Defending champions Jaipur Pink Panthers demolished Dabang Delhi during their game at the Pro Kabaddi League 2015 yesterday at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex, Delhi. The hosts were overwhelmed 51-21.
The 30-point margin win is the highest in the competition this year, and the performances of all-rounder Rajesh Narwal for the Pink Panthers remained superlative. The Haryana lad notched as many as 15 raid points and another three defensive points — in the process recording the best individual performance of the season — to be named the man of the match.
He was efficiently supported by Jaipur skipper Jasvir Singh, as the duo joined hands to completely terrorise the hosts. Jasvir, who notched up an individual nine points, combined with Narwal to register five all-outs on the Delhi side, which was another record.
It was a commanding 22-9 lead for the away side at halftime, and the points tally for the Jaipur Pink Panthers increased from there to 40-15 by the 32nd minute. Jasvir’s side displaced Patna Pirates to move to the fourth position in the table with the massive win, and the champions will look to take the confidence forward against rockbottom side Puneri Paltan today.
“Our team played very well. The defence as well as the offence was in tandem. We played to a plan and both the defenders and raiders were on fire. Sonu [Narwal] and Rajesh Narwal were heroes today. They completely took the pressure off me,” Jasvir said after the game.
Looking ahead, he said: “Our target is the semifinals in Mumbai and with every victory we are inching closer.”
The pressure will be on Puneri Paltan today, as the Pune-based franchise have won just once of their eight games so far. Their only win has been against the Bengal Warriors this year, that too by a narrow margin.
Wazir Shah stays the only big name in the Pune side, who can produce some magic.
For the Jaipur side, the absence of regular skipper Navneet Gautam is not expected to affect them much today.
“My captain is Navneet Gautam. He is injured but he will be back soon. I take all advice from him and we make all strategies together. We are the champions and he is my captain,” Jasvir added.
