stadium hosted a PKL Season 10 match that will be remembered, as Dabang Delhi K.C. and defending champions Jaipur Pink Panthers battled to a 32-32 tie in a game marked by distinct halves.
The first half was dominated by Dabang Delhi, led by captain Naveen Kumar, whereas the second half witnessed a remarkable comeback from Jaipur, led by star raider Arjun Deshwal and defender Ankush. Naveen’s injury in the 14th minute overshadowed Dabang Delhi’s impressive performance in the first half. Despite this setback, Ashu Malik assumed raiding responsibilities admirably, but he lacked support from other raiders.
“Naveen’s injury gave us a psychological shock. The pressure shifted to Ashu, who did well but didn’t get the support from the other raiders,” admitted coach Rambir Singh Khokhar.
In the first half, the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of PKL 9 Arjun remained subdued as he was limited to earning bonus points only. Dabang Delhi’s defence stood firm, keeping the Panthers at a distance and establishing a 23-11 lead at the halftime break.
Jaipur Pink Panthers showed fightback in the second half
The second half witnessed a dramatic turnaround in fortunes. Arjun rediscovered his form, accumulating bonus points and securing crucial touchpoints. Operating from the left corner, Ankush displayed a defensive masterclass, bringing the Panthers close with an impressive High 5.
With the defense back in top form, Arjun then unleashed his full potential, scoring multiple points and executing a superb ankle hold on Vishal Bhardwaj to inflict a decisive all-out. Coming off the bench, Bhavani Rajput made a significant impact by putting the Delhi defense under pressure. With just a minute remaining, the Panthers equalized the scores at 29-29, completing an impressive comeback from a 12-point deficit.
However, the excitement didn’t end there. In the closing seconds, Vikrant’s mistake of stepping out of bounds handed the Panthers a point, levelling the score at 32-32. In the last raid, Ashu, serving as Dabang Delhi’s stand-in captain, chose to play it safe and settled for the tie.
