Puneri Paltan Dominates U Mumba in Thrilling Maharashtra Derby

In a thrilling encounter, Puneri Paltan delivered a commanding performance against U Mumba, winning 40-22 in the Maharashtra Derby. The match highlighted Puneri Paltan's defensive strength, with key players like Gurdeep and Stuwart Singh making significant contributions. As the team solidified its lead at the top of the league, fans were treated to an exciting display of skill and strategy. Read on to discover how the match unfolded and the standout performances that led to this impressive victory.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 19, 2025, 01:55 IST

Puneri Paltan's Commanding Victory

Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], September 19: In an impressive display, Puneri Paltan secured a decisive 40-22 victory over U Mumba during the Maharashtra Derby held at the SMS Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Thursday.

The Season 10 champions showcased their defensive prowess, amassing 20 tackle points, which included six Super Tackles, reinforcing their position at the top of the league standings. Gurdeep led the charge with a High Five, while teammates Gaurav Khatri and Abinesh Nadarajan each contributed four tackles. Stuwart Singh also made a significant impact on the raiding front, scoring eight points, according to a statement from the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL).

Puneri Paltan set the tone early with solid tackles from Abinesh Nadarajan and Gurdeep, followed by raids from Sachin Tanwar and Pankaj Mohite that established a four-point lead. U Mumba's Amirmohammad Zafardanesh responded by scoring on both ends, narrowing the gap to two points.

As the match progressed, Gaurav Khatri and Sunil Kumar each marked their first points, but the defenses remained strong in this fiercely contested match. Anil managed to score on a Do-Or-Die raid, while Aslam Inamdar was unable to do the same, resulting in a 5-5 tie at the end of the first quarter.

Puneri Paltan gained momentum, briefly extending their lead, but U Mumba's Zafardanesh quickly reduced the deficit with a two-point raid. The match continued to swing back and forth, with Rakesh Rajesh executing a Super Tackle to maintain Puneri Paltan's four-point advantage. The first half concluded with Puneri Paltan leading 15-10.

In the second half, a Super Tackle by Vishal Bhardwaj allowed Puneri Paltan to increase their lead to seven points, followed by another Super Tackle from Abinesh Nadarajan, keeping them firmly in control of the match.

U Mumba struggled to find their rhythm offensively as Puneri Paltan's defense continued to shine, holding a comfortable 23-15 lead as the final quarter approached.

Rinku kept U Mumba's hopes alive with four tackles, and Sandeep Kumar added to their score, but Aslam Inamdar finally got on the board with a bonus point and followed it up with a Super Tackle, extending their lead to ten points.

Gurdeep achieved his High Five, and Gaurav Khatri executed another brilliant tackle, leading to an ALL OUT on U Mumba. Stuwart Singh, coming off the bench, capped off the performance with a Super Raid, finishing as the top scorer for his team and sealing Puneri Paltan's 40-22 victory.