The Haryana Steelers face a steep uphill battle this Friday night as they take on Dabang Delhi at the Sheraton Grand. Delhi has been the dominant force of the season, maintaining their spot at the top of the table by staying composed and clinical in high-pressure situations. Meanwhile, Haryana enters the game with renewed energy after a strong 37-30 win against Puneri Paltan.
The Steelers' victory over the third-place Paltan was driven by a masterclass in defending. Jaideep and Mohit led the charge, contributing seven tackle points apiece to secure the win. The team's captain, Vikash Kandola, also delivered a solid performance with eight raid points, though he stopped just short of a super-10.
Haryana's sturdy defensive line is about to be tested by a highly skilled group of raiders from the Delhi camp. Although the Steelers are currently languishing in ninth place, they have enough firepower to challenge the best teams in the league. Any raider will find it difficult to navigate the tackle traps set by Jaideep and Mohit. Furthermore, having a seasoned pro like Surender Nada in the mix makes their defense a legitimate obstacle that Delhi will struggle to breach.
While Kandola is a reliable asset in every match, Haryana cannot rely on him alone; they desperately need Meetu and Rohit Gulia to provide meaningful support. Success in kabaddi requires a collective effort rather than a one-man show. For the Steelers to win, Meetu and Gulia must step up and deliver high-impact performances, similar to the form they've shown earlier in the season.
Dabang Delhi enters this match with confidence following a recent win, though it was a tight contest that ended 32-29 against the Patna Pirates. A significant blow for Delhi, however, is the absence of their star raider and MVP, Naveen Kumar, who is sidelined with an injury. Naveen has been a scoring machine, contributing a massive 138 of the team's 361 total points. In his absence, Delhi will lean on Vijay Malik and the versatile Sandeep Narwal to lead the attack.
Delhi's defense is equally impressive, anchored by the legendary Manjeet Chhillar, whose record-breaking tackle points make him a nightmare for any opponent. Following his nine-point performance against the Pirates, Vijay Malik is expected to spearhead the raiding efforts, supported by Ashu Malik and Sandeep Narwal. Despite the disparity in their league positions, this is expected to be a thrilling, competitive encounter rather than a blowout. Haryana certainly has the potential to catch Delhi off guard.
Despite a big gap between the two teams in the points table, everyone expects this match to be more exciting and not be a one-sided affair. Haryana has chances to surprise Delhi.