It was sheer dominance from the Telugu Yoddhas as they sailed safely to a commanding 40-22 victory over Mumbai Khiladis at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack on Wednesday. By the numbers, this was the most significant margin of victory in Ultimate Kho Kho Season 2.

This victory helped Telugu Yoddhas dislodge Gujarat Giants and take the second spot on the UKK Season 2 points table. Conversely, Mumbai Khiladis will return to the drawing board to discuss what went wrong and how they remain seventh on the leaderboard.

Telugu Yoddhas won the toss and opted to attack first, a move that was a boon for the team. The Yoddhas racked up 16 points in Turn 1, with six different players leading the charge in a team effort. The Khiladis scored a Dream Run but would go into Turn 2 with a 15-point deficit.

After flexing some attacking moves in Turn 1, the Yoddhas put on a defensive masterclass to consolidate their advantage in Turn 2. The first batch, consisting of skipper Pratik Waikar, Avdhut Patil and Aditya Ganpule, stayed on the mat for five minutes and 17 seconds, garnering five dream run points. Ganpule impressed onlookers with his active time of 2 minutes and 7 seconds. Taking a cue from the first batch, all three members of the following batch remained on the mat until the end of the first innings as Telugu Yoddhas took a massive lead of 21-7 at half-time.

Things went from bad to worse for the Mumbai Khiladis in Turn 3. Coming on the mat to defend, the Warriors' first batch were taken out by the Yoddhas' attackers within a mere minute and 33 seconds. While the batch consisting of Hrushikesh Murchavade, Sibin M and Pratik Devare scored a Dream Run, it proved inconsequential to the plot as the Telugu Yoddhas carried a mammoth 29-point lead into Turn 4.

Turn 4 saw a late push from the Mumbai Khiladis, effecting 14 attack points, but they would concede three Dream Runs from the Telugu Yoddhas as the game would end with the Yoddhas winning by a scoreline of 40-22. 

With confidence from this game, the Telugu Yoddhas will take on leaders Chennai Quick Guns on January 5, while the Mumbai Khiladis will face the same opponents on January 6.

Match Awards

Attacker of the Match: Milind Chavarekar (Telugu Yoddhas)

Defender of the Match: Aditya Ganpule (Telugu Yoddhas)

Ultimate Kho of the Match: Pratik Waikar (Telugu Yoddhas)