PKL-12: Gujarat Giants Edge Past UP Yoddha 40-39 in a Thrilling Encounter

In Match 74 of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 played on Thursday at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Gujarat Giants narrowly defeated UP Yoddha 40-39. This marked Gujarat’s fourth win in 12 matches, while UP Yoddha suffered their fifth consecutive loss. With this win, Dabang Delhi became the first team to secure a playoff spot from the top eight.

UP Yoddha started stronger than in their previous matches, with captain Sumit and Guman scoring consecutive points. However, they failed to contain Rakesh, allowing Gujarat to take a 6-4 lead after five minutes. UP quickly equalized, but a revived Rakesh scored a two-point raid to make it 9-7. UP responded with back-to-back points to level the score.

Gujarat then regained a two-point lead, which UP reduced to just one point. After the break, Gujarat scored two consecutive points to stretch the gap to three. Rakesh added two points against UP’s four-man defense, pushing them toward an all-out, but Ashu and Jayesh executed a super tackle on Shadlou, reducing the margin to one. During this period, Rakesh completed his Super 10. In the next raid, Rakesh inflicted an all-out on UP, giving Gujarat a 20-16 lead.

By halftime, Gujarat led 22-19, which UP reduced to two points, but Gujarat quickly extended it to four. Rakesh scored two points on a do-or-die raid, making it 27-21. Gujarat’s defense caught Bhavani, forcing an all-out and further extending the lead to 31-21.

Maintaining dominance, Gujarat held a 10-point lead. Bhavani caught Shadlou, but Rakesh revived him. However, Guman dismissed him in the next raid. After 30 minutes, Gujarat was ahead 35-26, but Guman scored consecutive points to reduce the gap to seven. UP then brought Gujarat close to an all-out, reducing the lead to 36-33. They eventually leveled the score.

Gujarat regained a two-point lead, but Hitesh’s chain tackle reduced it to one, leveling the score again. Rakesh caught Sumit to give Gujarat the lead, which Guman equalized, but Shadlou restored a one-point advantage. On the final raid, Guman was caught, allowing Gujarat to secure a thrilling one-point victory over UP Yoddha.