The Telugu Titans defeated the Jaipur Pink Panthers 37–32 to earn their first victory of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag on Thursday.
The Telugu Titans scored two points thanks to an all-around performance that included eight points apiece from captain Vijay Malik and raider Bharat Hooda, as well as a High Five from Ajit Pawar. Nitin Kumar Dhankar’s 13 points, meanwhile, were in vain.
Both sides engaged in a cagey exchange of blows within the first ten minutes of the match. The Telugu Titans prevailed 7–5 thanks to a strong defense that gave their opponents’ raiders little space to work. Bharat of the Titans used powerful raids to establish his dominance over the match. He dismissed Sahil Satpal with another successful raid after sending Ronak Singh and Meetu to the bench with two-point strikes.
However, Nitin Rawal’s outstanding Super Tackle on Bharat gave the Pink Panthers a defensive spark and momentarily turned the tide in their favor. But Bharat’s astute raiding made sure the Titans maintained a slim lead and kept the two-time champs under constant pressure.
The Telugu Titans continued to dominate the first half, establishing their dominance with a resounding ALL OUT in the thirteenth minute. The Panthers were put on the defensive when Ajit Pawar and the Titans’ defense destroyed them after Reza Mirbagheri’s failed raid. Vijay Malik’s constant raids kept the scoreboard moving as Bharat kept up his trouble for Jaipur.
The Pink Panthers’ problems were exacerbated by Chetan Sahu’s Do-Or-Die raid, and Ajit Pawar struck once more to tie Ali Samadi down. Despite tactical adjustments, the Pink Panthers were unable to penetrate the Titans’ well-organized defense. The Titans enjoyed a significant 16-9 advantage at the half, giving their opponents plenty of work to do in the second half.
The Jaipur Pink Panthers, led by Nitin Kumar, made a strong effort to close the gap in the third round of the competition. In order to keep the Pink Panthers Jaipur within striking distance, Reza Mirbagheri contributed to the battle with powerful defensive maneuvers, pinning down Vijay Malik and then Bharat. He also struck with back-to-back raids, sending Chetan Sahu and Avi Duhan off the mat.
However, the defense of the Telugu Titans also had a say, as Ajit Pawar produced a vital Super Tackle that stopped Ali Samadi’s raid and gave them back control. The Titans once again found rhythm with Chetan Sahu’s Do-Or-Die raid on Aashish Kumar, but Deepanshu Khatri responded with a defensive victory for the Pink Panthers. By the 30-minute mark, the Titans were still ahead 23–16.
Nitin Kumar began the fourth quarter with a Super Raid that left the Titans with just one player when the game was still in the balance. But in return, Bharat received a Super Raid as well, which included Reza Mirbagheri and Sahil Satpal, in addition to an extra point.
Nitin Kumar quickly demonstrated why he was one of the league’s best raiders this year. The Telugu Titans finally suffered their first ALL OUT in the fifth minute after he dismissed Amir Ejlali and captain Nitin Rawal dismissed Vijay Malik.
Nitin finished his Super 10 with another multi-point raid as the game neared the final three minutes, which resulted in Ankit and Avi Duhan. This cut the deficit to just three points, and with the crowd on the edge of their seats, Vijay Malik sealed the deal with a Super Raid. The Titans defeated the two-time champions 37-32, their first victory in seven meetings.
