The Pink Panthers vs Tamil Thalaivas encounter closed the Jaipur leg of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12, and it was the Thalaivas who earned a much-needed win. Hosted at the SMS Indoor Stadium, the Thalaivas ended a three-match losing streak to defeat Jaipur Pink Panthers by nine points (37-28) on Saturday evening.
Arjun Deshwal Leads Tamil Thalaivas to Triumph
Arjun Deshwal, the captain of Tamil Thalaivas, delivered again from the front, with a Super 10, collecting 13 raid points in total. His relentless raiding had too much for the Panthers’ defence. Also playing brilliantly, defenders Suresh Jadhav and Nitesh Kumar, who each earned a High Five, held the fort for the team’s wall of defence.
First Half: Tense Beginning in Pink Panthers vs Tamil Thalaivas Clash
The match started with Nitin Kumar scoring a few early raid points for the Thalaivas and the Pink Panthers responding with raids and good defence to get the scoreboard moving.
After about ten minutes, the Tamil Thalaivas had an 8-6 lead thanks to a few raids by Nitin Kumar and solid defence. Tamil Thalaivas took a 14-13 lead in halftime.
Second Half: Thalaivas Take Charge, Overwhelm Panthers
In the second half, the tide turned solidly in favour of the Tamil Thalaivas. While Deshwal maintained consistent raiding to get his Super 10, Arulnanthababu and Suresh Jadhav stepped in with important Super Tackles.
The Pink Panthers attempted to counter via Aryan Kumar, who momentarily dragged the home team back with a Super Tackle on Deshwal. But Thalaivas’ defence remained strong, as Nitesh Kumar cancelled out major raiders such as Sahil. The score had been tilted 27-22 in Tamil Thalaivas’ favor by the third quarter and they never did look back.
Defence and Strategy Seal the Win for Tamil Thalaivas
The last quarter of the Pink Panthers vs Tamil Thalaivas match was all about discipline and defence. The Thalaivas continued to apply pressure through new substitutions and smart positional play. Their defenders were precise with tackles, putting in several empty raids from Jaipur.
Though the individual effort of Deshwal as a raider was outstanding, the overall defensive input of the Thalaivas particularly by Suresh Jadhav and Nitesh Kumar was the key to their triumph.
By the end of full-time, the Tamil Thalaivas won 37-28, their third consecutive win after losing the previous three, to boost confidence going into the Chennai leg of PKL 12.
Key Takeaways from the Pink Panthers vs Tamil Thalaivas Match
Arjun Deshwal drove the Tamil Thalaivas with 13 raid points.
Suresh Jadhav and Nitesh Kumar showed top-class defending with High Fives.
Jaipur raiders found it tough against Thalaivas’ solidity in defence.
Strategic replacements provided Thalaivas a late-game advantage.
Win puts an end to 3-match losing streak of Tamil Thalaivas ahead of their home leg.
Upcoming PKL Season 12 Matches – Monday, September 29
Match 1: UP Yoddhas vs Gujarat Giants
Match 2: Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Haryana Steelers
ALSO READ: Dabang Delhi KC vs U Mumba: Ashu Malik’s 23-Point Masterclass Gives Delhi The Top Spot On PKL Table
