Pro Kabaddi League Highlights: Bulls beat Titans, U Mumba edge past Warriors in close games; Maninder crosses 1300 raid points

That miraculous super raid from Pawan has allowed the Titans to go two points close to the Bulls. But time runs out before the Titans can make another dash for victory. Heartbreaking loss for Pawan who bore his heart on the mat today. 

WHAT WAS THAT? Pawan pushes Surjeet out of bounds, pushes the right cover defender also out of the mat and gets a touch on the man in the middle to wipe the Bulls clean. Talk about determination! 

There’s something a little heartbreaking about Pawan Sehrawat trying everything but not finding dividends. He tries to frog jump his way out of a defenders huddle from his feet are secured by the Bulls who let him go no further. The game is slipping away from the Titans who need a miracle to stay alive in this contest. 

The all-out is delayed but can’t be denied and the Bulls amass a massive 10-point lead. The Titans defenders are sitting ducks for Vikash Kandola as he gently touches the back of Mohit Rathee and hops away. 

With Pawan largely on the bench, Rajnish is buckling under scoring pressure. Got a bonus but also got brought down by Surjeet. Bulls are feasting on ordinary showing from the men in yellow. Titans on the verge of an all out

As things stand, Bulls only need to keep Pawan out the mat to build on a much-needed win. How they manage to do it is for us to keep an eye on as the second half gets underway. 

Nine of Titans’ 12 points have come from Pawan Sehrawat and that is not a good sign for the franchise, given the side is into its fourth leg of games. Bharat has come good for the Bulls, but he also has support from Vikash Kandola and Surjeet. The Titans will need their defenders to step up and support Pawan, who has been trying to raid, defend and do everything in between. 

Pawan is running the show, as always, for the Telugu Titans, and singlehandedly too. 

Bharat is keen to show his predecessor at Bengaluru up and has taken the early lead in scoring points. Titans’ hopes pinned on Pawan, who is a crowd favourite. 

Bharat vs Pawan Sehrawat in the 2nd game of the day. 

U Mumba’s mixed bag of players ensured their youthful spirit and experience shone in equal measure as they sealed a 39-37 win against Bengal Warriors. A key raid in the last minute of the game, where Nitin Kumar was brought down by the U Mumba defence close to the midline made the difference, taking away a chance to come back in the clash for Bengal. 

Shubham Shinde and Nitin Kumar have got Bengal Warriors back to breathing down U Mumba’s neck. In the VIP box, U Mumba CEO Suhail Chandhok is reassuring the bunch around him to have faith. Hope his boys can hear him over the noise here in Chennai. 

An all out effected by U Mumba has helped them gain a five point lead over the Warriors. But all out also means all in and the Warriora defence is returning the favour in kind. 

It is nervily neck to neck in this encounter between the two sides. Maninder is a point away from his super 10, but Bengal manages to stay ahead thanks to its defence. As I type, Zafardanesh draws out a tackle too close to the midline and eats up two people on the mat. 

Bengal Warriors have edged ahead. U Mumba’s defence, with more men on the mat, is looking a bit patchy. Gholamreza is having a long chat with his squad. 

Maninder Singh has crossed the 1300 raid point milestone here in Chennai. He continues to grow from strength to strength as he tries to get the Warriors a cushion of points in this game. 

A few solid raids from Maninder, especially targetting Rinku in the right corner, have helped Bengal even the scales. Guman and Zafardanesh have not allowed Bengal the luxury of taking the lead yet. With his men reducing on the mat, Maninder, is having to defend too. Advanced tackles from Surinder Singh are helping Maninder, who just has to push the bodies past the midline. 

Zafardanesh already has five points to his name and leads the raiding tally on either side of the aisle. Maninder will need more support from Shrikant Jadhav and Nitin to truly put pressure on this persistant U Mumba side. 

U Mumba is playing on the super tackle and managing to undo everything Bengal Warriors are trying. Surender Singh, whose advanced tackles were a bit problematic at the start, has suddenly come alive with his ankleholds and Mahender, who is holding the defence together with 4 points thus far, and Rinku are ably supporting him as the men in black and orange revive their squad. 

Zafardanesh has been wily on the mat, accumulating points off the flanks. However, Maninder’s smart raids on the do-or-die raid and a few hasty advanced tackles from Surinder Singh have allowed Bengal to snap at U Mumba’s heels. 

Funnily enough, when U Mumba’s Gill tried to tackle Maninder and ended up losing his place on the mat, the referees awarded Mighty Mani a bonus plus the touch point. The U Mumba line-up turned to look at coach Gholamreza Mazandarani who was busy having a word with Surinder. Eventually the review the boys on the mat took turned out to be unsuccessful. 

With a few sprightly touch points and bonuses, U Mumba went ahead early, but Maninder making raiding simple and a couple of nifty chain tackles have helped the Warriors keep up. 

Maninder is brought down in the right corner as a pile of orange bury him

Despite the home team not playing today, there’s a fair turnout to watch some of the biggest stars of kabaddi set the mat on fire. 

Once inseparable at Bengaluru Bulls, Pawan Sehrawat eventually moved away from his guru Randhir Singh Sehrawat. An injury last season did not allow him to face his teacher as an adversary and so the duo gear up for a special first today in Chennai. Who will come out on top? 

Bengaluru Bulls 

Bharat has been the prime raider for Bengaluru Bulls this season after racking up 56 raid points in 7 matches. However, he picked up only 1 point in his previous appearance. 

Bengaluru Bulls’ defence will be led by Saurabh Nandal who has pocketed 17 tackle points in 7 games of PKL 10. 

Sachin Narwal is the top all-rounder in the squad having accumulated 3 points so far. 

Telugu Titans 

For Telugu Titans, Pawan Kumar Sehrawat will be the main raider. He has accumulated 63 raid points in 6 matches, including 6 do-or-die raid points. 

Ajit Pawar leads the defence for Telugu Titans and has scored 11 tackle points in 5 matches. 

Sanjeevi S. is the best all-rounder in the team with 14 points in 5 matches.

Bengaluru Bulls head into this contest on the back of a defeat against Puneri Paltan on December 20. They lost the match 18-43. This was their fifth loss of Pro Kabaddi League season 10.

Telugu Titans won against Haryana Steelers in their last match by a 37-36 scoreline on December 22.

Bengaluru Bulls have faced Telugu Titans 21 times in the history of PKL.

With 14 wins against Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls are ahead in the head-to-head record. Whereas the Telugu Titans have won 3 times, and 4 matches ended in a tie.

The previous contest between Bengaluru Bulls and Telugu Titans match saw the Bengaluru Bulls come out on top with a 49-38 victory.

With 2 wins and 5 losses, Bengaluru Bulls are ninth on the PKL 10 points table with 14 points.

Telugu Titans are twelfth after winning 1 match and losing five. They have a total of 7 points.

Two strongmen and their teams go up against each other in a crucial clash for both teams. Bengal is looking to gather some steam while U Mumba’s young brigade will want to keep the dividends coming. What are your predictions for this clash? 

U Mumba 

Guman Singh has been the prime raider for U Mumba this season after racking up 38 raid points in 5 matches. He scored 11 points in his last match. 

U Mumba’s defence will be led by Rinku Sharma who has pocketed 11 tackle points in 5 games of PKL 10. 

All-rounder Amirmohammad Zafardanesh is also a player to watch out for, after amassing 48 points. 

Bengal Warriors 

Maninder Singh has been the top raider for Bengal Warriors in Season 10. He has amassed 61 raid points in 6 matches, including 3 do-or-die raid points. 

Shubham Shinde is the best defender from the squad, claiming 23 tackle points in 6 matches

U Mumba head into this match after 46-33 win against Tamil Thalaivas on December 17. This was their third win of Pro Kabaddi League season 10. Bengal Warriors, on the other hand, had tied their last encounter with 37 points against U.P. Yoddhas.

U Mumba have faced Bengal Warriors 18 times in the history of PKL.

With 13 wins against Bengal Warriors, U Mumba are ahead in the head-to-head record. Whereas Bengal Warriors have won 4 times and 1 match ended in a tie.

The previous contest between U Mumba and Bengal Warriors ended in favour of the former. They won the match 49-41, in Season 9.

After 5 matches, U Mumba are seventh on the PKL Season 10 points table. They have won 3 times and lost two in 5 matches, amassing 16 points so far.

Bengal Warriors have 21 points and are fourth on the points table. They have won three and lost once, while 2 games ended in a tie.

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 10 will be telecast on the Star Sports Network and available to watch for free on Disney + Hotstar