PKL 12: Patna Pirates Seal First Victory as Ayan Lohchab Shines in 38-29 Win Over Puneri Paltan
PKL Season 12: Patna Pirates secure their first victory with a 38-29 win over Puneri Paltan as Ayan Lohchab leads the charge with a stunning performance
Patna Pirates finally secured their first points of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 with a more-than-impressive 48-37 victory over table toppers Puneri Paltan at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag on Monday. It was Ayan Lohchab’s night, with the young raider scoring 21 points to secure his team’s first win after three losses.
The night started in the best possible manner for the Patna Pirates, led by their star raider. A Super Raid that eliminated Gurdeep, Vishal Bhardwaj and Aditya Shinde got the proceedings started, and soon after, Ayan also got Gaurav Khatri.
Coupled with unsuccessful raids for Aslam Inamdar and Abinesh Nadarajan, the first ALL OUT was inflicted on the Puneri Paltan in quick fashion. This swift start meant that the score read 15-4 at the end of the first time-out in the first half.
The script of the first 20 minutes remained pretty much the same as the Patna Pirates continued to dominate. Skipper Ankit joined the show after a successful tackle on Pankaj Mohite, and then, Deepak got Aditya Shinde, with a second ALL OUT on the Puneri Paltan in the horizon.
This came when Deepak tackled the Paltan’s Gaurav this time, inflicting the second ALL OUT, as the domination over their opponents continued. Ayan completed his Super 10 with a raid on Aslam yet again, as he ended the first half with 13 points to his name, and the scoreline at 27-10, giving the Paltan a taste of their own medicine.
The third ALL OUT came quickly in the start of the second half, after Ayan got two more points to get Aslam and Milad Mohajer. This forced a slew of changes from the Puneri Paltan, but it did not do much for the fate of the Season 10 champions.
Milan Dahiya joined the party for the Pirates, when he got Abinesh Nadarajan and Vaibhav Rabade in consecutive raids. He played second fiddle to Ayan’s imposing performance, with Aditya Shinde’s successful raids acting as merely consolations. This was evident with the 20-point lead at the second time-out as the score read 39-19.
The three-time champions had a massive lead in their kitty, meaning that one ALL OUT could go against them. This ALL OUT was inflicted in the 8th minute, after Abhishek Gunge got Ankit.
After 20 successful raids, Ayan Lohchab finally tasted an unsuccessful raid when he went into the lobby for an unforced error. For the Puneri Paltan, Milad and Sachin Tanwar joined the party but it was definitely not enough.
A second ALL OUT was inflicted on the Pirates in the dying minutes of the match but it was yet another consolation. Ayan’s one man show, alongside points for the likes of Ankit, Milan, Deepak and Navdeep led the Pirates to a massive 11-point win over the Paltan.
The wait is finally over for the Patna Pirates, as the three-time champions opened their account in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 with a convincing 38-29 victory over Puneri Paltan. The highlight of the night was Ayan Lohchab’s stellar performance, which turned the tide in favor of the Pirates.
The encounter was a much-anticipated clash, with both teams aiming to strengthen their position early in the season. Patna Pirates, who had struggled in their opening games, looked more composed and aggressive on the mat this time.
Ayan Lohchab led the charge with 9 crucial raid points, consistently breaking through Puneri Paltan’s defense.
The Pirates’ defense also stepped up, scoring 7 tackle points, including some game-changing dashes and holds.
Puneri Paltan’s star raiders tried to mount a comeback, but Patna’s disciplined strategy ensured they never regained control.
The young raider showcased both speed and precision, proving why he is being touted as one of the breakout players of PKL Season 12. His ability to convert do-or-die raids and maintain composure under pressure was the difference-maker.
Speaking after the match, Lohchab credited the team’s unity for the victory:
“It was a collective effort. We wanted this win badly, and the team trusted me to deliver in key moments,” he said.
This victory not only boosts Patna Pirates’ morale but also gives them a much-needed push in the PKL Season 12 points table. The Pirates are now back in contention, while Puneri Paltan will need to regroup quickly after this setback.
Social media erupted with celebrations from the Pirates’ loyal fan base, who had been waiting for their team’s first win of the season. The victory is expected to bring renewed energy into the squad as they prepare for upcoming high-voltage clashes.
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