The Haryana Steelers put on a masterful display on Wednesday night at the GMC Balayogi Sports Complex, defeating the Jaipur Pink Panthers 31-27 to advance to the PKL Season 10 finals. It was a landmark night for the Steelers, whose first-ever final berth was fueled by a cohesive team effort and the standout raiding of Shivam Patare and Vinay. They now look forward to their clash with Puneri Paltan on March 1, where they will fight for their maiden PKL title.
The Haryana Steelers produced a brilliant effort to beat the Jaipur Pink Panthers 31-27 and seal their spot in the PKL Season 10 finals at the GMC Balayogi Sports Complex on Wednesday night. The Steelers’ first final was the result of an outstanding team effort, with raiding duo Vinay and Shivam Patare shining brightly on an emotional evening. The Steelers will battle Puneri Paltan in the summit clash on March 1, hoping to win their first PKL title.
The high tension of the match forced both teams to play a cautious game, with neither side wanting to gamble too much. This resulted in a lower scoreline, though the intensity kept the fans engaged. The early stages were a balanced tug-of-war, featuring a consistent exchange of points between Vinay and Arjun Deshwal, supported by two very disciplined defenses.
What set the Steelers apart was their versatility in the raiding department. In contrast, Jaipur was overly dependent on Arjun Deshwal, who provided 80% of their raid points during the first half. The Steelers exploited this vulnerability by targeting Deshwal specifically; once he was out of the picture, the Pink Panthers lost their direction. This tactical shift allowed Haryana to secure the first All-out of the night, jumping to a 13-7 lead. With Vinay and Patare relentlessly attacking, Jaipur had little room to breathe, leaving the Steelers with a 6-point advantage going into the break.
Jaipur attempted a comeback in the second half, driven by Arjun Deshwal's ability to regain points. However, their undoing was a struggling defense that couldn't stop the Haryana raiders from continuing their onslaught. The Pink Panthers' defensive unit was particularly ineffective early on, managing only three tackle points in the first thirty minutes.
Just as Jaipur seemed to be gaining some ground, the Steelers' raiders surged back to reclaim a six-point lead. The Pink Panthers looked disjointed whenever Arjun Deshwal was off the court. A crucial Do-or-Die raid by Vinay, which took out both Sunil Kumar and Bhavani Rajput, nearly led to another All-out for Haryana. However, a Super Tackle by Reza Mirbagheri stopped that momentum and brought Jaipur within four points with only three minutes left on the clock.
As the game reached its climax, the Steelers remained calm under pressure. The deciding moment came with one minute remaining when Ashish successfully tackled Deshwal, effectively ending Jaipur's hopes. As the clock ran out, the Steelers' bench erupted in celebration, marking the first time in the franchise's history that they have reached the finals.