Dabang Delhi climbed to second in the rankings after a hard-fought 40-34 win against U Mumba at Mumbai's NSCI DOME. The standout performer was Ashu Malik, whose 13-point masterclass exploited a weak U Mumba defense. Delhi dominated the early stages thanks to Malik's 8 raid points in the first half, during which he was tackled only once, leading to an early All-Out and a 13-8 advantage.
Dabang Delhi overcame the home team U Mumba 40-34 in a tough battle at the DOME by NSCI in Mumbai to ascend to second on the ladder. A rampaging Ashu Malik (13 points) was the star of the game on a day when U Mumba’s defense was underwhelming and underperforming. Dabang Delhi rode on a blistering first-half performance by Ashu Malik, who grabbed 8 raid points in the first period and was tackled only once by the Mumba defense. They inflicted the first All-Out of the game to take a 13-8 lead.
The first half was characterized by strong attacking play but poor defending from both sides, resulting in a combined total of only 7 tackle points. While Delhi's offense was centered almost entirely around Ashu Malik, U Mumba utilized a more diverse attack, splitting 15 raid points between Guman Singh, Jai Bhagwan, and Amir Mohammad Zafar Danesh. This approach worked, as they closed the deficit to two points and left Delhi with only two active players by halftime.
Despite Dabang Delhi's resilience under pressure, U Mumba managed to execute an All-Out early in the second half, clawing their way back into the contest. As the game entered its final quarter, the two teams were separated by a single point.
Ashu Malik once again stepped up, utilizing 'Do-or-Die' raids to deplete U Mumba's lineup and nearly single-handedly triggering a second All-Out to establish a 36-31 lead with three minutes remaining. In the closing moments, a few critical, tight calls went in favor of Delhi's defense, allowing them to secure a vital win.
In another matchup, the Bengaluru Bulls emerged victorious in a nail-biting 35-33 clash against the three-time champion Patna Pirates on Monday night. Veteran defender Surjeet Singh earned MVP honors with eight tackle points, outshining Patna's captain Neeraj Kumar, who finished with five.
While the Bulls' defensive unit, led by Surjeet and captain Saurabh Nandal, performed exceptionally well, their raiders struggled to make an impact. Conversely, Patna Pirates leveraged a strong three-man raiding rotation to secure the first All-Out by the 14th minute, building a comfortable 16-8 lead.
The match remained a tight contest for the majority of the duration. However, Surjeet delivered a game-changing super tackle on Sandeep Kumar, triggering an All-Out that allowed the Bulls to seize control and complete a dramatic comeback victory.