The Haryana Steelers have officially punched their ticket to the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 12 playoffs, securing their spot with a resounding 50-32 victory over the Gujarat Giants. This crucial win, held at Delhi’s Thyagaraj Stadium, also guarantees a playoff position for the Jaipur Pink Panthers.
The Steelers delivered a masterful performance, highlighted by exceptional Super 10s from both Shivam Patare and Vinay. Patare’s impressive raid display, contributing 16 points, also marked a significant milestone, pushing him past 400 career raid points in the PKL. Despite a valiant Super 10 effort from Himanshu Singh, the Gujarat Giants ultimately fell short.
Haryana Steelers established an early lead, with Vinay initiating the scoring and Jaideep fortifying their defense with a tackle. While the Gujarat Giants attempted to counter, with Himanshu Singh and Nitin Panwar making their presence felt, and Lucky Sharma securing a tackle, they were eventually subjected to an ALL OUT.
The defending champions quickly erased the initial deficit. Shivam Patare was instrumental, contributing on both offense and defense, leading to a tied score of 10-10 by the end of the first quarter. Buoyed by this momentum, Hardeep and Patare continued their strong contributions, propelling the Steelers to a four-point lead after Rahul’s crucial tackle resulted in another ALL OUT.
Though Mohammadreza Shadloui’s defensive efforts kept the Gujarat Giants within striking distance, Haryana maintained a comfortable 21-15 lead at halftime. The second half began at a slower pace, with exchanges between Sahil Narwal and Lucky Sharma. Shivam Patare reached his Super 10, extending the Steelers’ advantage to ten points.
Ankit Dahiya’s Super Raid briefly narrowed the gap to seven points with ten minutes remaining, offering a glimmer of hope for the Giants. However, Neeraj’s decisive tackle led to another ALL OUT for Gujarat. Vinay sealed the victory with a spectacular four-point Super Raid, extending the Steelers’ lead to 39-26 and ultimately securing their dominant 50-32 win and a coveted playoff spot.
