Puneri Paltan became the second team to reach the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 12 top eight after their comprehensive 36-23 win over the Tamil Thalaivas on Saturday night. Despite a strong effort from the Thalaivas, the game was lopsided from the start due to the raiding of Pankaj Mohite and Aslam Inamdar, who scored nine and seven points, respectively. Gurdeep also scored a high five at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium.
With captain Aslam Inamdar leading the Thalaivas, Puneri Paltan took the lead early on. In the first half, the raiders dominated, with Himanshu receiving the first tackle of the game and the Tamil Thalaivas suffering the first ALL OUT of the contest.
The Thalaivas scored their second and third points in the same raid, but it took them nine more minutes. Then, in the second half, Puneri Paltan strengthened their hold on the match, converting a fiercely contested opening into a decisive lead.
Aslam Inamdar’s dominance from the all-rounder’s position and Pankaj Mohite’s incisive raiding gave the Paltan the advantage, and despite Arjun Deshwal’s steady scoring, the Tamil Thalaivas found it difficult to stay up. Under constant pressure, the Thalaivas’ strong defense started to crumble, letting the Paltan advance.
When Pankaj’s two-point raid placed the Thalaivas on the defensive and eliminated Ronak and Aashish, the momentum changed dramatically. Puneri’s well-rounded reaction, which included Aditya Shinde and Gurdeep, made sure there was no lull even as Arjun Deshwal attempted to galvanize his team with a few successful raids. Puneri Paltan enjoyed a nine-point lead at 20–11 at the half.
In the third quarter of the match, Tamil Thalaivas put up a new fight, driven by two outstanding defensive plays. Ronak and Nitesh Kumar performed vital tackles under duress, standing up for the Thalaivas. In the sixteenth minute, Ronak’s Super Tackle on the highly effective Pankaj Mohite gave the Thalaivas’ camp a much-needed boost.
The Paltans, however, remained composed. Mohite swiftly recovered and launched another successful raid, eliminating Arulnanthababu to increase the lead to nine. Puneri Paltan was in charge at 25–16 at the 10-minute mark of the second half because to Aslam Inamdar’s composed demeanor, which made sure there were no needless risks.
Arulnanthababu and Nitesh Kumar, the Thalaivas’ cornerbacks, kept their composure under increasing pressure as the team started the last stretch strongly. The Thalaivas’ tenacity was demonstrated by Arulnanthababu’s well-timed Super Tackle on Mohit Goyat, and Nitesh supported him with yet another strong defensive comeback.
However, in the final moments, Puneri Paltan’s depth and poise were too much to handle. Vishal Bhardwaj and Gurdeep maintained the defensive line, while Aslam and Pankaj kept the scoreboard moving with their effective raid rotations.
The Tamil Thalaivas’ dreams of a late comeback were dashed when Arulnanthababu and Nitesh, the very defenders who had kept them alive, were both taken out in an ALL OUT by Aslam’s shrewd attack. The evening was summed up by that blow: Puneri Paltan’s poise and control made sure they won 36–23 despite the Thalaivas’ patchy displays of heart.
