Telugu Titans recorded a thumping 45-26 victory against Dabang Delhi in the Pro Kabaddi League at the Rajiv Gandhi Port Stadium in Vizag on Tuesday.
The Titans, in red-hot form, inched closer to a playoff spot with this win. After this convincing victory, they snatched fourth place from the Bengaluru Bulls. Furthermore the Titans, who picked up their third win a row, are beginning to look very dangerous.
If they continue this good form they can be looked upon as serious title contenders. Heading into the game, both the Telugu Titans and Dabang Delhi needed the win to move up the table as the race to seal playoff spots has become more intense. In the end, the Titans outplayed the boys from Delhi in every department.
The match had been billed as a face-off between Telugu Titans star raiders Rahul Chaudhari, Deepak Hudda and Sukesh Hegde and the excellent Delhi defenders Jasmer Singh and Amit Singh. In the end, it was the Titans' attacking trio that had the Delhi defense on the backfoot constantly.
Chaudhari signalled his aggressive intentions shortly after the beginning of the match, as he procured a couple of points for his side. The Titans made it clear that they meant business. Even their defender Rajaguru Subramanian got in on the act as he scored two points.
Delhi tried to hit back through Kashiling Adake, but they did not succeed as both Hegde and Hudda thwarted him. The Titans seemed to be dominating at this juncture as LONA points came their way in the tenth minute. The boys from Delhi were well and truly on the mat. As halftime came, the Titans led 20-12.
The Telugu Titans resumed their dominance in the second half. Hegde mounted a raid and scored a point. Delhi once more were on the backfoot as Surjeet Narwal conceded a point. Even the Titans' fans were getting into the game as they chanted Hudda's name after he mounted an attack of his own and slipped past Delhi defender Jasmer Singh and scored.
The Titans inflicted further damage as they increased their lead by 17 points, with their defense also performing with aplomb, as they thwarted Adake and Narwal. More LONA points for the Titans compounded Delhi's misery as they were now hoping for a quick end to the match. That came soon enough for them as they endured a 45-26 drubbing.
Points Table--
1] U Mumba -- 38 points
2] Jaipur Pink Panthers -- 35 points
3] Patna Pirates -- 34 points
4] Telugu Titans -- 33 points
5] Bengaluru Bulls -- 30 points
6] Dabang Delhi -- 26 points
7] Bengal Warriors -- 20 points
8] Puneri Paltan -- 15 points
