Did Ashu Capitalize on Shadloui’s Poor Form? Rishank Analyzes Gujarat Giants' Loss to Dabang Delhi

Vizag, Sep 12 (NationPress) Former Pro Kabaddi League player Rishank Devadiga discussed the fierce competition between Gujarat Giants captain Mohammadreza Shadloui and Dabang Delhi skipper Ashu Malik during Delhi's 38-28 victory over the Giants. He noted that Ashu exploited Shadloui’s current struggles to play against him with great confidence.

Ashu spearheaded the team's performance with 14 points, while Fazel Atrachali made a significant impact on defense, ensuring that Dabang Delhi maintained their unbeaten streak this season.

“Dabang Delhi's exceptional tackling, scoring 13 points through tackles, played a pivotal role in securing this match. Ashu Malik, in particular, was outstanding. He capitalized on Shadloui’s poor form and approached the match with confidence, achieving a remarkable 70 percent strike rate in raiding and earning 14 raid points.

“He appeared unstoppable—like a determined leader, guiding his team to remain competitive in the points standings. Historically, Ashu and Shadloui had been closely matched, but last night, Ashu outperformed, leading Shadloui by a substantial four points. It was a thrilling match to witness,” Rishank stated on JioHotstar.

So far, Gujarat has participated in five matches, securing victory in only one. With the Vizag leg wrapped up, they now shift their focus to the Jaipur leg, where they will compete in three more matches.

“Gujarat faces a significant challenge—their defense. While raiders like Parteek Dahiya and Rakesh are scoring points, their chances of winning hinge on the defense's improvement. Shadloui particularly needs to lead that unit effectively. If Gujarat enhances its defense, they can achieve much better results in upcoming matches,” he added.

In a separate match, U Mumba clinched a nail-biting win over Patna Pirates, despite raider Ayan Lohchab scoring 21 points.

Lohchab made history as the first player to achieve back-to-back 20-point games in PKL history, but a critical mistake in the final moments cost his team the game.

For U Mumba, Amirmohammad Zafardanesh shone with a Super 10, while Anil made crucial contributions in what became a high-scoring match.

“U Mumba’s superiority was clear throughout the match. Patna Pirates fought valiantly, but the main lesson for Ayan Lohchab is to avoid unnecessary self-outs. His self-out in a crucial super tackle situation proved detrimental—otherwise, he could have secured a win for Patna Pirates,” Rishank observed.

“Performing well but making errors in critical moments can cost a team dearly. While Patna made a commendable comeback, they were ultimately disappointed as U Mumba triumphed,” he concluded.