Jaipur, Sep 28 (NationPress) Rishank Devadiga commended Tamil Thalaivas raider Arjun Deshwal for his exceptional performance against his previous team and acknowledged the strength of Thalaivas’ defense. He also emphasized Devank Dalal’s pivotal raids against Patna. The Jaipur leg of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 wrapped up with Bengal Warriorz narrowly defeating Patna Pirates 48-42, while Jaipur Pink Panthers fell to Tamil Thalaivas 28-37 in their home match.

“In our pre-match discussion, we highlighted two significant narratives — Arjun Deshwal competing against his former squad, Jaipur Pink Panthers, and Devank Dalal facing Patna Pirates. Both players excelled, but for Arjun Deshwal, it was particularly memorable,” Rishank shared on JioStar, reflecting on the emotional moments witnessed in this leg of the tournament.

“Competing against the Panthers in Jaipur, before that enthusiastic crowd, while dominating the match with his raids was a spectacular sight. He even earned accolades from Abhishek Bachchan, the owner of Jaipur Pink Panthers, who congratulated coach Sanjeev Baliyan for leading the Panthers to the title in Season 9. It was truly heartening to see the respect that Arjun garnered, and his performance was genuinely praiseworthy,” he added.

Rishank further assessed Tamil Thalaivas’s performance as they prepare for the Chennai leg of the tournament, stating, “The stepping up of Tamil Thalaivas’ defense is significant news, particularly with the upcoming Chennai leg, as fans eagerly anticipate a robust performance at home. In the first half, Nitesh Kumar showcased complete dominance in defense, and in the second half, Suresh Jadhav contributed with five tackle points, while Nitesh concluded with seven.

“When the defense plays like this, Arjun Deshwal, the raid machine, receives the necessary support to continue scoring points — which is precisely what we observed in the match against Jaipur Pink Panthers,” Rishank stated.

Rishank also praised Devank Dalal’s match-winning display, asserting that the Bengal Warriorz captain is consistently in form:

“When Devank Dalal is on the field, the possibility of him being out of form doesn't even come into play. Regardless of the defense he encounters, he knows how to accumulate points. The raiders of both Patna Pirates and Bengal Warriorz fiercely competed for points, and Devank was right there with them. He continued to raid, consistently scoring, ultimately aiding his team in clinching victory through his sheer strength.”

The Warriorz achieved a remarkable comeback victory in the tournament, defeating Patna Pirates 48-42 in a tight contest at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium on Saturday.

Reflecting on their triumph, Rishank noted, “Initially, it appeared as though Patna Pirates’ raiders Maninder Singh (12 raid points in 15 raids) and Ayan Lohchab (15 raid points in 18 raids) might dominate the match, as they continuously scored and forced errors from the Bengal Warriorz' defense. However, Ashish Malik of Bengal stepped up in defense, changing the momentum.

“Despite this being just his third season, his maturity was impressive. From the outset, he executed advanced tackles against Maninder and Ayan, creating pressure. Ultimately, that defensive brilliance enabled Bengal to take the match and secure a hard-fought victory.”

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