PKL 12: Manpreet Singh records historic 100th PKL win as coach as Haryana Steelers secure narrow victory over Tamil Thalaivas

Defending champions Haryana Steelers defeated Tamil Thalaivas 38-36 at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium on Saturday, gifting their coach Manpreet Singh his 100th win as a coach in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). This was Haryana’s sixth win in eight matches, while the Thalaivas, after two consecutive victories, suffered their second straight loss.

Haryana’s victory was a collective effort from all their players. Shivam Patar scored 9 points, Vinay contributed 7, and Mayank Saini picked up 4 points, while captain Jaideep added 3 tackle points in defense. For the Thalaivas, captain Arjun Deshwal scored 13 points but couldn’t carry his team to victory as he wasn’t revived on time by his teammates.

Coming off a win against Puneri Paltan in their previous game, Haryana picked up where they had left off. Within four minutes, they pushed the Thalaivas towards an all-out, eventually enforcing it to take a 9-3 lead. Once Deshwal was dismissed, he could only be revived after the all-in. Meanwhile, Vinay earned a multi-point raid and then Sahil tackled Deshwal to make it 12-3.

On Vinay’s do-or-die raid, two Thalaivas defenders were dismissed. Then Shivam caught Shafagi, forcing the Thalaivas into a super tackle situation. After 10 minutes, Haryana led 15-4. Shivam added another point in a do-or-die raid during a super tackle situation, and soon he enforced an all-out to put Haryana ahead 20-5. After the all-in, Deshwal finally dismissed Shivam to open his account.

The Thalaivas’ defense then caught Vinay. Yogesh scored two points, pushing Haryana into a super tackle scenario. On Mayank’s raid, both teams earned a point each. Deshwal then dismissed Jaideep in a super tackle situation, reducing Haryana to just two players, but Shivam’s two-point raid saved them. Deshwal scored again on the next raid, and the Thalaivas enforced an all-out to reduce the score to 24-16.

Despite the all-out, Haryana went into the break leading 25-16. After the restart, Deshwal was tackled with an ankle hold, while Shivam, though dismissed once, made a brilliant escape after his revival to push the Thalaivas into another super tackle situation. Arunannthababu rescued them with a super raid, and soon he dismissed Vinay to reduce the score to 31-23 after 30 minutes.

After the break, the Thalaivas again pushed Haryana into a super tackle position, but Mayank forced Nitesh into an error to rescue his team. However, Deshwal restored the pressure with another raid. Shivam responded with a multi-point raid to revive two players, but Deshwal capitalized on Haryana’s defensive lapses to complete his Super 10. Haryana were on the verge of an all-out, but Mayank managed to prevent it.

With a minute and a half left, Haryana led by 7 points. In the final moments, the Thalaivas had a chance to force an all-out and close the gap. They did manage to enforce it, but the win had already slipped away. In the end, the Thalaivas suffered their fourth defeat in seven matches.

Tamil Thalaivas were trailing in first 10 minutes, however Haryana Steelers extended their lead from the word go and emerge as the winner.