Dabang Delhi vs Puneri Paltan: The pulsating finale of PKL Season 12 came to a close with Dabang Delhi K.C. again engraving their name in history, defeating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in an intense battle at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi.
The Delhi outfit, led by Ashu Malik, won their second PKL title, building on the Season 8 triumph this time in front of an electrified home crowd.
Historic Night in Delhi as Dabang Delhi Clinch Second Title
By winning the match, Dabang Delhi K.C. have become the first home team to lift the PKL trophy in their own city since U Mumba in Season 2.
It was a night of milestones as well, because Fazel Atrachali became the most successful foreign player in the league’s history when the Iranian defensive stalwart sealed the win with a crucial late tackle.
Neeraj Narwal and Ajinkya Pawar Lead Delhi’s Title Charge
The champions showed an all-round performance, with Neeraj Narwal and Ajinkya Pawar leading the raid attack.
Neeraj Narwal: 8 raid points
Ajinkya Pawar: 6 raid points
For Puneri Paltan, Aditya Shinde put up a fighting act with a Super 10, while Abinesh Nadarajan managed four tackle points, but that wasn’t good enough to deny Delhi glory.
First Half: Ajinkya Pawar’s Heroics and Dabang Delhi’s ALL OUT Domination
The final started with both teams exchanging blows in the early minutes, with Aslam Inamdar and Ashu Malik getting the first points on board for their teams. Neeraj Narwal’s two-point raid along with an early tackle helped Delhi take a slender lead.
However, Puneri Paltan was still in the match because of Gaurav Khatri’s Super Tackles, closing the deficit to simply one point. But Ajinkya Pawar changed the match’s outcome for Delhi by giving his team the first ALL OUT of the match, extending their lead to a valuable six points just before half-time.
The momentum increased when Neeraj Narwal’s Super Raid took the Delhi lead to eight points. Aditya Shinde did fight back with a two-point raid, but Pawar responded in an instant to ensure Dabang Delhi entered into half-time at 20-14 firmly in control of the final.
Second Half: Puneri Paltan Fight Back, But Delhi Hold Firm
The pace slowed down in the second half of the match as both teams got into a cautious mode. Puneri Paltan did attempt to get back in the game with strong defensive tackles and Do-or-Die raids.
A double tackle by Gurdeep cut the deficit to four points, but Dabang Delhi’s Super Tackle restored their cushion at 24–18 heading into the final quarter.
Skipper Ashu Malik finally got on the board, while a Super Tackle by Anurag pushed Delhi eight points clear again. However, Puneri Paltan refused to give up.
A series of raids from Aditya Shinde and a crucial tackle from Mohd Amaan saw Pune inflict an ALL OUT to cut the score down to 28-25 with just minutes remaining.
Fazel Atrachali’s Clutch Tackle Seals the Title
Aditya Shinde brought the game to just one point in the dying moments. However, Neeraj Narwal kept his cool as he once again stretched Delhi’s lead. Shinde completed his Super 10 in a valiant effort but the match-defining moment came from Fazel Atrachali.
The experienced defender made a match-winning tackle on Shinde in the last minute to seal a three-point victory 31-28 and give Dabang Delhi K.C. their second PKL championship and their first ever in front of their home fans.
Dabang Delhi vs Puneri Paltan: Key Match Highlights
Final Score: Dabang Delhi K.C. 31 – 28 Puneri Paltan
Venue: Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi
Top Raiders: Neeraj Narwal (8), Ajinkya Pawar (6), Aditya Shinde (10)
Top Defenders: Abinesh Nadarajan (4), Fazel Atrachali (1 crucial tackle)
Milestone: Fazel Atrachali is now PKL’s most successful foreign player
Historic Feat: Dabang Delhi first home team since Season 2 to lift the PKL trophy
Dabang Delhi vs Puneri Paltan: A Final to Remember This finale between Dabang Delhi and Puneri Paltan will go down as one of the most thrilling title clashes in PKL history.
The capital side combined a tactical defense with composed raiding, and strong home support, to reclaim their throne. This win reignites Ashu Malik’s Dabang Delhi K.C. into the leading pack in PKL, while Puneri Paltan fought so well but will lament those missed chances at crucial junctures.
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