Day Four of PKL Season 12’s Playoffs witnessed Telugu Titans end Patna Pirates’ dream run after securing an all-important and impressive 46-39 win in Eliminator 3. Led by Bharat Hooda’s 23 points, the
Titans will now face Season 10 champions Puneri Paltan in Qualifier 2 for a spot in the final. Speaking on ‘KBD Live’, JioStar expert Rishank Devadiga spoke about the Titans’ remarkable transformation, Coach Krishan Kumar Hooda’s influence, and the emotional journeys of both teams.
Speaking on ‘KBD Live’, JioStar expert Rishank Devadiga explained Telugu Titans’ journey this season: “If we examine the performances of the Telugu Titans in the past, we notice that this franchise has been struggling at the lowest positions across multiple previous seasons. However, in Season 12, the Telugu Titans have performed on a completely different scale altogether. The victory against a formidable Patna Pirates side was not just deserved but represented the culmination of their season-long efforts, for which the entire team structure and coaching staff deserve a lot of praise. The strategic influence of Coach Krishan Kumar Hooda cannot be overstated; his proven methodology of developing competitive teams, previously demonstrated when he transformed Dabang Delhi K.C. into champions, has brought him remarkably close to achieving similar success with this franchise. The players exhibited extraordinary composure during high-pressure situations, fully aware that a single loss would end their campaign, yet they maintained dominant control throughout the match in what can only be described as an absolutely phenomenal display of kabaddi.”
On the emotional turnaround of Telugu Titans this season: “These moments are truly emotional and thoroughly deserved. While the Telugu Titans struggled initially and faced widespread criticism, Coach Krishan Kumar Hooda always believed in his young squad. Nobody anticipated such a miraculous turnaround, making this achievement particularly special. Those emotional tears in Krishan Kumar Hooda’s eyes we witnessed are completely justified. He deserves all the applause for his pivotal role in transforming this team’s fortunes and creating this remarkable success story.”
On Bharat Hooda’s outstanding performance: “In such a crucial encounter, Bharat Hooda’s display was superb! With 23 raid points from 26 attempts, he single-handedly maintained his team’s momentum, especially when Captain Vijay Malik was struggling. His consistent multi-point raids kept Patna’s defense under constant pressure throughout the game. The dominance he showed in the second half was particularly commendable, as he continuously accumulated points and ultimately sealed the victory with a match-winning super raid.”
Having a captain like Vijay Malik is invaluable: Rishank Devadiga on Telugu Titans' comeback in PKL 12
On Captain Vijay Malik’s leadership: “Having a Captain like Vijay Malik is invaluable due to his deep understanding of the game and strategic brilliance. He consistently rises to the occasion when his team needs him most, thriving under pressure. In this match, Telugu Titans deployed a six-man defense where Vijay contributed a crucial tackle point. When Shubham Shinde got out and Ayan Lohchab came on to raid, Vijay stepped up to stop him and generated vital momentum for his team. Such impactful performances have been instrumental in the Titans’ success under his leadership.”
On Patna Pirates: "It's heart-breaking to see Patna Pirates lose and particularly disappointing for Ayan Lohchab, who truly deserved to lift the trophy. This player almost single-handedly turned around Patna’s season with eight consecutive victories through his consistent high-scoring raids. While he played second-fiddle to Devank Dalal last season and was expected to support Maninder Singh this year, he surprised everyone by emerging as the team’s primary raider. He definitely has a bright future in the Pro Kabaddi League and is undoubtedly destined to become a major star in this league.”
(With Inputs from Press Release)
