Three-time PKL champions Patna Pirates continued their red-hot form, defeating U Mumba 40–31 in Play-in 2 at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi on Saturday. The win marked Patna Pirates’ sixth straight victory, sealing their spot in Eliminator 1 where they will face Jaipur Pink Panthers.
It was a complete team effort led by Ayan Lohchab, who scored 14 points, while the defence was outstanding once again. This led them earning 16 points in total, with Navdeep leading the charge with 7 tackle points, and Ankit adding 4.
A Tight Start in the Early Exchanges
The match began evenly, with both sides exchanging points in the opening minutes. U Mumba’s Amirmohammad Zafardanesh tackled Ayan Lohchab in the first raid, but Deepak replied immediately with a touch point.
Milan Dahiya produced a fine two-point raid to keep Patna Pirates in touch, while Ajit Chouhan’s Super Raid for U Mumba momentarily gave them the edge at 10–9 after ten minutes of play.
Patna Pirates Turn the Momentum in Their Favour
In the second quarter, Ankit pulled off a crucial Super Tackle on Sandeep, swinging momentum Patna Pirates’ way. The defence stepped up with Navdeep executing a series of brilliant tackles, including dismissing Ajit Chouhan and Sandeep in quick succession.
Errors from U Mumba’s defenders Sunil Kumar and Parvesh Bhainswal further widened the gap, and soon Patna Pirates inflicted the first ALL OUT of the match.
With Ayan Lohchab and Deepak adding raid points, Patna Pirates went into halftime with a 20–15 lead.
Dominant Defence and Ayan Lohchab Shine in the Second Half
Patna Pirates began the second half confidently, maintaining control on both ends of the mat. Ayan Lohchab led from the front with sharp, calculated raids, while Navdeep continued his dominance in defence.
A two-point raid from Ayan extended their lead to 27–21 at the end of the third quarter. Soon after, Navdeep’s tackle on Sachin Narwal and Ayan’s successful raid on Lokesh Ghosliya paved the way for the second ALL OUT, pushing the lead to double digits.
Navdeep completed his High Five, and Ayan crossed his Super 10, underlining another stellar display from Patna Pirates’ key players.
U Mumba Fight Back Late, but Patna Pirates Hold Firm
U Mumba tried to rally through Ajit Chouhan, who secured his own Super 10 with a couple of quick raids. However, Substitute Sudhakar M and Milan Dahiya made vital contributions late in the game to steady Patna Pirates.
With under a minute to go, Navdeep pulled off a Super Tackle on Ajit, followed by Ayan Lohchab’s Super Raid, sealing the game with style.
Patna Pirates eventually closed out the match 40–31, maintaining their winning streak and securing their place in the next round.
Top Performers For the Patna Pirates
Top Raider: Ayan Lohchab
Top Defender: Navdeep
A Confident March into the Eliminators
With this win, Patna Pirates continued their incredible turnaround this season, showing balance and determination in every department. The team now heads into Eliminator 1 against Jaipur Pink Panthers, aiming to extend their winning streak and move one step closer to another PKL title.