The Telugu Titans have punched their ticket to Eliminator 3 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025, overcoming the Bengaluru Bulls in a dramatic Mini-Qualifier. The Titans clinched the win with a final score of 37-32, with standout Super 10 performances from Bharat Hooda and Vijay Malik being the driving force behind their success.
The match began with an energetic exchange, as Vijay Malik and Alireza set a fast pace. Bharat Hooda’s raiding prowess quickly gave the Titans an early advantage. The defensive lines were also busy, with Shubham Shinde and Deepak Sankar making timely tackles. The Bulls managed to claw their way back to a 6-6 tie, thanks to a tackle from Satyappa Matti and points scored by Akash Shinde.
Chetan Sahu’s successful two-point raid in a Do-Or-Die situation put the Titans back in the lead at 10-8. Bharat Hooda and Aman extended this margin, but Akash Shinde’s effective raids kept the Bulls within striking distance, making it a one-point game.
The Titans managed to preserve a narrow four-point lead heading into the halftime break, with contributions from Chetan Sahu and Bharat Hooda on offense, and Aman on defense. The Bulls’ Akash Shinde and Satyappa Matti finished the first half on a strong note, ensuring the score remained tight at 16-14.
The second half started more cautiously, with defensive plays taking precedence. Ajit Pawar and Sanjay made crucial tackles for their teams. The Bengaluru Bulls then increased their intensity, with Aashish Malik scoring two raid points. Their defense, led by Satyappa Matti, subsequently executed an ALL OUT, giving them a 24-21 lead.
Bharat Hooda responded for the Titans with a vital two-point raid, and a tackle from Ajit Pawar brought the teams level at 24-24 with ten minutes left. In the closing stages, the Titans asserted dominance. Bharat Hooda reached his Super 10, and Shankar Gadai’s tackle resulted in an ALL OUT, giving the Titans a 31-28 lead with less than six minutes to go. Vijay Malik delivered crucial raids to maintain the Titans’ lead. Despite Alireza Mirzaian’s Super 10 for the Bulls, Vijay Malik’s own Super 10 secured the 37-32 victory for the Telugu Titans in the Southern Derby and confirmed their spot in Eliminator 3.