U.p. Yoddhas Vs Jaipur Pink Panthers 28 November 2024

Full-Time
UP Yoddhas 33 - 29 Jaipur Pink Panthers

The UP Yoddhas finish the Noida leg on a high, treating their home fans to a win over the Jaipur Pink Panthers, leapfrogging them to go to 3rd place on the points table with that win.

A rock-solid defensive performance helped them achieve the feat against Jaipur, Sumit starring with a High 5, and Hitesh in the right corner coming alive in the 2nd half, scoring four tackle points. While the 2nd half was mostly deadlocked, Bhavani Rajput and Gagan Gowda delivered for the Yoddhas in the raiding department in what was a quiet day for Bharat.

For Jaipur, Arjun Deshwal was dealt with really well by the UP defense, who tackled him six times, and while Neeraj Narwal tried his best, delivering points at both ends of the mat, they simply didn't do enough in either department to stand a chance against the Yoddhas, who deserved the win.

We were treated to an absolute thriller to start this Thursday double-header, and the action continues as U Mumba take on the Telugu Titans in the second match tonight. Click here to catch the complete coverage from that fixture, as I, Shreyas, sign off.

2nd Half, 40'
UP Yoddhas 33 - 29 Jaipur Pink Panthers

The Yoddhas had a habit of choking in these close games, but not today! Sahul Kumar dives in with a solid ankle hold to keep Shrikant Jadhav down.

In the final raid of the match, Jaipur try to play the high line against Bhavani Rajput, but his height makes it a tough task to keep him down from that range, and the Yoddhas secure a 4-point win in a thrilling tie.

2nd Half, 39:23'
UP Yoddhas 30 - 29 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Do-or-die raid for Bhavani Rajput against a two-man Jaipur defense, and instead of killing time, he goes for it immediately, and it looks like he takes it a bit too lightly as Lucky Sharma and Ankush combine to deliver a killer Super Tackle.

With 45 seconds on the clock, the deficit is two and Shrikant Jadhav comes in clutch with a crucial running hand touch on the left cover to reduce them to one.

Jaipur call for a timeout now. Just 1 point separating the two teams!

2nd Half, 38'
UP Yoddhas 30 - 26 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Arjun Deshwal tries and tries to make a difference, but he falls once again to Hitesh, who has been an absolute wall in this 2nd half! Another time he comes around to cut the raiders' angle of escape and clips his high-flying wings with a knee hold, reducing Jaipur to two now!

2nd Half, 36'
UP Yoddhas 29 - 26 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Well, we need a real moment of quality from the raiders to break this game open, and as of now, it doesn't seem to be manifesting.

Jaipur brings on Sombir Mehra in search of the same but the substitute opens with an empty raid.

Jaipur gets another do-or-die raid, and Sumit pounces with a solid thigh hold to get to his High 5.

In the next do-or-die raid, Bhavani Rajput strikes with a raid of real importance, using his height to get the running hand touch on Reza, reducing Jaipur to three.

A timeout is called, and with a little under four minutes to play, it's the Yoddhas who hold the advantage!

2nd Half, 33'
UP Yoddhas 27 - 26 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Both teams have only five on the mat, and along expected lines, they both play on the do-or-die raid.

Jaipur has theirs first, and Neeraj Narwal takes up the responsibility, but he stands no chance against Hitesh, who has been phenomenal in this 2nd half! 4th tackle point for him now.

At the other end, Gagan Gowda has it tough in a do-or-die raid against a 4-man Jaipur defense, and while his pace caused some panic, Lucky Sharma's knee hold was enough to keep him down as Jaipur hit back immediately.

2nd Half, 30'
UP Yoddhas 26 - 25 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Shrikant Jadhav now has a do-or-die raid to deal with, and wait what happened there? Ohh, Shrikant forces the error from Gagan Gowda before his momentum takes him into the lobby without a touch himself, and a point each is awarded.

Bhavani Rajput has a tough task in a do-or-die raid against a 4-man Jaipur defense and is done in by a diving ankle hold from the right-in Neeraj Narwal, who has had a large influence on this match.

It's the Yoddhas who hold a one-point lead as we go into the second timeout.

2nd Half, 28'
UP Yoddhas 25 - 23 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Ohh, Gagan Gowda threatens to break this game open with a multi-point raid in a do-or-die raid situation. Lucky Sharma goes in with an advanced knee hold and gets support from Ankush, but Gagan uses his height to good effect, just about getting his fingertips past the mid-line.

Ohh, absolute brainfade of a review that from Jaipur, who contend that the raider should only be given one touch point when it was crystal clear that there was a minimum of two! What were they thinking?

2nd Half, 27'
UP Yoddhas 23 - 23 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Arjun has found it tough to get going in this 2nd half, with the Yoddhas having five defenders or less on the mat, restricting the bonus point for him. Against a 4-man defense, he goes in too deep once again, and it's Hitesh who pounces alongside Ashu Singh in the right chain.

2nd Half, 25'
UP Yoddhas 22 - 23 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Successive tackle points for Hitesh, who has proven to be a real expert in coming around and cutting off the raiders' angle and executing blocks, with Neeraj Narwal his victim this time around.

However, the Jaipur defense match him, with Reza Mirbagheri putting in a monster of a block to send Bharat to the bench. Shrikant Jadhav opens his account with a huge point as he sends Sumit to the bench.

2nd Half, 23'
UP Yoddhas 21 - 21 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Both teams open the half with empty raids, with the Yoddhas having only five on the mat. Hitesh strikes to send Arjun to the bench early in this 2nd half, as he goes in too deep and his attempt to leap over the right corner is met with a solid challenge.

Gagan Gowda probes hard in the left side of the UP defense in a do-or-die raid, but with time running out, Ankush pounces with a diving ankle hold to send him back to the bench, albeit after the raider picked up a bonus.

FYI, UP Yoddhas' captain Sumit also crossed a major milestone with that Super Tackle late in the half, getting to 300 tackle points! He's only the 14th player to achieve this impressive feat!

Half-Time
UP Yoddhas 19 - 20 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Neeraj Narwal puts Jaipur in the lead with a running hand touch on Ashu Singh, and in the final raid of the half, guess who pops up with a tackle point to end the half on a high for his team? It's Arjun Deshwal, whose ankle hold is a complete surprise to Bhavani Rajput after getting the bonus, and he now has to start the 2nd half from the bench!

A 1-point lead to Jaipur at the end of a rollercoaster of a first half which had pretty much everything! Both defenses look assured, and it's taken some really quality raiding to enforce all-outs for both teams. With both teams firing on all cylinders, we're in for a thrilling 2nd half! Don't go anywhere.

1st Half, 19'
UP Yoddhas 18 - 18 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Finally, Arjun breaks the jinx, scoring his first point since the first raid of the match, pulling out the back kick against Sumit, reducing the Yoddhas to two in the process.

And guess who's subbed on now? It's Surender Gill! And he gets a bonus point on his first raid, but immediately concedes a cheap point to Arjun Deshwal in the very next raid.

That reduces UP to one, and Lucky Sharma opens his account for the night with a crunching tackle on Hitesh as Jaipur hit back and draw level with an all-out of their own!

1st Half, 16'
UP Yoddhas 17 - 13 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Sumit races to four tackle points for the night as a confident Yoddhas' defense executes a Super Tackle on Neeraj Narwal as the Yoddhas' captain makes no mistake with his diving double knee hold that gets the required support from the two cover defenders.

Keshav Kumar is subbed on by the Yoddhas, but he tries to be too busy and tries too much, and he's caught off-balance by Reza Mirbagheri, who blindsides him with a tackle.

1st Half, 14'
UP Yoddhas 15 - 12 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Neeraj Narwal moves all across the court and vehemently claims a touch on the right corner after falling into the lobby, but it isn't given by the referees.

He insists on the review, and replays show a slight flutter of Hitesh's jersey when Neeraj's hand nears it, but is that enough for the decision to be overturned? It is! Review successful.

And that creates some positive momentum for Jaipur as Ankush puts in a near-perfect ankle hold on Gagan Gowda. At the other end, Arjun Deshwal's speed and movement forces an error from Bhavani Rajput, who's sent to the bench.

Bharat, who's yet to open his account tonight, comes in for his first raid of the night, only to be met by a surprise challenge from the right-in Neeraj Narwal, and he's kept down by the rest of the defense.

A great passage of play that for Jaipur and the Yoddhas are down to three!

1st Half, 12'
UP Yoddhas 15 - 8 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Bhavani Rajput is having some game against his former side, making it look really easy against the 2-man defense, using his height to get an easy running hand touch on the right corner.
 
The substitute raider can only manage a bonus in his raid, and Sumit gets an easy 2nd tackle point of the night as the Yoddhas claim a deserved all-out.

Gagan Gowda sets the tone immediately after the all-out with a quick bonus point to take the Yoddhas' lead to 7.

1st Half, 10'
UP Yoddhas 10 - 7 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Arjun Deshwal scores a bonus point in a do-or-die raid, but replays suggest he might well have been lucky on that occasion, with it not being the cleanest of attempts.

Bhavani Rajput makes a difference in the very next raid, scoring two points against a 5-man defense, creating a window of opportunity and finding gaps between the defense and exploiting them really well en route to the mid-line.

In the last raid before the timeout, Arjun Deshwal desperately tries to break through the UP defense, but Ashu Singh has been indomitable so far, and once again, he times his dash really well to send Arjun to the bench once again.

Jaipur down to two and the Yoddhas are on top at the end of the first timeout.

1st Half, 8'
UP Yoddhas 7 - 6 Jaipur Pink Panthers

That was a treat to watch from Gagan Gowda! The tall raider's fluid motion leaves Surjeet Singh no chance of retreat as he gets a hefty running hand touch on him. 

The game slows down as both teams try to play on empty raids.

1st Half, 6'
UP Yoddhas 6 - 6 Jaipur Pink Panthers

First do-or-die raid of the match, and it's former Jaipur raider Bhavani Rajput who's tasked with unlocking a 5-man Jaipur defense. However, Surjeet Singh was on hand for his team, and it's pretty much a solo block dash from the second-highest point-scoring PKL defender.

At the other end, Shrikant Jadhav has a do-or-die raid, and he's dashed out by Mahender, but the left cover is also adjudged to have been off-court.

1st Half, 4'
UP Yoddhas 5 - 4 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Neeraj Narwal has provided Arjun with valuable support throughout this season, and he revives his captain with a running hand touch on Bhavani Rajput.

The Jaipur defense open their account as Ankush makes no mistake with his ankle hold on Gagan Gowda, but in the process, Shrikant Jadhav is also off the mat, and with Gagan getting the bonus, he gets a 2-point raid despite getting tackled.

Meanwhile, at the other end, Arjun is sent to the bench for the second time in as many raids, and it's his opposite number Sumit who nails the timing on his ankle hold, with support arriving in due time.

1st Half, 2'
UP Yoddhas 2 - 2 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Terrific start from Arjun Deshwal! The raid machine opens with a two-point raid, attempting a bonus under Bharat's nose. The left-in goes in for an ankle hold, completely mistimes it, and gifts Arjun a great start.

Bhavani Rajput confidently rolls in and picks up a bonus point to open the Yoddhas' account, and in the very next raid, the in-form Ashu Singh puts in a terrific chain tackle on Arjun Deshwal. That crunching block gave Arjun no chance of escape, and the Yoddhas will want to see more of that throughout this match.

As expected, Arjun Deshwal will put in the first raid. And we're underway!

Right then, both teams have entered the mat, and it's Jaipur who enter first, followed by the hosts UP Yoddhas.

Toss Update: The UP Yoddhas win the toss and choose court. Jaipur will raid first.

Selecting the right captain and vice-captain is the icing on the cake in making the perfect Dream11 team. With the help of our experts' suggestions, make the right captaincy decisions for this fixture:

Here's everything you need to know about the history behind this fierce match-up:

With the lineups out, it's time to get cracking and make your Dream11 teams for this fixture with the help of Sportskeeda's Dream11 prediction:

Team News

Here are the starting lineups of both teams:

UP Yoddhas: Sumit (C), Ashu Singh, Mahender Singh, Bharat, Gagan Gowda, Bhavani Rajput, and Hitesh.

Jaipur Pink Panthers: Arjun Deshwal (C), Reza Mirbagheri, Ankush, Surjeet Singh, Lucky Sharma, Shrikant Jadhav, and Neeraj Narwal.

The UP Yoddhas name an unchanged starting 7 for this fixture despite the last match's result. Jaipur make one change, with Shrikant Jadhav replacing Vikash Khandola.

Hello, good evening, and a warm welcome to Sportskeeda's coverage of Pro Kabaddi 2024. As we near the end of what has been a stellar second leg at the Noida Indoor Stadium, we have an exciting double-header lined up for you on this terrific Thursday. First up, we have the home side UP Yoddhas encounter a stern challenge from two-time PKL champions Jaipur Pink Panthers.

Both sides are only a few points outside the top half of the table and a positive result in this fixture could take them right back into the qualifying zone for the playoffs, and both teams will aim to break out of this highly congested mid-table region and cement their spot in the top half of the table as soon as possible.

The Yoddhas were well beaten in their last encounter against the Tamil Thalaivas, and they'll look to return to winning ways while also giving their home fans something to celebrate in their final fixture in the Noida leg. Jaipur, meanwhile, will be full of confidence after comfortably trouncing the Puneri Paltan, and they'll look to extend this winning run.

This should be a thrilling clash with some of the game's biggest names facing off. So sit back, relax, and let us bring you all the action as it unfolds.