The Patna Pirates secured a significant 38-27 victory over league leaders Puneri Paltan in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025 encounter at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium. Star raider Ayan Lohchab once again delivered a stellar performance, racking up an impressive 17 points, which, combined with a formidable defensive effort, proved too much for the top-ranked Paltan. The Pirates demonstrated resilience, overcoming a halftime deficit to secure the crucial win.
Early in the match, both teams engaged in a tactical chess match, with Patna smartly rotating Ankit Kumar and Ayan Lohchab in their raids, supported by a strong defensive line-up featuring Deepak and Navdeep. Despite Puneri’s attempts to counter, Patna held a slight 8-5 lead after the first ten minutes.
Throughout the first half, Ayan Lohchab was the driving force for the Pirates, executing swift and confident raids. Navdeep led the defensive charge with well-timed tackles. However, Puneri’s defensive stalwarts, including Abinesh Nadarajan and Rakesh, managed to secure crucial Super Tackles, shifting the momentum. Contributions from Abhishek Gunge and Mohammad Nabibakhsh for Puneri helped them find their rhythm, and they ultimately took a 15-13 lead into halftime, capitalizing on a few errors from the Pirates.
Upon returning from the break, Ayan Lohchab continued his exceptional form, scoring vital points and initiating raids that put Puneri Paltan under immense pressure. Milan Dahiya also played a key role, including a significant ALL OUT that provided the Pirates with much-needed momentum. Despite Puneri’s efforts to close the gap, led by Gunge and Nabibakhsh, the Pirates maintained their composure and gradually chipped away at the deficit.
In the latter stages of the second half, the Pirates’ raiding unit, spearheaded by Ayan Lohchab and Stuwart Singh, intensified their assault with sharp, high-pressure raids. The defence also tightened significantly, with Ankit and Navdeep making critical stops to neutralize Puneri’s comeback attempts. This balanced performance across offense and defense allowed the Patna Pirates to build a decisive lead and secure a comfortable 38-27 victory, handing the table-toppers a rare defeat.