Two contrasting approaches collide in Match 57 of PKL 12 as Haryana Steelers host Jaipur Pink Panthers. The Steelers' balanced raiding duo of Shivam Patare and Vinay faces Nitin Kumar's individual brilliance, with both teams seeking to consolidate their playoff positions after mixed recent results.

Probable Starting 7

Haryana Steelers

  • Right Corner – Rahul Sethpal
  • Right In – Shivam Patare
  • Right Cover – Neeraj
  • Centre – Vishal Tate
  • Left Cover – Jaideep (C)
  • Left In – Vinay
  • Left Corner – Hardeep

Jaipur Pink Panthers

  • Right Corner – Deepanshu Khatri
  • Right In – Ali Choubtarash
  • Right Cover – Aashish
  • Centre – Nitin Kumar
  • Left Cover – Reza Mirbagheri
  • Left In – Aryan Kumar
  • Left Corner – Nitin Rawal (C)

Headlines

➢ Battle of top raiders – Nitin Kumar vs Shivam Patare and Vinay

➢ Coach Manpreet Singh will expect his team to bounce back

➢ Can the Steelers' defence turn around their fortunes after a disappointing defeat?

➢ Haryana Steelers will need to find more support for Vinay and Shivam

➢ Jaipur Pink Panthers are struggling with their defensive output

Top Stories of the Match

Battle of Top Raiders – Nitin Kumar vs Shivam Patare and Vinay

The clash between Nitin Kumar and Haryana Steelers' raiding duo promises to be the match's defining narrative. Nitin Kumar has established himself amongst PKL 12's elite raiders, delivering consistently exceptional performances.

His PKL 12 statistics paint an impressive picture:

  • Nitin Kumar: 109 raid points (12.1 average, 61% SR, 7 Super 10s)

Nitin Kumar ranks third amongst PKL 12's leading raiders by average raid points, trailing only Devank (17.3 average) and Ashu Malik (13.4 average). His consistency across all defender-in-play situations demonstrates his tactical maturity:

Nitin Kumar's DIP-wise analysis:

  • 6-7 defenders: 63 points at 66% SR
  • 4-5 defenders: 23 points at 49% SR
  • 2-3 defenders: 21 points at 60% SR

He has scored 57% of Jaipur Pink Panthers' raid points in PKL 12. His match-winning performance against U Mumba showcased his ability to deliver under pressure, scoring 14 points at a 74% success rate in a crucial tie-breaker victory.

Haryana Steelers counter with their own dynamic partnership. Shivam Patare continues his excellent season trajectory, nearly achieving a Super 10 against Tamil Thalaivas with 9 points at an exceptional 90% success rate. His partnership with Vinay has provided the stability needed during Naveen Kumar's injury absence.

The duo's combined PKL 12 statistics:

  • Shivam Patare: 72 raid points (8.0 average, 61% SR, 2 Super 10s)
  • Vinay: 74 raid points (9.3 average, 56% SR, 3 Super 10s)

Together, they contribute 70% of Haryana Steelers' total raid points, establishing one of the league's most effective partnerships. Both raiders maintain impressive minimum 50% success rates, demonstrating consistent reliability.

Shivam Patare's DIP-wise excellence:

  • 6-7 defenders: 48 points at 70% SR
  • 4-5 defenders: 15 points at 41% SR
  • 2-3 defenders: 9 points at 69% SR

The Steelers' balanced raiding approach has propelled them to the league's second-best average raid points (23.1 per match at 56% SR), trailing only Bengal Warriorz (26.9 per match).

Team Stories

Haryana Steelers – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#54 vs Dabang Delhi K.C. – Lost 37–38 (controversial 1-point defeat)
  • M#44 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Won 38–36 (2-point victory)
  • M#42 vs Puneri Paltan – Won 34–30 (4-point victory)
  • M#38 vs Patna Pirates – Won 43–32 (dominant 11-point victory)
  • M#33 vs Gujarat Giants – Won 40–37 (3-point victory)

Haryana Steelers have completely transformed their season after opening with a defeat to Bengal Warriorz. Their remarkable turnaround includes four consecutive victories before the controversial last-minute loss to Dabang Delhi, where they fought back valiantly before falling short by a single point.

Currently sitting in 4th position with 5 wins from 6 of their last 7 matches, the Steelers have established themselves as genuine playoff contenders. Shivam Patare and Vinay have risen magnificently to compensate for Naveen Kumar's absence, maintaining the team's position amongst the league's top raiding units.

Coach Manpreet Singh – PKL's Most Decorated Coach

Manpreet Singh brings an unparalleled pedigree to the Steelers' bench, holding the distinction of being PKL's most successful coach by wins.

His remarkable coaching record speaks volumes:

  • PKL 5 – Runners-up (Gujarat Giants)
  • PKL 6 – Runners-up (Gujarat Giants)
  • PKL 8 – Playoffs (Gujarat Giants)
  • PKL 10 – Runners-up (Haryana Steelers)
  • PKL 11 – Champions (Haryana Steelers)

Career statistics: 100 wins from 174 matches (58% win percentage, 5 playoff appearances)

Haryana Steelers with a Strong Defence Supporting Raiding

The defensive unit enters this encounter as one of PKL 12's better-performing defences, averaging 10.9 tackle points per match at 42% success rate. Their 98 tackle points from 9 matches demonstrate consistent contribution.

However, the stark contrast between wins and losses reveals their critical importance to team success:

Defensive performance by results:

  • In wins (6 matches): 72 tackle points (12.0 average, 45% SR)
  • In losses (3 matches): 22 tackle points (7.3 average, 30% SR)

The experienced leadership duo of Jaideep and Rahul has been exceptional, both maintaining success rates exceeding 55%:

  • Jaideep: 31 tackle points (3.4 average, 66% SR)
  • Rahul Sethpal: 25 tackle points (2.8 average, 56% SR)

Following their disappointing last-minute defeat to Dabang Delhi – where they rallied impressively before falling short – the defence will be desperate to bounce back and reclaim their earlier form.

Haryana Steelers Will Need to Find More Support for Vinay and Shivam

Whilst the Steelers' raiding unit performs admirably overall, averaging 23.1 points per match at 56% success rate, concerning depth issues lurk beneath the surface. Removing Shivam Patare and Vinay from the equation exposes a worrying vulnerability.

Support raiders' statistics:

  • Combined contribution: 44 raid points in 9 matches (approximately 5 points per match average)
  • Zero Super 10s amongst all support raiders
  • Mayank Saini: 16 points (2.7 average, 47% SR)
  • Vishal Tate: 6 points (1.5 average, 67% SR)
  • Jaya Soorya: 6 points (3.0 average, 86% SR)

Whilst Mayank and Jaya Soorya have impressed with crucial points and super raids, consistency remains elusive. This over-dependence creates vulnerability – any injury or form dip to either primary raider could destabilise the team's playoff ambitions, particularly with Naveen Kumar already sidelined.

Jaipur Pink Panthers – PKL 12 So Far

Recent Results:

  • M#52 vs Tamil Thalaivas – Lost 28–37 (9-point defeat)
  • M#48 vs U Mumba – Won 38 (6)–38 (4) (dramatic tie-breaker victory)
  • M#39 vs Bengal Warriorz – Won 45–41 (4-point victory)
  • M#31 vs UP Yoddhas – Won 41–29 (dominant 12-point victory)
  • M#29 vs Bengaluru Bulls – Lost 23–28 (5-point defeat)

Jaipur Pink Panthers have won 3 of their last 5 matches, enjoying a positive run until Tamil Thalaivas halted their momentum with a comprehensive 9-point defeat. The inconsistency reflects their fundamental structural issues – exceptional attacking brilliance undermined by defensive fragility.

Nitin Kumar's emergence as a genuine star has been the season's highlight, his 7 Super 10s in 9 matches establishing him amongst the league's elite. However, the defence's persistent struggles threaten to derail their playoff ambitions.

Veterans Nitin Rawal and Reza Mirbagheri must rediscover championship-winning form to provide the defensive foundation necessary for deeper tournament progression.

Jaipur Pink Panthers Struggling with Their Defensive Output

The defensive unit represents Jaipur Pink Panthers' critical weakness. Their alarming statistic – being the only team without a single High 5 from a defender this season – symbolises their struggles. Averaging just 8.9 tackle points per match at 39% success rate, they rank as the league's third-worst defensive unit.

Performance splits reveal the issue:

  • In wins (5 matches): 52 tackle points (10.4 average, 39% SR)
  • In losses (4 matches): 28 tackle points (7.0 average, 39% SR)

Recent improvement offers hope – after failing to reach 10 tackle points in any of their first 5 matches, they've achieved double figures in 3 of their last 4 matches, though their previous match showed a slight regression.

Defensive comparison by phase:

  • First 5 matches: 35 tackle points (7.0 average, 34% SR, 0 matches with 10+ points)
  • Next 4 matches: 45 tackle points (11.2 average, 45% SR, 3 matches with 10+ points)

Reza Mirbagheri has been the lone consistent performer, maintaining excellent form throughout the season with 19 tackle points (2.1 average, 51% SR).

The lack of coordination and collective effort contrasts sharply with previous championship-calibre campaigns, where defensive solidity formed their foundation.

Head-to-Head in PKL

Overall: Matches – 17 | Jaipur Pink Panthers – 9 | Haryana Steelers – 6 | Tied – 2

Recent Form (Last 5 meetings):
● PKL 11 M#72: Haryana Steelers won 43–30 (13-point victory)
● PKL 11 M#14: Haryana Steelers won 37–25 (12-point victory)
● PKL 10 Semifinal 2: Haryana Steelers won 31–27 (4-point victory)
● PKL 10 M#77: Jaipur Pink Panthers won 37–27 (10-point victory)
● PKL 10 M#54: Jaipur Pink Panthers won 45–34 (11-point victory)

The closely contested historical encounters suggest another thriller, with the Steelers' current form potentially maintaining their psychological advantage.

Key Player Battles

Haryana Steelers' Raiders vs Jaipur Pink Panthers' Defenders
● Vinay 5–4 Reza Mirbagheri
● Shivam Patare 8–3 Reza Mirbagheri
● Vinay 3–4 Nitin Rawal
● Shivam Patare 1–1 Nitin Rawal

Jaipur Pink Panthers' Raiders vs Haryana Steelers' Defenders
● Nitin Kumar 1–0 Jaideep
● Nitin Kumar 1–2 Rahul Sethpal

What to Expect

This encounter promises a fascinating tactical battle between contrasting philosophies – Haryana Steelers' balanced dual-raider system versus Jaipur Pink Panthers' reliance on Nitin Kumar's individual brilliance.

The critical battle lies in whether the Panthers' defence can contain the Steelers' dynamic duo, whilst Nitin Kumar attempts to exploit any defensive vulnerabilities. Coach Manpreet Singh's tactical acumen faces its sternest test following the controversial defeat to Dabang Delhi.

Expect a high-scoring affair where attacking quality could overshadow defensive struggles. The Steelers' superior defensive coordination and balanced raiding approach should provide the edge, but Nitin Kumar possesses the individual brilliance to swing the match single-handedly.

The team finding meaningful secondary contributions – whether the Steelers' support raiders or the Panthers' defensive unit – will likely emerge victorious.

Match Details

  • Match: Haryana Steelers vs Jaipur Pink Panthers – Match 57, PKL Season 12
    ● Date: Wednesday, 1st October 2025
    ● Time: 7:30 PM IST
    ● Venue: SDAT Multi-Purpose Indoor Stadium, Chennai
    ● LIVE Streaming: Watch LIVE on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar. For LIVE scores and updates, visit prokabaddi.com or download the Pro Kabaddi Official App.

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