The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) delivered an action-packed Wednesday at the Viswanadh Sports Club in Vizag, with two thrilling encounters. In the first match, Haryana Steelers secured a dramatic tie-breaker victory over U Mumba, while Puneri Paltan continued their impressive start to the season by beating Bengal Warriorz.
The clash between Haryana Steelers and U Mumba was a rollercoaster of momentum swings. U Mumba started strong, inflicting the fastest all-out of the season to take a commanding 12-2 lead within the first six minutes. However, the Steelers, led by a resilient comeback, fought their way back into the game. With key contributions from raider Vinay and strong defensive efforts, they managed to tie the score at 20-20 before halftime.
The second half continued the high-octane drama. U Mumba, propelled by Ajit Chouhan's Super 10, once again created a lead, pushing the score to 31-25. But a Super Raid from Naveen Kumar in the final three minutes shifted the momentum entirely, helping the Steelers inflict an all-out and take the lead for the first time. The match culminated in a tense finish, with both teams trading blows to end regulation time in a 36-36 tie, sending the contest into a tie-breaker. In the tie-breaker, Shivam Patare sealed the win for the Steelers with a Super Raid that wiped out three of U Mumba's players, giving Haryana a crucial victory.
In the second match, Puneri Paltan maintained their fine form with a commanding 45-36 win over Bengal Warriorz, marking their third straight victory. Expert Rishank Devadiga, praised Pune for demonstrating "how teamwork drives success." The Paltan’s attack was led by the raiding trio of Aslam Inamdar, Aditya Shinde, and Pankaj Mohite. Aditya Shinde also completed a Super 10, adding to the team's offensive pressure.
The defense was equally strong, with Vishal Bhardwaj and Gurdeep both getting a High Five and ensuring that Bengal Warriorz’s efforts were largely contained. Despite a valiant effort from Bengal's Devank Dalal, who scored an impressive 17 points, the Warriors could not overcome the well-rounded performance of the Puneri Paltan. The win solidifies Pune's position as a formidable team in the league.
