PKL 11: Devank, Deepak, and Ankit Shine as Patna Pirates Secure Playoffs Spot

Pune, Dec 18 (NationPress) Raider Devank, Ankit, and Deepak excelled as they helped Patna Pirates seal their playoff spot with a thrilling 41-37 win against the Telugu Titans in a Season 11 clash of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in the Badminton Hall of the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Wednesday.

Devank claimed 10 points while Ankit and Deepak contributed five points each, ensuring that Patna Pirates overcame a challenging contest against Telugu Titans, who will now require favorable outcomes in other matches to retain their playoff hopes.

The game kicked off with excitement as Devank propelled Patna Pirates forward, scoring their initial four points, including a two-point raid. Pawan Sehrawat kept pace, leveling the score at 6-6 during the early moments.

Pawan Sehrawat reached a remarkable milestone in his esteemed career, achieving 1300 raid points in the PKL. A Super Tackle on him by Ankit, followed by a successful do-or-die raid by Sudhakar M., allowed Patna Pirates to take the lead, although Telugu Titans quickly leveled again through Vijay Malik’s two-point raid.

With the score at 10-10, Telugu Titans executed the first All Out of the match as Ajit Pawar tackled Deepak, granting them their first lead. However, this advantage was short-lived as Devank and Ayan propelled Patna Pirates back in front.

Throughout the first 20 minutes, both teams exchanged points, with Pawan Sehrawat leading Telugu Titans and Devank maintaining his impressive performance for Patna Pirates, culminating in a nail-biting first half that ended 19-18.

Vijay Malik scored first for Telugu Titans in the second half, tying the game. The potent duo of Devank and Ayan then helped Patna Pirates create a lead, which widened to six points following Gurdeep's tackle on Praful Zaware that enabled an All Out.

Patna Pirates began to dominate as Devank completed his Super 10, supported by Deepak's defensive prowess, reaching 50 Tackle Points for the season and boosting their momentum. Telugu Titans responded fiercely, with Pawan Sehrawat, Vijay Malik, and Ashish Narwal narrowing the gap to 32-29 as the match neared its conclusion.

In the critical final moments, Patna Pirates' defense took charge. Ankit achieved his High-5, and Gurdeep followed with a Super Tackle, extending their lead to seven points. Deepak also completed his High-5, contributing to a commanding defensive showcase in the second half.

This comprehensive team effort enabled Patna Pirates to secure victory with a score of 41-37, confirming their playoff position. This outcome also allowed the UP Yoddhas to qualify for the playoffs, leaving only two playoff spots available in the tournament.