The Tamil Thalaivas displayed complete superiority in their match against the Telugu Titans, winning comfortably with a score of 43-25. By controlling the game from the very beginning, they established a lead that the Titans could never recover from. This victory has moved the Thalaivas into fifth place on the points table, giving them a much better chance of fighting for a spot in the playoffs.
Sagar, playing as the right corner defender, was the standout performer, recording a personal best of 9 tackle points to dismantle the Titans' offense. He dominated the Southern Derby largely on his own, using expert angle holds to stop raiders in their tracks. Supporting him was raider Ajinkya Pawar, who achieved a Super 10, alongside Manjeet's 9 points and Sahil Gulia's 4 points from the left corner.
While Galla Raju managed to put up a fight for the Titans with 9 points (7 raids and 2 tackles), the team as a whole lacked the confidence to play aggressively. Their performance lacked the necessary polish and execution, and the absence of star players Rajnish and Siddharth Desai was glaringly obvious. Consequently, the Telugu Titans remain at the bottom of the league with only a single win this season.
The match started as a tight contest, with both teams splitting the first 10 points evenly. However, the tide turned quickly when Sagar executed two rapid-fire tackles. The momentum shifted completely in favor of the Thalaivas after a powerful super raid by Manjeet, which led to an all-out and gave them a commanding 8-point cushion.
The situation turned dire for the Titans when their captain, Rohit Kumar, had to leave the court due to a knee injury. Taking full advantage, the Thalaivas pushed their lead to 12 points, ending the first half 22-10. The Titans tried to fight back in the second half, putting together a 5-3 run that left the Thalaivas with only three players on the mat. However, a crucial super tackle by Sagar and a mistake by Raju (a self-out) effectively crushed any hope of a comeback.
The Thalaivas then shifted gears, slowing the tempo and focusing on do-or-die raids to kill the clock. By keeping the pressure high, they forced the Titans into several unforced errors. This strategy paid off when the Thalaivas triggered another all-out with five minutes left, widening the gap to 20 points.
Although the Titans managed a few successful tackles toward the end, it was far too late to change the outcome. They closed the game with a small 6-3 run, reducing the final margin to 18 points, but the Tamil Thalaivas were clearly the dominant force in this Southern derby.