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Day 12 of PKL witnessed a thrilling turnaround as Jaipur Pink Panthers edged past Gujarat Giants via a Golden Raid finish, while Ashu Malik’s leadership powered Dabang Delhi to victory over Bengal Warriorz. Speaking exclusively on KBD Live, JioStar expert Rishank Devadiga hailed Jaipur Pink Panthers’ win, highlighted Gujarat’s defensive lapses, and shared thoughts on Captain Mohammadreza Shadloui’s form.
Speaking on KBD Live, JioStar expert Rishank Devadiga dissected Jaipur Pink Panther’s win over Gujarat Giants. “It was a very exciting match, and Gujarat also deserves credit for making a strong comeback in the final three minutes. But then, Nitin Dhankhar stole the show. He has been consistently performing well, showing responsibility and maturity. Jaipur Pink Panthers executed their strategy brilliantly, especially during the Golden Raid, when they avoided the bonus, knowing Shadloui was on the mat. That tactical decision secured them the win. Even without the usual support of Sahil Satpal, Nitin dominated the game with 22 raids, earning 15 raid points. His consistent scoring ensured Jaipur always had a chance to bounce back. He was outstanding,” he said.
On Gujarat Giants’ loss, Devadiga added, “Rakesh Sungroya had almost sealed the match for Gujarat with an all-out when they were leading by five or six points with just three minutes left. At that stage, I thought Gujarat would win. But experience counts in such moments, and Gujarat’s defense showed inexperience by repeatedly conceding points. Nitin Dhankhar was patient and kept finding quick points. If Gujarat’s defense had shown the same patience, this match could have easily gone in their favour.”
Defender like him needs early success in matches to build confidence: Rishank Devadiga on Md Shadloui
On Mohammadreza Shadloui’s role in upcoming matches: “I don’t think Gujarat has a replacement for Shadloui. He is a big player, and his track record speaks for itself. But right now, he looks frustrated, and that is affecting his game. A defender like him needs early success in matches to build confidence. If he goes 20 minutes without a single tackle point, the pressure starts to show, and that’s exactly what we saw in the match. Gujarat should give him more opportunities to regain rhythm and confidence.”
On Ashu Malik and Dabang Delhi’s performance: “For any team, it is vital that the raiders work together, and Ashu Malik had excellent support from Neeraj Narwal and Ajinkya Pawar. That made all the difference. Ashu emerged as the star of the day. As captain, he was aggressive from the start, and later allowed Neeraj and Ajinkya plenty of chances to raid, which boosted the team’s overall performance. With that support, Ashu’s confidence grew, and when it mattered, he sealed the match."
"I chose Ashu over Devank because he is a very intelligent player. He reads the game well, understands the situation, and responds accordingly. Devank also played well and scored consistently, but crucially, he was caught in two super tackles that cost his team. Ashu, on the other hand, avoided such mistakes and delivered when it mattered most,” he further added.
(With Inputs from Press Release)
