Jaipur Pink Panthers and Dabang Delhi K.C. kicked off their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025 campaigns with hard-fought wins in Vizag, showcasing impressive offensive and defensive prowess. The opening day of the season saw both teams overcome tough challenges, setting an exciting tone for the rest of the tournament.
In a high-stakes match, the Jaipur Pink Panthers secured a narrow 39-36 victory against the Patna Pirates, a win that held extra significance as it was against former coach Narender Redhu's side. The Panthers were led by a stellar performance from young raider Nitin Kumar Dhankar, who accumulated 13 raid points, proving to be a constant threat to the Pirates' defense. Iran's Ali Samadi Choubtarash also made a strong PKL debut, contributing eight crucial points to the win.
The match remained close throughout, but Jaipur's ability to maintain their lead proved to be the difference. Despite a valiant effort from Patna's star raider Maninder Singh, who scored 15 points, and a supportive performance from Sudhakar M, the Pirates couldn't bridge the gap. Jaipur's defensive unit also played a key role in their victory, inflicting an all-out on Patna in the first half and holding on to their lead to secure the win.
In the second match of the day, a dominant Dabang Delhi K.C. secured an impressive 41-34 win over the Bengaluru Bulls. Delhi's victory was a complete team effort, but it was spearheaded by captain Ashu Malik, who delivered a brilliant performance with 15 points. His early Super Raid set the tone for the match, giving Delhi a commanding lead that the Bulls struggled to overcome.
While the Bulls made a late comeback attempt, it was ultimately not enough to overturn the deficit. Their sole highlight came from Alireza Mirzaian, who scored a Super 10. However, Delhi's strong defensive trio of Surjeet Singh, Fazel Atrachali, and Saurabh Nandal was instrumental in keeping the Bulls at bay. The win for Delhi puts them in a strong position early in the season, while the Bulls are left searching for their first win after back-to-back defeats.
