Patna Pirates Vs Gujarat Giants 29 January 2024

Full-Time
Patna Pirates 32 - 20 Gujarat Giants

4 Super Tackles, two each for Krishan Dhull and Ankit Jaglan. That's what got the job done for the Patna Pirates in one of the best 2nd-half performances of the season. They were staring at an all-out at half-time, but each time, whether they were down to two or three, Ankit and Krishan stepped up and put in some monstrous challenges to keep the Pirates in the lead and evaded the all-out, and eventually, Sandeep Kumar's two-point raid broke the Giants' resistance, putting the Pirates firmly on top.

In a cagey encounter played primarily on do-or-die raids, Parteek Dahiya and Sandeep Kumar were the standout raiders on either side, with the latter doing well to take his opportunity in Sudhakar M's absence. It was an off-day for Fazel Atrachali and Sombir as the corners combined to score only one tackle point, and that made a huge difference in this contest.

As a result of that tremendous win, the Patna Pirates go up to 4th on the points table, and are unbeaten in their home leg, with one more clash against the Bengaluru Bulls waiting for them on Wednesday night. That's it from Patna for tonight. This is Shreyas signing off! Good Night!

2nd Half, 40'
Patna Pirates 32 - 20 Gujarat Giants

Rohit gets a useful bonus point, but it doesn't prove to be as useful as Manjeet gets a crucial touch point on Fazel Atrachali to reduce the Giants to one.

Rohit can't do much as Ankit scores his 6th tackle point of the night with a another solid block to get the first and only all-out of this match as the Pirates take their lead up to 11.

Sandeep Kumar than has some fun and goes for it after killing some time, escaping well from Fazel Atrachali's ankle hold and also gets a touch on Deepak Singh on his way to the mid-line. Rohit Gulia gets his 3rd bonus point of the night, but it doesn't make much of a difference as the final whistle blows!

The Pirates win by 12 points after a spectacular 2nd half effort and move up to 4th on the points table!

Rohit Gulia is subbed on for the Giants.

2nd Half, 38'
Patna Pirates 26 - 17 Gujarat Giants

Nitin might have given the Gujarat Giants a lifeline here as he gets a two-point raid, escaping from Mayur Kadam's dash after getting a touch on Ankit. But, ohh wait, the referees award the point to the Pirates!

Gujarat review the decision and this is a big moment in this match! It does look like when he crossed the mid-line, no part of his body appeared to be within playing limits, and the review is unsuccessful!

Gujarat down to two and staring at an all-out here as a timeout is called. Can the Giants salvage a point from this?

2nd Half, 36'
Patna Pirates 25 - 17 Gujarat Giants

The pattern continues as both teams continue playing on the do-or-die raid. However, Sandeep Kumar might just have given the Pirates a huge edge here as finally, a Pirates raider gets the better of Deepak Singh. The right cover comes in with a full-blooded dash once more, but Sandeep uses the lobby brilliantly to escape with two points.

At the other end, Ankit has really come to life in this 2nd half, and puts in a powerful block-dash to blindside Sonu Jaglan, and with close to 4 minutes to play, the Pirates lead by eight points. Ankit also gets to his High 5. Both the corners have done it for the Pirates!

2nd Half, 33'
Patna Pirates 22 - 17 Gujarat Giants

Rohit is pretty much timed out by the Gujarat Giants as Fazel Atrachali orders his defense to stay back in this do-or-die raid, and while Rohit shows good presence of mind to get a bonus point, he's brought down with ease.

Gujarat have a chance at an all-out with only two on the mat for Patna, but Parteek Dahiya slips for a brief moment, and that's all that Ankit Jaglan needs as Mayiur Kadam and himself put in a herculean effort to register the Pirates' 4th Super Tackle of the night. 

How have the Pirates evaded an all-out here?

2nd Half, 30'
Patna Pirates 19 - 16 Gujarat Giants

Parteek Dahiya breaks the cycle with a neat escape against an overzealous ankle hold attempt from Krishan Dhull. The Pirates are in trouble as Rohit faces a do-or-die raid with only three on the mat for the Pirates, but the error comes in from Jitender Yadav in the left-in position as the Pirates survive once more.

Parteek seems to have found his groove, however, and he races across the mat to get the running hand touch on a retreating Sanjay. The whistle blows for a timeout right after that raid, and the Pirates hold a 3-point lead, but only have three men on the mat.

2nd Half, 28'
Patna Pirates 18 - 14 Gujarat Giants

Once again, it's the fearless Deepak Singh who delivers the goods for the Giants with an ankle hold converted to a block to stop Manjeet in a do-or-die raid. He's on four tackle points now.

However, it's a do-or-die raid at the other end for the Pirates, and once again, Krishan Dhull puts in a solid double thigh hold, and despite Nabibakhsh's best efforts, he can't outpower the three-man Pirates defense. That's also Krishan Dhull's High 5!

That's the Pirates' 3rd successive Super Tackle, and a pattern is developing here. Both teams playing on the do-or-die raid.

2nd Half, 25'
Patna Pirates 16 - 13 Gujarat Giants

Do-or-die raid for Sandeep Kumar, and it's the substitute Nitin who's doing it all for the Giants.  He times his diving ankle hold to perfection, and the support arrives right in time from Sombir and the rest of the defense.

However, he can't cut it at the other end as Krishan Dhull's ankle hold is too strong for him in a Do-or-die raid as the Pirates put in their 2nd Super Tackle of the night. Their lead goes up to 3 now.

2nd Half, 23'
Patna Pirates 14 - 12 Gujarat Giants

That's some clutch raiding from Rohit! Picks up a bonus point on the first attempt and induces an error from none other than Fazel Atrachali on the very next raid.

Ankit then puts in an assured ankle hold to bring Parteek Dahiya down to register a Super Tackle, and just like that, the Pirates have not only evaded the all-out, they also take their lead back.

Rohit comes on for the Pirates as they're without a raider on the mat.

Half-Time
Patna Pirates 10 - 12 Gujarat Giants

It was a cagey game that livened up towards the end of the half, and it's Fazel Atrachali and co. who'll walk into half-time as the happier side. For most of the half, the Pirates held a 2-point lead and had sufficient opportunity to extend the same, but defensive errors kept plaguing them as first, Parteek Dahiya, and later, the substitute Nitin, made the most of the same.

Deepak Singh has been the standout defender, with three tackle points to his name. For the Pirates, Sandeep Kumar has been solid in the raiding department, with Sachin also starting well.

The Pirates are facing an all-out at the start of this half, but they will raid first. Can they avoid it successfully?

1st Half, 20'
Patna Pirates 10 - 12 Gujarat Giants

Sachin Tanwar is livid at Babu M for going in with a challenge too early in a Do-or-die raid, which Nitin anticipates and evades easily.

Sachin then faces a Do-or-die raid right at the stroke of half-time, and he runs right into Deepak Singh who has been a rock in that right cover!

A crucial tackle gets a 2-point lead for the Giants heading into half-time, and guess what? The Pirates are down to two now.

1st Half, 18'
Patna Pirates 10 - 10 Gujarat Giants

Babu M has been much better than Ankit in that left corner tonight for the Pirates. H picks up his 2nd tackle point of the night with another perfectly timed diving knee hold to immobilize Parteek Dahiya.

Manjeet can't get away from Deepak Singh and Nabibakhsh's dash from the cover positions quickly enough, succumbing in a Do-or-Die raid. 

1st Half, 16'
Patna Pirates 9 - 9 Gujarat Giants

What a raid that is from the substitute Nitin! Puts in the smoothest of dubkis to escape from an attempted chain tackle from the left side, sending Ankit and Manjeet back to the bench. The scores are level once again!

1st Half, 15'
Patna Pirates 9 - 7 Gujarat Giants

Mayur Kadam opens his account for the night, putting a stellar double ankle hold to bring Parteek Dahiya down in a do-or-die raid. At the other end, Sachin Tanwar, the do-or-die raid expert, can't do much against a well-timed ankle hold from Mohammad Nabibakhsh. The defenses slowly getting on top here.

1st Half, 12'
Patna Pirates 8 - 6 Gujarat Giants

Sonu Jaglan's first raid is an unsuccessful one as he runs right into Krishan Dhull who puts in a mighty block. At the other end, Sandeep Kumar executes a neat turn to get away from Sombir's challenge in a Do-or-Die raid, but Nabibakhsh and Parteek cut off his angle of escape with timely support to keep the deficit at two points.

Sonu Jaglan comes on as a substitute for Rakesh HS for the Giants.

1st Half, 10'
Patna Pirates 7 - 5 Gujarat Giants

Parteek Dahiya gets his 4th raid point of the night, anticipating and successfully evading the challenge from Mayur Kadam.

As we close in on the timeout, Sandeep Kumar claims a touch point with a kick on Nabibakhsh, and he reviews when the decision doesn't go in his favor. However, the replays aren't on his side, and the Pirates lose their review really early on in this match!

Parteek Dahiya puts in an empty raid and the whistle blows soon after for the first timeout of the match! It has been cagey as expected, but the raiders have been on top so far.

1st Half, 8'
Patna Pirates 7 - 4 Gujarat Giants

Parteek Dahiya does the trick for the Giants yet again with a running hand touch on the right corner Krishan Dhull.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Sandeep Kumar is showing off his raiding chops with a dominant toe touch on Fazel, who hasn't made a good start to this match.

1st Half, 6'
Patna Pirates 6 - 3 Gujarat Giants

First time Sachin is brought down today and it's none other than the in-form Deepak Singh in the Giants' right cover with a well-timed knee hold. Rakesh tries to attack Babu M in that left corner, but he makes no mistake a well-timed diving ankle hold. 

Sandeep Kumar then does brilliantly to wipe out the Gujarat cover combination with a quality running hand touch, and suddenly, the Pirates lead by three and have all the momentum in this match.

1st Half, 4'
Patna Pirates 3 - 2 Gujarat Giants

Sachin Tanwar looks really up for it tonight! Rakesh surprises him with an ankle hold from the left-in position, but the Patna captain gets away from it with ease. 

Ankit then goes in with an absolutely silly tackle with seconds left on the clock against Parteek Dahiya in a do-or-die raid.

1st Half, 2'
Patna Pirates 2 - 1 Gujarat Giants

Rakesh opens with an empty raid, but Sachin Tanwar needs less than ten seconds to leave his mark on the game, putting in a venomous reverse toe touch to catch his opposite number Fazel Atrachali completely off guard.

Parteek Dahiya opens the Giants' accounts with a confident bonus point. Manjeet then follows it up with a bonus point under the nose of the left corner, where Nabibakhsh is deputizing for Fazel.

Rakesh HS to raid first for the Giants. And we're underway.

Here are three player battles that should take center-stage in this enthralling match-up:

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Team News

Here are the starting lineups for both the sides:

Patna Pirates: Sachin Tanwar (C), Krishan Dhull, Sandeep Kumar, Manjeet, Mayur Kadam, Ankit Jaglan, and Babu M.

Gujarat Giants: Fazel Atrachali (C), Sombir, Rakesh HS, Parteek Dahiya, Mohammad Nabibakhsh, Balaji D, and Deepak Singh.

Both teams are unchanged as Sudhakar M remains out of the Pirates' matchday squad yet again. Sonu Jaglan is on the bench for the Giants if they need raiding reinforcements.

Preview

Hello, good evening, and welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of the tenth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League. I'm Shreyas, and I'll be bringing you all that action that unfolds in this crunch encounter between the Patna Pirates and the Gujarat Giants at the Patliputra Indoor Stadium in Patna.

The hosts are yet to be beaten in their home leg, having won comfortably against the Bengal Warriors in the 1st home game, before settling for a 32-32 tie against the Puneri Paltan on Saturday. Those two results see them move rapidly up the points table into 5th place, but with the points margin very tight between the 4th and 10th-placed sides, the Pirates can't afford to rest. 

New captain Sachin Tanwar has led the side admirably in the absence of Neeraj Kumar, and a lot of credit should also go to his replacement in that right cover position, Mayur Kadam. Having beaten the Giants 33-30 early on in the season, they'll want to do the double.

Fazel Atrachali and co. are in 4th place on the points table, and they'll want to consolidate that position and pull clear of the chasing pack with a win here. They enter this match in decent form, having beaten U Mumba by a 9-point margin in their last encounter. They'll have their task cut out against an in-form Pirates, but they've faced harder challenges with ease this season and should be up to it.

A thrilling encounter awaits us on the 4th day of the Patna leg. More updates coming soon!