The Gujarat Giants could not have asked for a better start to their Pro Kabaddi League Season 11 campaign, securing a fantastic victory against the Bengaluru Bulls in Hyderabad. Having already beaten the Bulls twice in Season 10, we kept that winning streak alive with another impressive performance. This win not only boosts our confidence but also hands Bengaluru their second consecutive defeat this season. Our newly formed squad showed great teamwork and execution, staying sharp throughout the game.
We won the toss and decided to let the Bulls raid first. Bengaluru’s Pardeep Narwal got them off to a good start with a successful raid, earning their first point. However, our new star raider Guman Singh quickly evened the score with a brilliant raid that sent Saurabh Nandal off the mat. From the start, both teams battled intensely, with neither willing to give the other an edge. Guman Singh continued his outstanding form, securing another raid to keep us in the lead.
As the game progressed, we extended our lead to 7-4 before Bengaluru's Ajinkya Pawar made his presence felt with a successful raid, narrowing the gap to 7-6. The Bulls then tied the score at 7-7 after Rakesh was tackled. Pawar continued his strong performance, scoring two more points, putting the Bulls ahead. Soon after, Bengaluru inflicted an All-Out on us, extending their lead further. Although the Bulls maintained the upper hand through the first half, Guman Singh and Parteek Dahiya ensured that they did not get too far ahead. The first half ended with the score at 16-19 in Bengaluru’s favor.
As it happened so often in PKL Season X, the Giants found their groove in the second half after trailing in the first. Guman Singh and Himanshu Singh led the charge, closing the gap on Bengaluru’s lead. Himanshu was on fire, scoring five points in just five minutes, which helped us turn the game around and take the lead. We inflicted an All-Out on the Bulls, pushing the score to 25-23 in our favor. Sombir’s incredible tackle on Jai Bhagwan helped him complete his High 5, and we extended our lead to 32-26. Despite the Bulls' best efforts to stage a comeback, we stayed in control, with Parteek Dahiya delivering the final blow by securing two touch points to seal the victory for us.
This win gives us a strong start to the season, but the journey has only just begun. With plenty of action still to come, we will aim to maintain this winning momentum. Our next match is against U Mumba on October 23, and we are determined to continue our excellent form and secure back-to-back victories!