The Telugu Titans have advanced to Eliminator 3 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025 after a hard-fought 37-32 victory over the Bengaluru Bulls in the Mini-Qualifier. The Titans’ success was largely driven by exceptional Super 10 performances from Bharat Hooda and Vijay Malik, who proved instrumental in overcoming their southern rivals.
The game commenced with an intense battle between Vijay Malik and Alireza, setting a high-octane tone. Bharat Hooda soon made his mark with a two-point raid, giving the Titans an early lead. Defensive efforts were also prominent, with Shubham Shinde and Deepak Sankar executing key tackles. The Bulls fought back, drawing level at 6-6 thanks to a tackle from Satyappa Matti and scoring by Akash Shinde.
Chetan Sahu’s successful two-point raid on a Do-Or-Die situation re-established the Titans’ advantage at 10-8 within the first quarter. Bharat Hooda and Aman managed to increase this lead further, though Akash Shinde’s raids kept the Bulls within touching distance, making it a one-point game.
The Titans maintained a narrow four-point lead through the first half, with Chetan Sahu and Bharat Hooda contributing offensively, while Aman anchored the defense. The Bulls’ Akash Shinde and Satyappa Matti finished the half strongly, resulting in a close 16-14 scoreline.
The second half started at a more measured pace, with defenders making the initial impact. Ajit Pawar and Sanjay were instrumental in their respective teams’ defensive plays. The Bengaluru Bulls then stepped up their offensive game, with Aashish Malik securing a two-point raid and their strong defense, spearheaded by Satyappa Matti, enabling an ALL OUT, giving them a 24-21 lead.
Bharat Hooda responded for the Titans with a crucial two-point raid, and a subsequent tackle by Ajit Pawar leveled the score at 24-24 with ten minutes left. In the crucial final minutes, the Titans found another gear. Bharat Hooda completed his Super 10, and Shankar Gadai’s tackle led to an ALL OUT, putting the Titans ahead 31-28 with under six minutes remaining. Vijay Malik’s timely raids were vital in securing the Titans’ four-point lead. Despite Alireza Mirzaian’s Super 10 for the Bulls, Vijay Malik’s own Super 10 was the deciding factor, clinching the 37-32 victory for the Telugu Titans and confirming their passage to Eliminator 3.
