Following a resounding 39-33 victory over the Telugu Titans in Saturday’s second game at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, Puneri Paltan returned to the top of the rankings.
Both Gaurav Khatri and Vishal Bhardwaj put on a defensive clinic for Puneri Paltan, recording High Fives with seven and six tackles, respectively. Even though Bharat Hooda recorded a Super 10, his team didn’t win the game.
The two sides wasted no time in getting started in this tough match, and it was an exciting beginning to the match. Bharat Hooda and Aslam Inamdar traded tackles and raids to give their teams the lead. With Pankaj Mohite and Vishal Bhardwaj scoring a raid and a tackle, respectively, the Paltan put themselves up by two points.
However, the Telugu Titans quickly rallied thanks to an Avi Duhan Super Tackle, tying the game at 6-6. It was a back-and-forth match in which Vijay Malik won with a successful Do-Or-Die Raid, while Pankaj Mohite and Aslam contributed on the raiding end. With the score at 8-7 at the end of the first quarter, Puneri Paltan led by just one point.
With a tackle from Vishal Bhardwaj, the PKL 10 champions quickly took a four-point advantage and recorded the game’s first ALL OUT. Vijay Malik’s four raid points put the Titans within striking distance and kept the scoreboard moving.
But with their defenders putting on a show, the Paltan were relentless on both ends of the mat. Aslam was unstoppable on both ends of the mat, while Gaurav Khatri recorded four tackle points, giving their team total control with the score at 24–14 at the break.
Aditya Shinde and Pankaj continued to put pressure on the Telugu Titans while Puneri Paltan continued where they left off in the first half. As the game went on, the Titans did display some tenacity and resiliency as Bharat Hooda settled into his rhythm and reduced the lead to six points.
With less than ten minutes remaining, Puneri Paltan maintained a nine-point lead thanks to Gaurav Khatri, who stopped the Titans’ momentum by finishing his High Five with a Super Tackle on Bharat Hooda.
Even though Puneri Paltan controlled the game’s terms, the Titans weren’t yet giving up. To make it a seven-point game, Bharat Hooda continued to raid the end as Avi Duhan reacted with his own Super Tackle. Once again, however, the Paltan swiftly closed the door as Vishal Bhardwaj finished his High Five.
Puneri Paltan maintained their lead as the time ran out thanks to the masterclass their defenders displayed. Even though Bharat Hooda finished his Super 10 for the Telugu Titans, it ultimately didn’t matter much. After a final 39-33 victory, the PKL 10 winners clinched the victory and returned to the top of the standings.
