The Haryana Steelers have secured their place in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 12 playoffs, following a commanding 50-32 victory against the Gujarat Giants at the Thyagaraj Stadium in Delhi. With this pivotal win, the Jaipur Pink Panthers have also officially qualified for the playoffs.
It was a display of dominance from the Haryana Steelers, with Shivam Patare and Vinay leading the charge with impressive Super 10 performances. Patare’s contribution of 16 raid points not only bolstered his team’s score but also saw him surpass 400 career raid points in the PKL. The Gujarat Giants’ Himanshu Singh also put in a commendable effort, scoring a Super 10, but it wasn’t enough to alter the outcome.
Haryana Steelers initiated the game with intent, scoring first through Vinay and making a strong defensive play with Jaideep. The Gujarat Giants fought back, with Himanshu Singh and Nitin Panwar contributing offensively and defensively, and a tackle from Lucky Sharma enabling them to inflict an ALL OUT on the Steelers.
However, the Steelers quickly regained control. Shivam Patare was instrumental in their comeback, performing strongly on both ends of the mat. This strong showing led to a tied score of 10-10 by the end of the first quarter. Leveraging this momentum, Hardeep and Patare continued their impactful play. A crucial tackle by Rahul resulted in another ALL OUT, giving the Steelers a four-point lead.
While the Gujarat Giants attempted to close the gap, with Mohammadreza Shadloui making key tackles, Haryana maintained a significant 21-15 lead at halftime. The second half started at a more measured pace, with defensive exchanges between Sahil Narwal and Lucky Sharma. Shivam Patare reached his Super 10, further extending the Steelers’ lead.
Despite a late surge from the Gujarat Giants, including a Super Raid from Ankit Dahiya that brought them within seven points with ten minutes remaining, the Steelers held firm. A decisive tackle from Neeraj led to a final ALL OUT against the Giants. Vinay then sealed the victory with a spectacular four-point Super Raid, securing the 50-32 win for Haryana Steelers and confirming their playoff qualification.
