Haryana Steelers will be looking to clinch their first title in Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 11 after narrowly missing out in the final match of Season 10. The team finished as runners-up, with Puneri Paltan claiming the Season 10 title in 2023. Haryana Steelers seem to share the same fate as RCB in the IPL—always having big names in their squad and being favourites each season, but falling short every single time.
Talking about Haryana’s performance in past seasons, the Steelers have made it to the playoffs in three out of the six PKL seasons. This year, Manpreet Singh, who won the PKL title with Patna Pirates as a player, will continue as the head coach of Haryana Steelers. He will be hoping to finally lift the PKL title as a head coach after suffering heartbreaks in three PKL finals – twice with Gujarat Giants and once with Haryana Steelers last season.
Even though the Steelers didn’t make many purchases at the Season 11 Player Auction, they grabbed the spotlight by buying Mohammadreza Chiyaneh for a whopping ₹2.07 crore. The Iranian all-rounder was part of the Puneri Paltan team that defeated the Steelers in the final last season. This year, he will aim to help Haryana Steelers secure the title. Let’s take a look at the SWOT analysis of Haryana Steelers.
Strengths: One of the best defence in the league
Haryana Steelers bragged about the best defence in Season 10, a fact well-known across the league. With three defenders in the top 10 for tackle points last season, two key players, Rahul Sethpal and Jaideep Dahiya, will continue to strengthen their defence.
Rahul Sethpal led their defensive charge with 73 tackle points last season, closely followed by Jaideep Dahiya, who racked up 68 tackle points. Adding to their tough backline, the Steelers acquired Season 10’s top defender, Mohammadreza Chiyaneh, who topped the tackle points chart with 99 points. This trio makes it clear why opposition raiders will dread facing Haryana’s rock-solid defence.
Weaknesses: Fewer options in raiding department
However, the Steelers’ attack remains a concern. They lack established raiders capable of leading from the front. Vinay, who scored 163 raid points last season, is their most reliable attacking option, but the team has no other experienced raiders to support him.
Vinay will need to elevate his game and deliver consistent performances. Having scored 372 raid points in four seasons, he will aim to step up in this campaign. Supporting him is Shivam Patare, who had a promising debut in Season 10 with 116 raid points. Yet, most of the attacking responsibility will fall on Vinay and Shivam, as their other raiders like Vikas Jadhav, Gnana Abishek S, Sanskar Mishra, and Jayasoorya Ns are yet to make their Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) debut.
Opportunities: Mohammadreza’s chance to become a complete player
With a need for attacking firepower, Mohammadreza Chiyaneh may look to step up in the raiding department. Chiyaneh showed glimpses of his attacking prowess last season, contributing 27 raid points, including two Super Raids for Puneri Paltan.
Chiyaneh will aim to add more to his offensive game in Season 11, and it will be intriguing to see if he can capitalise on the opportunity to make meaningful contributions in attack. Additionally, the Steelers will be hoping for Vishal Tate to build on his 24 raid points from three matches last season and emerge as a solid attacking option.
Threats: Lack of experience
A lack of experienced players poses a significant threat to Haryana Steelers’ title hopes this season. Their attack lacks depth and experience, as discussed earlier, and they also risk over-relying on their defensive trio – Rahul Sethpal, Jaideep Dahiya, and Mohammadreza Chiyaneh.
Key defenders like Manikandan N, Ashish Gill, Hardeep, and Manikandan S. are yet to make their PKL debut, while Sanjay has only played six matches. If any of their defensive stalwarts suffer an injury or dip in form, the Steelers may find themselves depending on these inexperienced players, which could put the team under immense pressure.
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