Telugu Titans secured their second win on the trot to take them to nineteen points in the Pro Kabaddi Season 4. They beat Dabang Delhi 28-23 in what was eventually a relatively easy win for the men in yellow.
Having never lost to Dabang Delhi in six attempts, the Titans headed into this match full of vigour and positivity. But the capital side were equally confident post their win against Patna Pirates yesterday. We were in for an intriguing clash.
It was a duel between two former teammates, now captains of their respective sides, Rahul Chaudhari and Iranian, Meraj Sheykh. The former opened the scoring for Telugu from a do or die raid. Delhi’s captain, Kashiling Adake had to settle for a place on the bench again and was itching to get on. He was brought on in the seventh minute due to his team’s slow start.
Do or die specialist Selvamani then secured a quick hand touch to make it 3-4 after nine minutes. Kashi though still looked rusty and was hesitant to take on the Titan defence. Chaudhari then produced a moment of magic to score consecutive do or die raid points. He leapt over the Dabang defence to secure two points and made it 7-3.
Kashi finally scored in his third attempt courtesy some poor defending from the opposition. Buoyed, he followed it up securing a toe touch from a do or die raid. Thus reducing the Titans to just four men. Titans number 5, Nilesh Salunke ensured the pressure wasn’t all on Rahul Chaudhari. He successfully executed two swift hand touches in the dying minutes of the first half.
HT- Dabang Delhi 7 – Telugu Titans 14
Deepak Narwal was brought on for Delhi in the second half. But he was taken out in his second attempt. Sandeep Narwal was deadly tonight as he anticipated the raiders movement to the letter. Rahul Chaudhari was relentless and did the damage with a super tackle.
Amidst this, Dabang captain, Meraj had to get his ankle strapped after he twisted it in the first half. After 25 minutes of the game, he was out for 12. The Titans made sure to maintain at least a four-point advantage throughout the game. With three men on the mat, the capital side was holding on for dear life.
Sensing an opportunity, Chaudhari immediately took out another man to reduce them to two. But Delhi did extremely well to send him to the bench in his very next raid. After 28 minutes, Telugu were leading 18-14. Nilesh Salunke then executed the perfect fake to take out Prashant Chavan. Delhi were now down to one man.
The inevitable occurred as the game’s first all-out was inflicted by Telugu Titans. The men in yellow were now leading 23-15 with nine minutes to go. Salunke continued to display that the Titans in no way rely on just one raider. He was agile and clever with his raids.
He opened a nine-point lead for his side with four minutes remaining. The Titans then slowed down the game considerably and secured their third win of the season.
FT- Dabang Delhi 23 – Telugu Titans 28
