Chennai, PKL 12 – The wait is finally over for Tamil Thalaivas fans. After nearly seven years without a home win, the Thalaivas lit up the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium on Friday night, dismantling defending champions Haryana Steelers 45-33 in front of an electric Chennai crowd.
At the heart of the triumph was captain Arjun Deshwal, who delivered one of the finest individual performances of the season, racking up a sensational 22 raid points. His second-half heroics turned the tide of the game, as the Thalaivas stormed to their first home victory since 2018.
Deshwal Takes Over After Tight First Half
The opening stages belonged to the Steelers, who came out with intent. Sahil Narwal’s early tackle on Deshwal and Vinay’s quick raid gave them the initial edge. Thalaivas responded through Rohit Beniwal, while Nitesh Kumar quickly made his presence felt with a strong defensive tackle.
Both skippers – Deshwal and Haryana’s Jaideep Dahiya – exchanged early blows, but it was Dahiya who imposed himself with two Super Tackles in the first 10 minutes, helping his side open a slim three-point lead. By halftime, the Steelers were narrowly ahead, 15-13, with Jaideep completing his High Five.
Arjun Deshwal Show Steals the Spotlight
If the first half was a battle, the second half belonged entirely to Arjun Deshwal. Having scored just three points before the break, the star raider erupted with 19 second-half points, completely dismantling the Steelers’ defence.
Deshwal’s surge began with a crucial Do-or-Die Raid, followed by a flurry of successful attempts that gave Tamil Thalaivas their first ALL OUT and the lead. Nitesh Kumar and Aashish chipped in with timely tackles as momentum swung firmly in the hosts’ favour.
The Thalaivas captain then unleashed a Super Raid, quickly completing his Super 10, and led his side to a second ALL OUT within ten minutes. By the final quarter, Chennai’s team had stormed to a commanding 34-21 lead, with the home crowd in raptures.
Thalaivas Seal the Win Despite Late Fightback
Vishal Tate briefly revived Steelers’ hopes with a brilliant four-point raid, followed by a Super 10 of his own. That effort brought Haryana their first ALL OUT, but the gap remained too large.
Deshwal continued to raid at will, supported by Nitesh’s defensive resilience, ensuring the Thalaivas never lost control. At the final whistle, Tamil Thalaivas clinched a famous 45-33 win, marking their first home victory since PKL Season 6 in 2018.
What This Means
For Tamil Thalaivas, this result is more than just two points on the board – it’s a statement of intent. With their captain in unstoppable form and the Chennai crowd back in full voice, the team has momentum on its side heading deeper into the season.
For Haryana Steelers, despite Jaideep’s High Five and Tate’s Super 10, their defensive lapses against Deshwal’s brilliance exposed vulnerabilities that need addressing quickly.