Sonu Jaglan’s masterclass performance helped the Giants overpower Telugu Titans 48-38, in our final game of Season 7 on Monday. Sonu dismantled the Titans’ defence with a whopping 17 raid points, while Pankaj was rock-solid in defence, picking up a High 5.
With both teams desperate to end the tournament on a high, Siddharth Desai and More GB went all guns blazing in the opening exchanges. More GB pulled off a Super Raid in the third minute to give us a 4-3 lead, but Siddharth Desai and Farhad put pressure on our defence and ran away with many raid points.
Once Siddharth Desai took down the dangerous Rohit Gulia, the Titans instantly inflicted an All-Out in the 7th minute to take an early 12-5 lead.
The Titans dominated proceedings in the second quarter, and our captain Rohit Gulia was troubled a lot by Akash Chaudhary in the right corner.
Parvesh Bhainswal pulled off two sensational tackles in the do-or-die raid but the momentum was firmly in favour of the Titans.
Sonu Jaglan took down Aakash Chaudhary at the stroke of half-time as we went into the break trailing 13-21.
It seemed as if we were down and out after the first half but Manpreet’s half-time talk might have inspired the Giants, as we looked a completely different side in the second period.
Pankaj started off with a sensational tackle on Siddharth Desai, and to rub salt into Titans’ wounds, Sonu Jaglan produced a two-point raid. We inflicted the Titans’ first All-Out in the 22nd minute after Parvesh tackled Palle Mallikarjun.
The ‘Sonu show’ started off in the 23rd minute when he escaped from the challenge of Aakash Arsul. He took down Rakesh Gowda with a running hand touch in the following raid and picked up his Super 10 after sending Farhad and Vishal Bhardwaj to the bench.
With both teams going neck and neck, the excitement was at its peak. However, Sonu Jaglan changed the course of the match with a massive 4-point raid in the 36th minute to give us a 5-point cushion.
Sonu’s magic quashed the Titans’ hopes and we inflicted their second All-Out in the 38th minute to take a lead at 43-35. Pankaj completed his High 5 after pinning down Siddharth Desai and with a two point raid from Rohit Gulia towards the end, there was no stopping the Giants from finishing Season 7 on a high.
Full Time: Gujarat Fortune Giants 48-38 Telugu Titans
Vivo Perfect raider: Sonu Jaglan
Tata ace defender of the match: Pankaj
Game Changer of the match: Pankaj
Sonu Jaglan’s 17 raid points is the best-ever performance by a Gujarat raider in the VIVO Pro Kabaddi League, breaking the record of ‘15 raid points’ that was set by Sukesh Hegde in Season 5. After a disappointing campaign, this come-from-behind win would definitely be a big satisfaction for Manpreet and co.
