Jaipur Pink Panthers kicked off their home leg in impressive fashion with a hard-fought 38-35 victory against Telugu Titans in a Pro Kabaddi League match at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Friday. Arjun Deshwal showcased another outstanding performance, securing a Super 10 with a total of 14 raid points. Telugu Titans’ captain, Pawan Sehrawat, countered with an impressive 12 points.
Arjun, the top raider of the season, wasted no time making an impact, securing points from his very first raid. Supported by Ankush and Reza Mirbagheri in defense, the home team quickly surged to a 9-5 lead. A moment of brilliance from Arjun, maneuvering past Hamid Nader and Nitin, led to the first All-Out on Telugu Titans, putting them at a 6-14 disadvantage in the 13th minute.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers efficiently inflicted a second All-Out within just 5 minutes. Arjun dominated this phase, completing his Super 10, while Ankush executed a powerful dash to sideline Pawan Sehrawat. Pawan remained off the mat for over 7 minutes as the Jaipur Pink Panthers held a commanding 27-8 lead at halftime.
In the second half, Telugu Titans displayed enhanced defensive efforts, led by Sandeep Dhull. They executed sharp tackles, reducing the presence of pink jerseys on the mat. Pawan orchestrated an All-Out, bringing the scoreline to 33-21 with 10 minutes remaining.
Pawan escalated his performance, scoring points in successive raids and executing a superb back hold on V Ajith Kumar. With Jaipur Pink Panthers down to two players, Telugu Titans capitalized, inflicting another All-Out. In an incredible comeback, Telugu Titans narrowed the deficit from 19 points to just 5, with the score at 36-31 and 4 minutes left.
Despite the intense pressure, Jaipur Pink Panthers resiliently clung to their lead, ensuring a triumphant start to their home leg and extending their unbeaten streak to 7 games.