Pro Kabaddi League 2017 Season 5: Rahul Chaudhari disgusted with poor performance of Telugu Titans defenders

Wazir Singh was in sublime form as Haryana Steelers beat Telugu Titans by a whisker in Saturday's crunch Pro Kabaddi League Season 5 encounter. At the end of the 40 minutes, the match finished 32-30. With this win, the Steelers have all but ensured their passage to the playoffs.

Despite managing to score just a single tackle point in the match, Haryana emerged winners thanks to Wazir's massive 14-point haul which ultimately proved to be the difference between the two ultra attacking sides.

Post the game, Telugu Titans' star raider, Rahul Chaudhari tore into the performance of his defenders. Not a single one of them managed to keep their calm tonight. Telugu's defenders kept gifting points to Haryana's raiders, especially Wazir Singh, who found it extremely easy to pick up points.

"The level at which our defenders played was zero," said a livid Rahul. However, Chaudhari was also quick to praise Nilesh Salunke, who made a valiant attempt to secure a win.

Nilesh scored a super 10 but his efforts went in vain as the Titans defenders kept committing schoolboy errors throughout the match. In a crucial play, Salunke was deemed out as he missed a bonus point by a whisker and Chaudhari blamed his defenders for the same.

"Nilesh tried his best. It is the responsibility of the defender to inform the raider whether he scored a bonus point or not. A raider always thinks that he has got the bonus, that's when he comes back. He was confused if he had scored it or not," he said.

Since the last few games, Chaudhari has been relieved of captaincy duties. Rohit Rana has been awarded the captain's armband in his place.

Rahul admits that he is able to play much more freely when he doesn't have to lead the team. He suggested that he can solely focus on his raiding and not keep worrying about instructing his players every minute of the game.

"I am able to play very freely without captaincy duties, I am scoring a super 10 every match," he laughed.

The Titans fell short by just two points. This loss hurts even more given the fact that their hopes for a playoff spot is now officially dead. Chaudhari reckons had he been on the mat, the result could have been very different.

"If I was on the mat, I would have ensured a draw for sure. I was sitting outside and was thinking what I would have done," he signed off.

The Titans will next play Bengal Warriors in their final match of the season on 20th October.