Gujarat Giants continued their scintillating form as they defeated U Mumba 38-36 in a thrilling Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 9 match at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad on Sunday, December 4.

Led by captain Dong Geon Lee, the two-time PKL finalists Gujarat Giants rode on another magnificent performance by star all-rounder Parteek Dahiya, who accumulated 13 points including completing 10 successful raids in the pulsating game.

Apart from Parteek, Dong Geon Lee, Rinku Narwal and Shankar Gadai contributed with four points each to help the Giants register their third consecutive victory in PKL 9.

Earlier, U Mumba held a massive lead in the first half, but the Gujarat Giants forged an emphatic comeback to pip the PKL Season 2 champions. Pranay Rane picked up a few touch points as U Mumba took the lead at 6-3 in the fifth minute. Moments later, Mohit tackled Sandeep and helped his team inflict an ALL OUT to take a massive lead at 10-4. Heidarali Ekrami pulled off a Super Raid soon after, catching out Shankar Gadai, Sourav Gulia and Arkam Shaikh as the Mumbai side took complete control of the match at 15-4 in the 8th minute. Gujarat's Rinku Narwal and Sandeep effected tackles, but U Mumba still held the lead at 15-8 in the 12th minute.

Ekrami continued to shine as the Mumbai side continued to forge ahead. However, Rakesh effected a raid and the Giants tackled Guman Singh to stay in the game at 13-18. But, Rahul Sethpal pulled off a Super Tacklein the 20th minute as U Mumba led at 20-13 at the end of the first half.  

Parteek Dahiya effected a fantastic raid in the opening minutes of the second half and reduced the U Mumba to just two members on the mat. Moments later, the Giants tackled Kamlesh and inflicted an ALL OUT to come back into the match at 19-22. However, Rane pulled off a multi-point lead and ensured that U Mumba stayed in the lead at 24-20. But Parteek Dahiya effected a few raids as the Giants reached within touching distance of U Mumba's score at 25-26 in the 28th minute. Sourav Gulia tackled Rane soon after and helped Gujarat level the scores at 26-26.

Thereafter, Ashish caught out Sourav Gulia and Arkam Shaikh as U Mumba inched ahead at 29-27 in the 31st minute. However, Gujarat's Manuj tackled Rane and Shankar Gadai effected a couple of raids as the Giants levelled the scores at 30-30. Thereafter, both sides traded raid for raid and were locked at 32-32 in the 37th minute. However, Dahiya pulled off a magnificent raid in the 39th minute and helped his team inflict an ALL OUT and take the lead at 37-34. The Giants played their cards perfectly in the dying seconds of the match and clinched a thrilling win in the end.

With another impressive victory under their belt, the Ram Mehar Singh-coached Giants have jumped to ninth in the Pro Kabaddi Season 9 standings with 51 points from 20 matches as they remain in contention for the playoffs. 

The Giants will aim to continue their winning streak when they take on struggling Telugu Titans in their penultimate league match at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium on Tuesday, December 6.