The Jaipur Pink Panthers performed brilliantly to defeat UP Yoddhas in their PKL 12 match, winning handily at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium on Friday. With Super 10s from Nitin Kumar and Ali Samadi on their path to victory, the two-time champions were in total control from the first minute till the final whistle.
Nitin Kumar and Ali Samadi, the Pink Panthers’ raiders, attacked relentlessly and kept spotting holes in the Yoddhas’ defense. The Panthers’ defensive team, captained by Reza Mirbagheri and Aryan Kumar, remained composed and disciplined, giving Guman Singh and Surender Gill, two of UP’s major raiders, little leeway.
Ali Samadi’s successful raid that gave the Yoddhas the first ALL OUT was the turning point, as it increased the lead and put the opponents firmly on the defensive. The Panthers kept up their successful raids and increased their lead while the Yoddhas attempted to reorganize. The Pink Panthers had a commanding 16–7 advantage at the end of the first ten minutes.
For the remainder of the first half, the two-time champs maintained their dominance. The Pink Panthers’ raiders responded right away, guaranteeing that the momentum remained firmly in their favor, even when Surender Gill of the Yoddhas attempted to start a fightback with effective raids.
The Pink Panthers always replied calmly when UP Yoddhas attempted to exploit a gap, whether it was with a successful raid by their lead combination or a timely tackle. With a comfortable 24-14 lead going into halftime, the Pink Panthers had not only kept control of the game but also increased their lead.
In the second half, the Pink Panthers maintained their dominant performance and showed no signs of slowing down. With Jaipur effectively carrying out their strategies on both ends of the mat, there was a remarkable balance between attack and defense.
This phase was defined by Parvinder’s energetic tackle, which resulted in another ALL OUT for the Yoddhas and essentially cemented the Pink Panthers’ dominance of the game. The Pink Panthers controlled the tempo from that moment on, alternating shrewd attacks with fruitless attempts to keep their lead.
Despite replacements, the Yoddhas were unable to maintain continuity, as their defense kept breaking under duress. With a commanding 34–21 lead, the Pink Panthers were well in control as the clock reached the last minute.
With the same authority that had characterized their performance throughout the evening, the contest came to an end. In the last moments, Nitin Kumar and Ali Samadi maintained their composure and keen awareness while piling on the points.
Under pressure, the defense, commanded by Reza Mirbagheri, held firm, making sure that UP Yoddhas’ late-game attempts were swiftly crushed. When the final whistle blew, the Jaipur Pink Panthers had defeated UP Yoddhas by 13 points, securing a decisive victory.
