In a thrilling encounter in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12, the Jaipur Pink Panthers triumphed over Gujarat Giants in a nail-biting tie-breaker, securing a 30-30 draw before clinching victory in the golden raid. The win, which saw Nitin Kumar’s 15-point performance lead the way, marked a pivotal moment for the Panthers and their attacker, who had been under pressure after previous matches.
Early Exchanges and Momentum Shifts
The match began with Gujarat’s Rakesh Sungroya making an immediate impact, scoring a two-point raid to open the scoring. Jaipur quickly responded with Ali Samadi’s successful raid and a solid tackle from Deepanshu Khatri, keeping the score tied at 6-6.
Rakesh continued his excellent form with a Super Raid, putting Gujarat Giants 9-7 ahead after the opening quarter. However, Jaipur’s Nitin Kumar wasn’t far behind, delivering a Super Raid of his own to level the scores at 11-11.
As the first half progressed, Nitin’s clinical attacking helped Jaipur inch ahead, but Gujarat fought back. A Super Tackle by Gujarat’s Nitin Panwar helped them reclaim a 16-15 lead going into halftime.
Intense Second Half and Tie-Breaker Drama
Gujarat started the second half strong, with Aryavardhan Navale scoring a raid and Nitin Panwar adding a crucial tackle. But Jaipur quickly fought back, with Deepanshu making a key tackle on Rakesh, keeping his team within striking distance.
The turning point came when Gujarat’s Himanshu Jaglan received a yellow card, giving Jaipur the opening they needed. The Pink Panthers capitalized with an All-Out on Gujarat, opening a four-point lead. With the momentum on their side, Nitin Kumar secured his Super 10, bringing Jaipur to a 25-21 lead.
But Gujarat wasn’t done yet. Rakesh, Nitin Panwar, and Aryavardhan chipped away at the deficit, and with under five minutes remaining, Rakesh leveled the scores at 25-25. Shadloui made his presence felt, earning his first point of the night with a tackle on Sahil, as Gujarat started to turn the tide.
Rakesh continued his Super 10 performance, landing a crucial two-point raid and inflicting an All-Out on Jaipur, putting Gujarat 4 points ahead. But Jaipur’s Nitin Kumar wasn’t ready to give up. He brought the game back within one point, setting the stage for an exhilarating finish.
Golden Raid Victory for Jaipur Pink Panthers
With the score locked at 30-30, the match headed into a tie-breaker, the fifth of the season. After both teams exchanged blows in the tie-breaker, Shadloui gave Gujarat the upper hand with a key tackle on Deepanshu. But Aryan Kumar turned the tide with a decisive late tackle, forcing a Golden Raid.
In the final moments, Nitin Kumar stepped up, holding his nerve to execute the Golden Raid and secure a thrilling victory for the Jaipur Pink Panthers.
Image Source: ANI | Image Credit: Respective Owner
