Bengaluru Bulls edge Gujarat Giants 28-24 in thrilling PKL clash

Bengaluru Bulls defeated Gujarat Giants 28-24 in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League match at Jaipur. Skipper Yogesh led the defence, while Akash Shinde’s raiding brilliance proved decisive as Bulls overcame a late Giants comeback

Hyderabad: Bengaluru Bulls emerged victorious over Gujarat Giants in a pulsating contest in the Pro Kabaddi League at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur, winning 28-24 on Monday.

Despite a late surge from the Giants, it was the Bulls’ defensive discipline, led by skipper Yogesh, that made the difference, with his six points alongside Akash Shinde’s seven points, as their side returned to winning ways.

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The Bulls made a strong start in the opening minutes, with raiders Aashish Malik and Akash Shinde scoring early points to keep them ahead. They looked composed in both attack and defence, with Sanjay Dhull and Alireza Mirzaian ensuring the Giants’ raiders didn’t find much success. The Giants relied on Rakesh and Parteek Dahiya, but their raids did not yield much as Bengaluru held a 5-4 lead.

Momentum shifted dramatically when Visvanth V produced a stunning Super Raid, taking out Satyappa Matti, Sanjay, and Deepak Sankar in one move. That lifted the Giants into the lead at 6-5 and put pressure back on the Bulls.

In the second quarter, the Bulls wrested back momentum. Akash Shinde pulled off a Super Raid to dismiss Shadloui and Nitin Panwar, preventing an ALL OUT, swinging the contest in Bengaluru’s favour. Shinde followed it up with successive successful raids, while Aashish kept the Giants’ defence under pressure.

The Giants tried to respond through Parteek Dahiya and Visvanth V, but the Bulls’ defence held with timely Super Tackles, including a crucial one from Jitender Yadav. That defensive solidity and Shinde’s sharp raiding ensured the Bulls went into halftime with a 17-13 lead.

Bulls maintained a seven-point cushion at the end of the third quarter. While the Giants pressed hard through Parteek and Visvanth, the Bulls’ defence stood tall at crucial moments. Yogesh produced a decisive Super Tackle on Dahiya, denying Gujarat a chance at an ALL OUT.

Defensive resilience was backed by steady raiding from Alireza and Aashish, keeping the scoreboard ticking. Even when Shinde was tackled by Shadloui, Bengaluru’s backline remained intact. By staving off repeated ALL OUT threats, the Bulls carried a 23-16 advantage into the final stretch.

In the final quarter, Gujarat Giants mounted a spirited comeback with raids from Rakesh and Parteek and multiple Super Tackles from Lucky Sharma and Shubham Kumar. They cut into Bengaluru’s lead, testing their composure.

However, the Bulls’ defence, led by skipper Yogesh, proved too strong. A perfectly timed High Five from Yogesh stopped the Giants’ final ALL OUT attempt. Bengaluru Bulls held on to win 28-24 in a hard-fought thriller.