Vijay Malik credits team unity for Telugu Titans’ success in PKL 12

Telugu Titans maintained their unbeaten record in PKL 12 with a 46-29 win over Haryana Steelers. Captain Vijay Malik emphasized team unity, while coach Krishan Hooda praised Bharat Hooda’s performance and his team's consistent efforts in the tournament

Hyderabad: Telugu Titans maintained their unbeaten record in the Chennai leg of PKL 12, securing a comprehensive 46-29 win against Haryana Steelers at the SDAT Multi-Purpose Indoor Stadium on Wednesday.

Bharat Hooda delivered a memorable 20-point performance — including 16 raid points and 4 tackle points — extending his team’s unbeaten run to five games.

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Telugu Titans head coach Krishan Kumar Hooda was delighted with his all-rounder’s display. The experienced campaigner credited his entire team management and staff for his team’s consistent performances. “Bharat has been excellent for us this season,” he said.

“The credit for that goes to the entire support staff, coaches, and the CEO. We had a long pre-season camp where we worked with different training methods. The physios also deserve credit because they’ve always kept our players fit. Even if there is an injury, they are working hard to ensure the player returns within one or two days. So, all of us together are always thinking about how we can get better as a team,” he added.

Meanwhile, Titans captain Vijay Malik shared his leadership philosophy for the team. He stated, “The unity in the team is good, but we never restrict the players or give them too many instructions during the game. There are a few moments when we step in to give advice, but generally, we believe in giving the players freedom to express themselves.”

Crediting his captain for keeping the team together and bringing out the best in his players, Krishan Hooda mentioned, “When we got Vijay in the auction, we were sure he was going to be our captain. More than a coach, a captain can bring out the best in a team, and he’s getting the best out of the team. All the players listen to him and that’s one of the reasons why the unity in the team has been so good.”

While the Titans dominated proceedings against the Haryana Steelers, there was a show of mutual respect and admiration between the two coaches towards the end of the game.

Sharing an insight into his relationship with Steelers head coach Manpreet Singh, Krishan Hooda said, “Manpreet was with me in the India camp for three years. Sometimes, he gets a little emotional. There is aggression in every game, and that’s okay.”

“He (Manpreet) has been coaching for the last six-seven years and he’s done really well as a head coach. He won the title last season, and I believe he’ll make sure that his team makes a comeback this season as well,” Hooda concluded.