Telugu Titans concluded their Chennai leg with a commanding 46-29 victory over the Haryana Steelers, handing the defending champions their seventeenth-point defeat in Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). The match took place at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium in Chennai on Wednesday.
Bharat Hooda marked his 100th PKL game with an outstanding performance, delivering 20 points—16 raid points and 4 tackle points. Vijay Malik also contributed significantly, adding eight points to the Titans’ tally.
The Telugu Titans started strong, putting the defending champions under immediate pressure. Bharat Hooda set the tone early with a multi-point raid, followed by Vijay Malik’s two-point raid, which gave the Titans a quick 6-0 lead.
Haryana Steelers’ Vinay was the first to get on the scoreboard with a bonus point, but the Steelers struggled to find their rhythm. The Titans quickly forced the first ALL OUT courtesy of a tackle by Ajit Pawar. Bharat Hooda continued his impeccable form, helping extend the lead to thirteen points with a tackle by Ankit.
The Steelers fought back, showing resilience as Mayank Saini executed a Super Raid, and Rahul Ahri contributed a Super Tackle. These efforts reduced the deficit to eight points. Shivam Patare made his mark on both ends of the mat before Vinay delivered an ALL OUT to narrow the gap to just two points.
However, Bharat Hooda remained unstoppable, completing his Super 10 with a successful Do-Or-Die raid. His all-around dominance helped the Telugu Titans secure their second ALL OUT just before halftime, restoring a comfortable ten-point lead with the score at 26-16.
Despite their commanding lead, the Telugu Titans maintained their intensity in the second half. Vijay Malik continued to chip in with crucial points while Bharat Hooda remained a key presence. Although a Super Tackle by Jaideep Dahiya briefly cut the lead to twelve points, the Titans soon registered a third ALL OUT, pushing their advantage to seventeen points.
With a substantial lead in hand, the Titans controlled the final stages of the match. Tackles by Shubham Shinde, Avi Duhan, and Ankit sealed the victory, making a comeback attempt by the Steelers impossible.
Haryana Steelers’ youngsters contributed notable moments, including a Super Tackle by Ankit Dhull and effective raids by Jaya Soorya and Nepal’s Ghanshyam Magar. However, the large margin proved insurmountable for the defending champions.
Bharat Hooda was the star of the night with 20 points, guiding the Telugu Titans to their fifth consecutive win, while the Haryana Steelers suffered their fifth loss in a row.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/pkl-12-telugu-titans-secure-comprehensive-46-29-over-haryana-steelers