U Mumba and Telugu Titans played out a mouth-watering draw at the NSCI stadium. At the end of forty minutes, the score read 25 all. It leaves both sides all to play for at the business end of the season.
U Mumba faced Telugu Titans in front of a capacity crowd at the NSCI stadium. This was a matchup between third place and fourth. With Jaipur winning their match against Delhi, the pressure on both sides was immense.
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Both teams played on the defensive early on. But main man, Rahul Chaudhari scored two points from a do or die raid to begin proceedings. The Titans surged to an early 3-0 lead. Mumbai’s defence continued to make errors and gifted Nilesh Salunke another point.
Anup Kumar and Rakesh Kumar made sure to keep the scorecard ticking. But Rahul Chaudhari was in his zone and spared no Mumba player. The Titans were leading 5-2 after seven minutes. Suresu’s failed raid attempt meant that the home side were down to three.
The men in orange reduced the deficit to two with an impeccable super tackle on Rahul. That moment turned the tides. This was a highly tactical battle with both sides trading punches on the regular. The Titans were successful in keeping Rishank quiet.
U Mumba levelled the scored at 7 a piece with a tackle on Rahul. Buoyed, Suresu then took out two Telugu defenders as Mumbai took a two-point lead for the first time in the match. The Titans were now down to two.
Sukesh Hegde’s weak raid attempt left Sandeep Narwal alone on the mat. Anup took him out to inflict the first all out of the match. Mumbai were now leading 14-7 with three minutes left. Rahul Chaudhari was helpless seated on the bench.
HT- U Mumba 16 - Telugu Titans 7
Rahul wasn’t ably supported Nilesh and Sukesh, it left the Titans devoid of ideas. They began the second half with four men. Rahul finally came back on after Nilesh Salunke’s successful do or die raid.
He stung immediately with a wonderful do or die raid. Suresu couldn’t do the same at the other end. Telugu were now trailing by five points after twenty-six minutes. The home side were down to three men.
Sandeep Narwal sensed an opening and took out Jeeva with a deft hand touch. Anup was then tackled and Rakesh was left alone on the mat. Rahul took him out to inflict an all-out. The Titans were now trailing by just one. Chaudhari levelled the scores at 17 a piece with ten minutes remaining.
Complacency seemed to have kicked in among Anup and company. They surrendered their massive nine-point lead without a fight. Jeeva’s poor advanced tackle on Rahul, further increased the visitors lead. Pro Kabaddi’s poster boy was intent on putting on a show in front of Mumbai’s veterans and a filled out orange stadium.
Five minutes remaining and the visitors were leading 20-17. The home crowd was silenced. Rahul Chaudhari was relentless and took out Anup with a smooth hand touch. Rakesh Kumar then produced a sublime raid to take out two men and reduce the deficit to just one. The crowd went bonkers.
Chants of cheater, cheater greeted Sandeep Narwal and Rahul. But they didn’t seem to care one bit. Twenty-one seconds and a U Mumba raid was about to take place. Number 99, Vikash Kumar stepped up and scored a point under immense pressure. The scores were level and the decibel levels inside the stadium reached fever pitch. They were witness to one of the best matches of the tournament so far.
FT- U Mumba 25- Telugu Titans 25
