Jaipur Pink Panthers pulled off a sensational comeback to edge past Haryana Steelers 37-36 in a nail-biting Pro Kabaddi League clash at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium. Defending champions Narender Redhu’s side overturned a ten-point deficit in the final quarter, scoring an astonishing 17 points to snatch victory in the dying moments.
Star Performers Lead the Charge
Sahil Satpal and Ali Samadi spearheaded the Panthers’ revival, contributing seven and six points respectively. Aryan Kumar and Deepanshu Khatri also made crucial defensive interventions, securing four tackle points each. For Haryana Steelers, Vinay’s Super 10 and Rahul Sethpal’s High Five proved insufficient as the visitors faltered under late-game pressure.
The win also served as sweet revenge for Pink Panthers head coach Narender Redhu, who had fallen short against Manpreet Singh and the Steelers in the PKL 11 final while leading Patna Pirates.
Haryana Steelers Start Strong
The Steelers dominated early proceedings, with Vinay opening the scoring and Neeraj Kumar immediately making his presence felt with a tackle on Nitin Kumar. Deepanshu Khatri responded for the Pink Panthers, bringing down Vinay, while Ali Samadi showcased attacking brilliance.
Vinay struck again with a successful Do-or-Die raid, giving Haryana a three-point edge. Rahul Ahri and Shivam Patare extended the lead with a series of tackles and two-point raids, pushing the scoreboard to 10-4 within the first ten minutes.
Jaipur Fights Back
Jaipur slowly clawed back into the game, registering a couple of Super Tackles to trim the gap to 11-8. Despite Ashish Narwal’s dominance in raids, the Steelers maintained a seven-point lead at halftime after executing the first ALL OUT through Rahul Sethpal, with the score at 20-13.
The second half began in similar fashion, with Haryana opening the scoring through Vinay. Rahul Sethpal’s third tackle gave them breathing space, but Aryan Kumar’s Super Tackles and timely interventions kept the Panthers within striking distance. By the end of the third quarter, Jaipur had reduced the deficit to 24-20, thanks to consistent efforts from Deepanshu Khatri and Sahil Satpal.
Thrilling Final Quarter
The final 10 minutes produced edge-of-the-seat action. Haryana maintained a narrow 30-26 lead, but Jaipur’s Ali Samadi and Sahil Satpal sparked momentum shifts. With under a minute remaining, a crucial two-point raid by Sahil reduced the gap to a single point.
In a dramatic climax, Nitin Rawal executed a vital tackle on Vinay, securing an ALL OUT and giving Jaipur the lead for the first time in the match. Vinay managed a bonus point in the final raid, but Deepanshu Khatri’s tackle sealed a remarkable 37-36 comeback win for the two-time champions.
What This Means for Jaipur Pink Panthers
This victory underscores Jaipur Pink Panthers’ resilience and tactical depth under Narender Redhu. Overcoming a ten-point deficit against a formidable Haryana Steelers side demonstrates their ability to perform under pressure and keeps them in strong contention in the ongoing PKL season.