In a thrilling opener to the Chennai leg of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12, Dabang Delhi K.C. edged out defending champions Haryana Steelers 38-37 at the SDAT Multi Purpose Indoor Stadium on Monday. The match delivered non-stop action, with star raider Ashu Malik’s Super 10 proving decisive in keeping Delhi at the top of the table.
The first 10 minutes set the tone for this PKL showdown, as both teams traded raids blow for blow. Scores sat level at 8-8, with Ashu Malik and Haryana’s Vinay leading the charge. Neeraj Narwal and Vishal Tate added key points for Delhi, while Vinay’s sharp raids kept the Steelers right in the mix. Neither side could pull ahead, making every move on the mat feel like a high-stakes chess game.
Delhi flipped the script in the second quarter, thanks to a sharp all-round game. Ashu ramped up his raids, and defenders Surjeet Singh and Saurabh Nandal shut down Haryana’s attacks. The Steelers, who started strong, suddenly looked rattled as their raiders couldn’t find space. The big moment hit when Delhi scored the game’s first All Out, handing them a solid lead. Ashu kept piling on points, and Fazel Atrachali’s crucial tackle on Vinay sealed the defensive edge. At halftime, Delhi led 19-13, looking in total control.
Haryana fought back hard in the third quarter, leaning on gritty tackles from Jaideep to stay alive. They scored Super Tackles to limit the damage, and Vinay added raids to chip away at the gap. But Ashu Malik stole the show with a stunning Super Raid that triggered a second All Out. That not only padded Delhi’s lead to 30-19 but also marked Ashu’s Super 10 in his 100th PKL match. The Delhi skipper’s cool head under pressure highlighted why they’re league leaders with eight wins this season.
The final quarter turned into pure drama, as Haryana mounted a fierce comeback. Vinay stayed consistent with his raids, racking up 18 points total, and substitute Ashish Narwal brought fresh energy, scoring five vital points. A game-changing All Out for the Steelers sliced Delhi’s lead to just two points with 90 seconds left. The crowd buzzed as Vinay leveled the score with a multi-point raid.
Delhi didn’t panic. Neeraj Narwal hit back right away with his own raid to regain the lead. Haryana pushed to the wire, but time ran out before they could tie it again. Delhi hung on for the one-point win in a match that had everything—raids, tackles, and heart-pounding finishes—between the table-toppers and last season’s champs.
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