Relive the best contests between Jaipur Pink Panthers and Gujarat Giants in PKL history

Jaipur Pink Panthers and Gujarat Giants feature among two of the more renowned Pro Kabaddi League franchises as far as pedigree in the playoffs or knockout stages of PKL is concerned. While Gujarat Giants haven’t managed to get their hands on the coveted PKL trophy yet, they have frequently been a part of the PKL playoffs and were even the runner-ups in their first two seasons after joining the league in 2017 and 2018. Jaipur Pink Panthers, meanwhile, are two-time Pro Kabaddi champions having won the title in the league’s inaugural season and then again in Season 9.

The head-to-head between the Panthers and Giants is even with both sides winning six games each and playing out two ties in 14 meetings between the two teams. Here, we have a look at the best contests between these teams over the years.

Season 6, Match 120: JPP 31 - 33  Gujarat

Match 120 of Season 6 witnessed a nail-biting contest between Jaipur Pink Panthers and Gujarat Giants. Both teams started the match on an even footing before an All-Out by the Giants on the Panthers opened up a 10-4 lead by the seventh minute. The Panthers tried to force their way back into the contest courtesy of raids from Ajinkya Pawar but the Giants still went into the break with a 17-10 lead.

The second half saw Gujarat Giants continue to operate on the front foot and they inflicted another All-Out in the 22nd minute to open up a 12-point lead at 24-12. However, the Panthers fought back through Ajinkya Pawar, who helped his team effect an All-Out to reduce the deficit. Defender Sandeep Dhull also played his part with a High 5 performance to help narrow the Giants’ lead. In the end, though, Rohit Gulia pulled off a crucial raid in the last minute of the match to help the Giants register a narrow 33-31 win.  

Season 9, Match 128

Match 128 of PKL Season 9 was one of the most high-scoring games of the campaign as the two teams combined for a total of 102 points. Gujarat Giants made a positive start to the game and inflicted an All-Out with the help of all-rounder Parteek Dahiya to take a 13-7 lead in the seventh minute. The Panthers, though, fought back with the likes of Abhishek KS and Rahul Chaudhari contributing to ensure both teams went into the break level at 21-21.

In the second half, the Panthers stormed into a 29-26 lead after they inflicted an All-Out in the 24th minute. Arjun Deshwal then continued to consistently score points for the Panthers and played his part in his team affecting another All-Out in the 32nd minute to open up a 43-33 lead. As the match entered its final five minutes, the Panthers seemed to be heading for a win but a few solid raids by Sonu helped the Giants inflict an All-Out to set up a close finish. In the end, Dong Geon Lee produced a stunning raid in the dying seconds of the match as the teams shared the spoils after a 51-51 tie. 

Season 10, Match 18

Jaipur Pink Panthers and Gujarat Giants were involved in another see-saw contest in match 18 of last season. After a neck-to-neck start that saw both teams at 5-5 in the seventh minute, the Giants took charge of the game courtesy of raider Sonu and defender Fazel Atrachali. After inflicting an All-Out in the 10th minute, Gujarat Giants finished the first half with a 20-12 lead that underlined their dominance.

The second half saw the Panthers give it their all from the start with star raider Arjun Deshwal leading from the front. Deshwal’s efficient raiding coupled with some solid defending from the Panthers saw them turn around the contest to move into a 26-25 lead in the 31st minute. The Giants, on the other hand, tried to claw their way back into the lead with robust defending and Sonu picking up raid points. However, a Super Raid in the final seconds of the match by Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Bhavani Rajput ensured a 35-32 win for the Season 9 champions.

Follow Pro Kabaddi on Instagram, Facebook, X & YouTube for all the latest updates!