How Did Ashu Malik’s Experience Propel Dabang Delhi to Victory Over Bengaluru Bulls?

Vizag, Sep 2 (NationPress) In a striking performance, Dabang Delhi K.C. achieved a remarkable 41-34 victory over Bengaluru Bulls at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag on Tuesday. Although the Bulls attempted a late comeback, it fell short, as Ashu Malik led the charge with 15 points, supported by Neeraj Narwal's 7 and a formidable defense from Surjeet Singh, Fazel Atrachali, and Saurabh Nandal. The only highlight for the Bulls came from Alireza Mirzaian, who delivered a Super 10.

Dabang Delhi started strong against the Bengaluru Bulls, quickly gaining a significant lead. Ashu Malik was pivotal, scoring rapidly, including a stunning Super Raid that took down Yogesh, Aashish Malik, and Ankush Rathee in one go, heavily shifting the game's momentum in Delhi's favor.

The Bulls struggled early, with only Alireza Mirzaian showing some effectiveness. A strong tackle from Surjeet Singh on Mirzaian led to the first all-out of the match, leaving the Bulls trailing 13-5 at the 10-minute mark, facing an uphill battle.

Maintaining their initial momentum, Dabang Delhi held a solid grip on the match, leading 21-11 at halftime. Ashu Malik proved to be unstoppable, consistently challenging the Bulls' defense and earning a Super 10 before the break, while Neeraj Narwal contributed key raid points.

For the Bulls, Alireza managed four raid points, and Aashish provided a brief spark, but repeated setbacks—including two dismissals of Sanjay—kept them on the back foot. With a 10-point lead at halftime, Dabang Delhi appeared firmly in control, leaving Bengaluru with considerable work ahead.

The defending champions tightened their grip in the third quarter, extending their lead to 34-17 at the 30-minute mark. Ashu Malik continued to shine, effortlessly accumulating raid points and keeping the Bulls' defense under pressure.

Naveen and Neeraj Narwal also made significant contributions, while Surjeet Singh and Fazel Atrachali excelled defensively. A critical moment for the Bulls occurred midway through the half when Surjeet tackled Alireza, enforcing the second all-out and expanding Delhi's lead.

Despite the efforts of Aashish and Alireza, who tried to rally with successful raids, the rest of the team struggled to gain traction. Substitutes Ganesha Hanamantagol and Jitender Yadav were brought in to find solutions, but the Bulls could not halt Delhi's momentum. By the end of the third quarter, the defending champions maintained a 17-point lead, leaving Bengaluru with plenty to do in the final stretch.

Despite the significant lead, the Bulls fought back fiercely. A super tackle by Akash Shinde on Ashu Malik and a successful raid by Ganesha that captured Naveen and Sandeep narrowed the gap to 13 points. However, Neeraj Narwal restored order for his team with a successful raid against the Bulls, taking down Sanjay and Manish.

As the match approached its conclusion, a notable super tackle by Jitender Yadav during a do-or-die raid captured Ashu Malik. Yet, these moments were brief respites for the Bulls, who ultimately fell short by 7 points, with the final score reading 41-34, despite a late all-out from Bengaluru Bulls.