Haryana Steelers’ young raiders have matched up to the best and most expensive raiders, says Manpreet Singh

The Haryana Steelers have been in fine form so far in Pro Kabaddi League Season 11, and the performances have led them to the top of the table. A five-match unbeaten streak has put the Haryana Steelers 6 points clear off second place.

For the Haryana Steelers, their defensive unit has been as solid as ever. And in the game against the Tamil Thalaivas, the defenders took control of proceedings in the final minutes to help close out the win. Reflecting on that phase of play, skipper Jaideep said, “It was a good win and we are very happy as a team. We were rushing a bit initially, and then were able to control things defensively towards the end which helped us get the win.”

An aspect of the Haryana Steelers’ team that has stood out are the young players. “My raiders have shown that they can match the best of the best players in the PKL. There has always been a little more focus on the more established and expensive raiders, but Vinay, Shivam Patare and Vishal have all shown that they can do the job on the mat even if they don’t have the big price tags,” said Manpreet Singh.

Talking about the consistent performances of the Haryana Steelers, the ace coach said, “We take it one game at a time in the PKL. There are 22 games, and we prepare for each game as it comes. We don’t pay too much attention to a winning streak. The PKL is a great platform for young players and it is very nice to see them do well. As a coach it feels great to work with young players and I also feel a little young.”

Looking ahead to their upcoming game against the Telugu Titans, coach Manpreet Singh said, “If Pawan Sehrawat plays, then he is like a one-man army and we will have to keep our eyes on him for sure. Without Pawan, it might be a little easier for us, but we will prepare, keeping in mind that he will be playing.”