Telugu Titans put on a superb performance to defeat Patna Pirates 46-39 and advance to the semi-finals, or Qualifier 2 , where they will face Puneri Paltan.
The hero of this victory was Bharat Hooda , who once again led the team forward with his strong performance. Bharat scored 23 points and, through constant pressure, dashed Patna's hopes of victory. Meanwhile, Patna's young star, Ayan Lochab, also performed exceptionally well. He etched his name in history this season – becoming the first raider to score 20+ points in six matches in a single season .
Fast start, hard crash
The match got off to a great start. Both teams launched into an aggressive attack and tried to dominate each other from the very first minute. Ayan Lochab was tackled on the very first raid, while Vijay Malik was also stopped in the next.
Patna quickly found their groove, with Ayan making three consecutive successful raids to give the team the lead. He took two points off Aniket and Praful Zaware, then made a brilliant touch on Shubham Shinde.
Patna Pirates inflicted their first all-out in just six minutes , with the score at 13-9.
India counterattack, Titans return
Even after the all-out, the Telugu Titans refused to give up. Bharat Hooda responded with two points in a single raid . He consistently put pressure on Balaji D and Deepak. The deficit gradually decreased.
Shubham Shinde and Chetan Sahu played excellent defense in the second quarter. Shubham stopped Ayan, while Chetan stole a point from Deepak.
By the end of the first half, the Titans had all-out Patna to take a 22-20 lead.
Bharat Hooda's Super 10 seals Titans' second all-out
India's game picked up at the start of the second half. He completed his Super 10 with a touch off Aniket. In his next raid, he took a touch off Ashish Birwal to extend his team's lead.
Aniket Rana was then tackled, and India dismissed Navdeep and Deepak. This resulted in Patna suffering their second all-out, extending the lead to 10 points.
India's confidence was at its peak. They looked aggressive in every raid, giving the team a solid lead. Meanwhile, Patna's players lacked coordination. Apart from Ayan and Navdeep, no one else was able to contribute.
Ayan struggles, but India's response is always ready
However, Ayan Lochab refused to give up. He completed a Super 10 with a successful raid on Shubham Shinde and then added two more points with a spectacular dive. The score reached 35-28, and the match was in a tense finish.
But the Titans counter-attacked to maintain their lead. They soon suffered another all-out, reducing the lead to five points.
Navdeep, meanwhile, completed his fourth high five , but India extended their lead again, taking touches off Deepak and Aniket Rana to take the score past 40.
India's super raid in the final moments - victory assured
Just as Patna began to hope for a comeback in the final five minutes, Bharat Hooda gave them a fitting reply. He scored three points with a brilliant Super Raid – a crucial moment for victory.
Ayan Lochab scored 21 points for Patna, but the rest of the team failed to support him. Balaji D, Aniket Rana and Deepak made several mistakes, which disrupted the team's momentum.
On the other hand, the Titans' defense looked disciplined and focused. Shubham Shinde and Chetan Sahu made crucial tackles, while Vijay Malik also made timely raider stops to ensure victory.
Ayan Lochab wrote a new history
Despite the loss, Ayan Lochab was the biggest highlight of the season. He finished the season with 316 raid points
—132 more than the previous season.
Furthermore, Ayan has now become the fifth player in Pro Kabaddi history to score more than 300 raid points in a single season.
He equalled the likes of Pawan Sehrawat and Pradeep Narwal to become the fastest to reach the 300-point mark.
Patna Pirates' dreams are shattered, but their pride remains.
Patna Pirates had a stellar season. They won eight consecutive matches to reach Eliminator 3.
But their dream was shattered on Tuesday night. Despite the performances of Ayan and Navdeep, the rest of the team's lackluster performance was a major factor in their defeat.
The team erred on the defensive end and made raiding errors on several occasions.
Balaji D and Aniket Rana failed to score points at crucial times.
Titans' winning formula – confidence and balance
This victory is a huge boost of confidence for the Telugu Titans.
The team's impressive comeback after falling behind in the first half is a testament to their collective performance.
Bharat Hooda not only anchored the attack but also inspired the team.
Meanwhile, the defensive unit maintained composure under pressure.
Now clash with Puneri Paltan – the battle for the final will decide the fate
The Telugu Titans' next challenger will be Puneri Paltan in Qualifier 2.
Puneri Paltan, the defending champions of Season 10, are known for their experience and consistent performances.
This match will be played on Wednesday (October 29) at 7:30 PM ET.
Both teams are strong, but the Titans currently have a strong morale advantage.
Bharat Hooda's leadership and team unity make them strong contenders.
Season Highlight – Ayaan and Bharat win hearts
Throughout the season, Ayan Lochab and Bharat Hooda won the hearts of fans with their play.
Ayan displayed aggression and fearlessness, while Bharat displayed a perfect example of composure and leadership.
This clash between the two players made Eliminator 3 memorable.
The magic of Pro Kabaddi continues
This season of the Pro Kabaddi League has been nothing short of a festival for the fans.
Every match has been a celebration of excitement, strategy, and passion.
Now, fans are eagerly awaiting the upcoming match – will Bharat Hooda's Titans create history, or will Puneri Paltan secure their place in the finals once again?
Match Summary
| aspect | Telugu Titans | Patna Pirates |
|---|---|---|
| final score | 46 | 39 |
| Star Players | Bharat Hooda (23 points) | Ayan Lochab (21 points) |
| all out | 2 times | 2 times |
| High Five | Shubham Shinde | Navdeep |
| Super Red | Bharat Hooda | Ayan Lochab |
| Super 10 | Bharat Hooda | Ayan Lochab |
What next?
Qualifier 2:
📅 October 29, 2025, Wednesday
🏟️ Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, Delhi
⚔️ Puneri Paltan vs Telugu Titans
⏰ 7:30 PM
IST
📺 Live on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar
This victory for the Telugu Titans isn't just a match, but a story of their confidence and unity.
The way Bharat Hooda led the team and stepped up to the plate at every opportunity made it clear that this team is ready to face any challenge.
All eyes will now be on the next match, where a place in the final is at stake.
Will India's magic continue, or will Puneri Paltan be able to hold them back with their experienced tactics? The answer will be revealed tomorrow night.
