5 closest matches in Star Sports Pro Kabaddi season 2

Star Sports Pro-kabaddi Season 2 was such a thriller that it is hard to pick 5 closest finishes out of 60 mind boggling contests that the fans witnessed. A tournament where every match was a fight for survival, staying alive in the contest, or retaining the top spots in the points table, there were plenty of occasions when the teams could only be separated at the death, right before the final buzzer.The second season of the league saw plenty of matches where the audience was at the edge of their seats watching the action unfold. Some nail-biting endings ensued in the tournament as the players gave it their all till the final buzzer in each match.Here are the 5 closest matches in the second season:

#1 U Mumba 29-28 Jaipur Pink Panthers

A still from the match

The curtain raiser of the season and what a game it was. The last time U Mumba and Jaipur Pink Panthers met was the final of season 1, where the Pink Panthers emerged victorious. The NSCI Stadium was jam-packed with Mumbai supporters, who were looking for revenge for the defeat dished out to their team.

Leaving harsh memories of season 1 behind, U Mumba began their campaign sneaking a 1 point victory against the defending champions. The home side were pushed hard by the defending champions and it was only in the buzzer raid that the Anup Kumar-led team could breathe easy after starting their campaign on a winning note.

#2 Dabang Delhi 38-37 Puneri Paltan

A still from the match between Dabang Delhi and Puneri Paltan

From Mumbai, the teams flew to Kolkata for the second leg of the tournament as the action shifted to the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium. Both teams fought hard and Delhi had established a 5-point lead with 8 minutes to go, but Puneri Paltan made a match of it in the final minutes.

Buoyed by Pravin Niwale’s sensational raiding, the Paltan, not only levelled the score, but took a 2 point lead with 5 minutes to go, which they held till the 39th minute. However, Kashiling Adake had other ideas as he tied the score with a successful raid and the Delhi defenders tackled Wazir Singh to win the game in extraordinary circumstances.

#3 Telugu Titans 39-39 Jaipur Pink Panthers

Rahul Chaudhari celebrates a raid vs Jaipur Pink Panthers

Halfway down the season, the league table was nicely poised and defending champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers had just started to gain some momentum. But, Telugu Titans were high on confidence as they had got the better of the Pink Panthers earlier this season at the home of the team from Jaipur. The Titans began this game with the same vigour and before anyone could fathom what had happened, they led by 11 points after the first 10 minutes.

The Jaipur fans could have been forgiven for switching their TV off as it looked like the team from the South would romp to yet another victory. The Pink Panthers came alive in the final 10 minutes and with the help of Sonu Narwal levelled the score at 33 each. They even established a 4-point lead in the final 2 minutes, but the Titans were in no mood to lose a match which they had dominated for the first 30 minutes. In front of the vociferous home crowd, star raider Rahul Chaudhari levelled the score at 39 each right before the final whistle blew.

#4 Telugu Titans 38-39 Bengaluru Bulls

Sukesh Hegde is tackled by the Bengaluru Bulls defenders

After a stimulating league stage, the tournament has left with 4 teams who faced off in the knock-out stage. It was the first semi-final and the game lived up to the hype surrounding it. Telugu Titans and Bengaluru Bulls stepped on the mat with the intention of qualifying for their first ever final. After a cautious start by both teams, the Bulls shifted gears in the 18th minute and were leading by 6 points at half-time. They continued their good run and extended their lead to a massive 15 points with just 9 minutes to play.

It looked like it would be one of the most one-sided semi-finals ever, but the Titans made a match of it in the end and closed down the gap in just 5 minutes. However, experienced campaigner, Manjeet Chhillar made sure the Bulls booked their place in the final by delivering at the end and ensuring the Bulls edged out the Titans 39-38 after a tense end to the match.

#5 Dabang Delhi 45-45 Telugu Titans

Kashiling Adake tries to escape Meraj Sheykh’s grip

Kashiling Adake wrote his name in history by scoring a mammoth 24 points in his side’s 45-45 draw against eventual 3rd place finishers, Telugu Titans at home. The young raider was a one-man army for the Dabangs as the home team led 20-18 at half-time. But, despite suffering 3 all outs, the Titans refused to give up and did not let the home team establish a big lead. With Dabang Delhi leading 45-44 and the final raid a do-or-die raid, the match was set for a spectacular end.

The star of the match, Kashiling Adake claimed a touch, but the Titans called for a referral, which after due diligence was deemed successful. The Titans managed to sneak in a draw despite Kashi’s best efforts in the final match of the Delhi leg as the crowd applauded the monumental efforts of both the teams.