Puneri Paltan held a comfortable lead going into the last 10 minutes of the match, but captain Naveen Kumar put on an inspiring performance to lead the fightback for Dabang Delhi K.C. However, Puneri Paltan held their nerve in the dying minutes of the game and eventually walked off with a 47-44 victory at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday. With the win, Puneri Paltan moved to the top of the vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 9 table.

Ashu Malik picked up a couple of touch points as Dabang Delhi K.C. took the lead at 6-4 in the 5th minute. Naveen Kumar also stepped up his game and reduced Puneri Paltan to just two players on the mat. Moments later, Ravi Kumar tackled Akash Shinde as Dabang Delhi K.C. inflicted an All-Out in the 9th minute to take a big lead at 13-7.

However, Pankaj Mohite and Akash Shinde effected raids and kept Puneri Paltan in the game at 12-16. Thereafter, Abinesh Nadarajan tackled Naveen Kumar on a Do-or-Die raid as Puneri Paltan continued to chip away at the lead. Mohammad Nabibakhsh had a great chance to inflict an All-Out, but Vijay Malik pulled off a brilliant Super Tackle to keep Dabang Delhi K.C. afloat. However, Puneri Paltan managed to carry out an All-Out in the last minute of the first half, but still trailed at 20-21. But, Shinde effected a raid and Nadarajan tackled Naveen to hand Puneri Paltan the lead at 22-21 by the end of the first half.

Shinde continued to shine in the second half as Puneri Paltan earned a three-point lead at 25-22 in the 24th minute. Moments later, Puneri Paltan tackled Manjeet and inflicted another All-Out to attain a stronghold in the match at 30-24. Puneri Paltan's Shinde pulled off a brilliant Super Raid in the 29th minute, catching out Vishal, Ashu Malik and Krishan and helped his team take a massive lead at 35-25. However, Naveen effected a Super Raid soon after and kept Dabang Delhi K.C.'s hope alive. But, Puneri Paltan kept raging on and inflicted an All-Out to race into a 9-point lead at 41-30 in the 31st minute.

However, Naveen was in no mood to give up as he pulled off a magnificent multi-point raid in the 37th minute to keep his team in the game at 38-43. Moments later, Ravi Kumar tackled Nabibakhsh as Dabang Delhi K.C. inflicted an All-Out to get within touching distance of Puneri Paltan's score at 43-46. Puneri Paltan then played their cards perfectly in the last minute and clinched a thriller in the end.

Top Performers

Dabang Delhi K.C.

Best Raider - Naveen Kumar (16 Raid Points)

Best Defender - Vijay Malik (2 Tackle Points)

Puneri Paltan

Best Raider - Akash Shinde (16 Raid Points)

Best Defender - Abinesh Nadarajan (5 Tackle Points)

Where to watch vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 9 LIVE?

Catch all the LIVE action from vivo Pro Kabaddi Season 9 on the Star Sports Network and LIVE streaming on Disney+Hotstar.

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