The PKL Season 11 Playoffs commenced with a one-sided contest as the UP Yoddhas delivered a commanding performance to eliminate the Jaipur Pink Panthers in Eliminator 1.
The Yoddhas claimed a resounding 46-18 victory at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, led by Bhavani Rajput's 12-point Super 10 and Hitesh stellar High-5. The Yoddhas will now clash with the Haryana Steelers in Semi-Final 1 on Friday.
Both teams began cautiously, but the UP Yoddhas quickly found their rhythm, outshining Jaipur's star raider, Arjun Deshwal. Early raids from Bhavani Rajput and Bharat gave the Yoddhas an edge.
Within just seven minutes, they inflicted the game's first ALL OUT to take a six-point lead. This momentum grew rapidly, with the Yoddhas building a nine-point advantage by the 10th minute.
The Yoddhas' defence, featuring Hitesh, Sumit, and Mahender Singh, proved unyielding, while Bhavani Rajput led a clinical attack. With a minute left in the first half, the Yoddhas enforced a second ALL OUT, extending their lead to 23-8 at halftime.
The second half saw the UP Yoddhas maintain their dominance, with Bhavani Rajput completing his Super 10 early on. Meanwhile, defenders Hitesh and Sumit continued to excel, keeping Jaipur's raiders at bay. The Jaipur Pink Panthers, defending champions from Season 9, struggled to mount a comeback.
They were trailing by 26 points at the 30-minute mark. A third ALL OUT by the Yoddhas sealed the Pink Panthers' fate. Although Jaipur managed a few moments of brilliance, they were outplayed on both ends of the mat. The Yoddhas finished strong, securing a well-deserved Semi-Final spot.
Upcoming PKL 2024 Semi-Final Matches
