Top 3 thrillers of Puneri Paltan vs Haryana Steelers in PKL history

The defending champions of the Pro Kabaddi League, Puneri Paltan, and the runners-up, Haryana Steelers, have faced each other 15 times. Puneri Paltan hold the advantage with nine victories, while Haryana Steelers have won five, and one match ended in a tie. This rivalry has intensified in recent seasons, featuring two of the best coaches in the league, BC Ramesh and Manpreet Singh.

Let’s have a look at the top three thrilling contests between the Season 10 finalists:

Season 10, Final:

In the highly anticipated Final of PKL Season 10, Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers started cautiously, taking their time to get into the rhythm. Both teams understood the significance of every point in this high-stakes encounter, resulting in a balanced game during the first 10 minutes. The defenders from both sides were giving their all, and a four-point Super Raid from Pankaj Mohite gave Puneri Paltan a three-point lead by the end of halftime.

Puneri Paltan extended their lead in the second half, thanks to the first and only All-Out raid of the final by Mohit Goyat. The Pune-based franchise then strategically slowed down the game's pace, successfully maintaining control. With 10 minutes left, Puneri Paltan held a six-point lead over the Steelers. Despite Siddharth Desai's valiant efforts to rally the Haryana Steelers, it wasn't enough. Puneri Paltan secured a 28-25 victory, winning their first-ever PKL trophy in Season 10 and etching their name in the record books.

Season 9, Match 43:

Puneri Paltan’s dynamic raider, Mohit Goyat, kicked off their campaign with a Super Raid in the third minute of the match. Both teams played cautiously, waiting for defensive opportunities. The raiders often went for empty raids, leading to an increase in do-or-die raids. Scoring proved difficult for both sides, with the Steelers appearing strong until Puneri Paltan secured a three-point lead by halftime. In this half, each team managed only one point in defence.

Puneri Paltan came out strong in the second half, quickly extending their lead to eight points within the first four minutes. Despite Haryana Steelers’ efforts to close the gap, Puneri Paltan maintained a narrow lead. Manjeet's All-Out raid with about five minutes left brought the Steelers back into the game. The Steelers then levelled the score at 26-26 with just over a minute remaining. In the final raid, Haryana Steelers’ Meetu Sharma faced off against Puneri Paltan. The Paltan initially celebrated a win following a dash on the raider, but a review revealed that Puneri defender Sanket Sawant was out of bounds. This resulted in a 27-27 tie, with both teams earning three points each.

Season 6, Match 85:

In PKL Season 6, Puneri Paltan entered the game with high confidence, having already defeated Haryana Steelers twice in the campaign. The game was evenly matched in the first 10 minutes until a Super Raid from Vikash Kandola turned the tide, wiping out the Paltan. With Vikash Kandola and Monu Goyat performing exceptionally well, the Steelers established a 15-point lead by halftime, thanks to two All-Outs against the Paltan.

In the second half, Puneri Paltan aimed for a strong comeback, bolstered by a Super Raid from their all-rounder Sandeep Narwal. The Paltan players pushed hard to stay in the game, achieving their first All-Out with less than 10 minutes remaining, again courtesy of Sandeep. Skipper Girish Maruti Ernak, who struggled in the first half, stepped up to fortify the defence with precision. In the final moments, with the score at 29-27 in favour of the Steelers, an All-Out raid from Monu propelled Puneri Paltan ahead. They held their nerve to secure a thrilling victory over Haryana Steelers with a scoreline of 35-33.

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