Asian Games 2018, Men's Kabaddi Semifinal, India vs Iran: 5 Talking Points

#3 India's raiders a non-factor

The Indian raiders were nullified by the Iranian defence

Any time Iran and India face off, it is always a battle of India's raiders versus Iran's mean defence. A bit like an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object.

But the force has not quite been with the Indian raiders throughout these Asian Games. In their four group games, India had managed to put up 50 points or more just once while Iran, with a significantly less talented raiding unit, had done it more times.

This contest was always going to boil down to whether India's raiders could find their A-game in this match and bring forth their best effort. Well, they didn't. They weren't allowed to by an exceptional Iranian defence, but notwithstanding their opponents, Ajay Thakur, Pardeep Narwal, Rishank Devadiga, Monu Goyat and Rahul Chaudhari looked short on ideas and bereft of confidence.

Once Iran took the lead especially, India's ability to make a comeback wrested on the raiders' shoulders and they were found wanting. The raiding unit just hasn't sparked into life at these championships and it came to cost them when they needed it the most.

Against Iran's strong shield, India's trusty spear proved rather blunt.