In the current Pro Kabaddi League, Puneri Paltan and the Bengaluru Bulls faced off in their second straight tiebreaker after the two teams were tied at 29-29.
At the SDAT Multi-Purpose Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, Paltan won the final and completed the double over its opponents. Due to an all-around effort that propelled them to the top of the points standings, the Paltan defeated the Bulls in a tie-breaker for the second time in Season 12.
Both sides tested one other’s offensive prowess in the opening stages of the match between the Paltan and the Bulls. Puneri Paltan got off to a great start even though Aslam Inamdar was absent. Aditya Shinde and Aashish Malik, two raiders on both ends, had early success, while Abinesh Nadarajan started Puneri’s defensive account with the first tackle of the half. Alireza Mirzaian of the Bulls kept his team in the chase with his incisive raids.
Puneri Paltan started to establish their dominance in the 13th minute when Akash Shinde was pulled down by their defense to cause the game’s first all-out.
Even though Mirzaian kept up his resistance for the Bulls, that turned the tide in their favor and gave them a slim lead. Puneri Paltan led the Bengaluru Bulls 12–9 at the completion of the first ten minutes.
The Paltan came into the second half hoping to extend their lead after a slim lead in the first ten minutes. Aditya Shinde cleverly picked off points to keep the scoreboard moving, while Abinesh Nadarajan kept up his defensive efforts.
Aashish and Akash responded to cut the lead, but the Bulls wouldn’t allow the Season 10 winners get away with it.
The Bulls applied pressure to prevent any easy raids, even as the Paltan maintained their lead. The Paltan held the lead going into the half despite the Bulls’ tenacity. They were ahead 17–13 at the break, and the game was evenly matched.
The Paltan started the second half with a slim advantage and proceeded to control the game with a combination of well-timed raids and solid defensive performance.
In order to hold the Bulls at bay, Gurdeep and Gaurav Khatri stepped up and made crucial tackles, including an incredible Super Tackle on Alireza Mirzaian. The Paltan maintained their discipline even as the Bulls attempted to retaliate with raids led by Aashish Malik.
Puneri’s defenders held the Bulls at bay despite a few setbacks, including the removal of Aditya Shinde and Pankaj Mohite. The Paltan kept their slim lead going into the last stretch, leading 22–19 after 30 minutes of play, thanks to their defensive wall remaining strong.
A major change in momentum occurred during the game, as the Bulls mounted a late comeback to put significant pressure on the Paltan. While Yogesh held steady at the back with vital tackles, their raiders, spearheaded by Alireza and Ganesha Hanamantagol, continued to erode Puneri’s defense.
Around the 33rd minute, the Bulls gave Puneri Paltan an ALL OUT, giving them their first lead of the game and a three-point lead. This was the pivotal moment.
Aditya Shinde and Pankaj helped Puneri regroup as time was running out, and Abinesh Nadarajan’s late defensive efforts made sure the Bulls could not draw away any farther.
The game continued to be close, and both teams were tied at 29 points each as the final whistle blew. Following a thrilling finale, the match was forced into a tie-breaker due to the Paltan’s tenacity in the last minutes.
The Paltan defeated the Bulls 6-4 by maintaining their composure in the tie-breaker. Gaurav Khatri and Abinesh Nadarajan maintained a strong defense, while Pankaj Mohite and Aditya Shinde’s early raids set the tone. After a 29-29 deadlock in regular time, Puneri Paltan secured a narrow but decisive victory despite late pushback from the Bulls.
