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It is semi-final time in the Star Sports Pro Kabaddi as the best four teams of the season battle it out in the last act of the play. With hosts U Mumba up against a galvanized Patna Pirates and the marauding Telugu Titans locking horns with the Bulls from Bengaluru, fireworks are the least which is expected.
With the season for his team now over, Puneri Paltan coach and Arjuna Award winner Ashok Shinde has stepped into the boots of an expert Pundit as Sportskeeda put him on the spot ahead of the big semi-finals.
Ashok Shinde fancies U Mumba strongly
“I think U Mumba will be too strong for Patna Pirates especially playing at home. I feel U Mumba has a very strong defense and the likes of Anup Kumar, Shabeer Bapu as raiders; it becomes very difficult for the opponent. So I fancy U Mumba strongly against the Pirates at home,” said Ashok Shinde.
The Paltan coach and former Indian international expects the Telugu Titans to sneak past the Bengaluru Bulls.
He said, “This game is very close to call. Many people fancy the Telugu Titans heavily but the Bengaluru Bulls too are a very strong team. I think defence will play a key part in this game and the team which defends better will win.
“But, if I have to choose one I will go for the Telugu Titans to just shade it. They have slightly more quality in their ranks and I feel that will show in the end.”
So, Ashok Shinde has predicted a U Mumba vs Telugu Titans final and he believes that will be a cracking game.
“U Mumba and Telugu Titans are very hard to separate. I think that game will be absolutely cracking and could be anybody’s game. I feel the team which has the better day of the two will win the game,” predicted Ashok Shinde.
Bengaluru Bulls will face Telugu Titans at 8pm today before U Mumba face Patna Pirates at 9.
