In 2023, the Bhojpuri Dabanggs experienced a remarkable journey, winning all their matches in the group stage and reaching the final, only to falter at the final obstacle. They were defeated by the Telugu Warriors, who secured their fourth CCL title as a result. Consequently, when the two teams faced each other again in the group stage of CCL 2025, the Dabanggs were resolute in their desire for a different outcome. However, the question remained: would the Warriors allow that to occur? Certainly not under the leadership of Akhil Akkineni.

The update from the center indicated that the Telugu Warriors would bat first, following Akhil Akkineni's successful toss. For the home team, victory was imperative to maintain their hopes in the tournament, and Akhil expressed his expectations for his key players, Ashwin Babu and Thaman, to perform well. Unfortunately, the beginning was far from ideal, as opener Aadarsh was run out by Dabanggs captain Manoj Tiwari on just the second ball. In the subsequent delivery, Manoj dismissed Sachin and then sent Ashwin back to the pavilion as well. Thaman, who joined Akhil at the crease, managed to survive a duck ball and another excellent delivery, accumulating only 2 runs through leg byes.

Thaman's fortune was short-lived. As captain Akhil spearheaded the effort, Thaman remained at the non-striker’s end for an entire over, only to face Asgar Khan next and be adjudged lbw. Remarkably, all four Telugu Warrior batsmen who had batted thus far had contributed nothing to the team’s score. Partnering with Samba, Akhil attempted to stabilize the innings and add runs to the total. Samba was dismissed after scoring 18, and shortly thereafter, Akhil, who had reached 41 off 28 balls, also departed, leaving the Warriors in a precarious position. Ultimately, they were all out for 80 runs, losing 8 wickets in the process.

The Dabanggs encountered difficulties early in the match when they lost their opener, Pravesh, with the score at a mere 15. However, Aditya and Anshuman managed to rescue the team from this precarious situation. Aditya finished the innings not out with a score of 61, while Anshuman contributed 42 runs off just 18 balls before being dismissed. Asghar Khan, who had been a standout performer in the Dabanggs' previous match, was unable to replicate his success this time, falling to Sachin after scoring only 4 runs. Ultimately, the Dabanggs concluded their innings at 126 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in 10 overs, establishing a lead of 46 runs over the Warriors.

When Ashwin and Thaman took to the crease for the second innings, they quickly equalized the scores in just 2.3 overs, reaching 46 without losing a wicket, thanks to several powerful shots. This left them with 7 overs to guide the match in their favour. However, their partnership was short-lived, leading to a minor collapse for the Warriors as they lost two additional wickets in rapid succession. The captain once again rose to the occasion, striving to regain control for the team, alongside Samba. Nevertheless, despite their determined efforts, the Warriors could only accumulate 132 for 6, leaving the Dabanggs needing just 87 runs for victory.

Given the Dabanggs' impressive performance in chasing down the first innings total, one would have expected the second innings to be relatively straightforward. However, the Warriors were determined to challenge this expectation and made the Dabanggs work hard for their runs. What initially appeared to be a manageable target quickly became a daunting task, as the Warriors' bowlers maintained a disciplined line and took wickets at crucial moments. With 17 runs required in the final over, the situation was still within reach. The first delivery resulted in a six, but this was followed by a wicket. With four balls remaining and 10 runs needed, the Dabanggs attempted to secure the necessary runs through aggressive shots. Unfortunately, this strategy led to the loss of yet another wicket, and ultimately, they were bowled out for a mere 78 runs. This was the unfortunate fate that befell the Dabanggs.

On February 15, the action resumes in Hyderabad, featuring the Karnataka Bulldozers in the opening match, this time facing the Mumbai Heroes. Following this encounter, the home team, the Telugu Warriors, will compete against the Chennai Rhinos. 

All matches will be aired on Sony Sports Ten 3, with streaming options available on JioHotstar.

Read Also: Darling Krishna & Karan Aryan Shine as Karnataka Bulldozers Dominate Chennai Rhinos in CCL 2025

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