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Haryana Steelers head coach Manpreet Singh is brimming with confidence about his team’s prospects ahead of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024 semi-final. Haryana, who finished as runners-up in the previous season, have shown exceptional form this year. They topped the league table with 16 wins in 22 games.
Under Manpreet’s guidance, the team has been a force to reckon with, particularly excelling in defense. The addition of Iranian star Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh has fortified their left corner, making them one of the most challenging teams to break down. Despite their relatively young squad, the Steelers have displayed immense promise and resilience, earning a spot in the semi-finals, where they will face the UP Yoddhas on December 27 at the Balewadi Stadium.
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Though Haryana suffered consecutive losses to Dabang Delhi KC and UP Yoddhas heading into the semis, Manpreet sees these as strategic experiments to prepare for the high-stakes playoffs match. Confident in his team’s coordination and depth, the coach believes they are well-equipped to secure their maiden PKL title.
In an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Manpreet Singh shared insights into the team’s journey, their playoff strategy, and the challenges ahead.
Below are the excerpts from the interview with Haryana Steelers head coach Manpreet Singh
Q: Haryana Steelers finished at the top of the league stage this season. What do you think has been the key to this success?
A: I always knew my team was strong, and I had even told the owner that it would take the first two or three matches for the team to settle. After that, there would be no looking back. This is the kind of team that can beat anyone and lose to anyone in this season. The team has proven that. We’ve won some matches convincingly and lost some just as well.
Q: Haryana Steelers lost against Dabang Delhi KC and UP Yoddhas just before the playoffs. Were these losses a concern, or was there a strategy behind them?
A: The team hasn’t played badly; these losses were part of a plan. The two matches we lost to Delhi and UP were against teams we are likely to face in the semifinals or finals. In these games, my team had complete freedom, even if we lost. The goal was to identify weaknesses, where we could score points and where tackles could be made. Losing those matches didn’t matter. The other teams might have won and enjoyed it, but when the time comes, this team will show its true strength and potential.
Q: What has been Haryana Steelers’ strength in Pro Kabaddi League 2024?
A: Our strongest point is our defense. To win any tournament, a solid defense is essential. That’s our plus point, and we also have strong bench strength. Players like Shadloui, Rahul, Jaideep, and Sanjay are in great form. Don’t judge by just those two matches; look at the entire season to see how well they’ve performed, where they’ve tackled, and against which skills. There isn’t a single raiding skill against which our defense can’t make a tackle.
Q: How are you preparing the team for the playoffs?
A: The final match often comes down to luck - how you perform on that day, whether you play under pressure or put pressure on others. My only concern is avoiding injuries. If everyone stays fit, I’m confident we’ll lift the trophy. My team’s coordination and unity will make it very difficult for any other team to beat us.
Q: While Vinay and Shivam Patare have been consistent, there have been questions about the lack of a reliable third raider. How do you address this?
A: In kabaddi, even one raider who scores timely points is enough. In every match, my two main raiders, Vinay and Shivam, are scoring around 17 points collectively. For our defense, that’s like the cherry on top. Even if our raiders score just 10 points and the defense makes 12-14 tackles, we can win matches easily.
A third raider becomes necessary only when the main two raiders are tackled, and we have many options for that, which we’ve tried in various matches. We don’t want to depend on the need for a third raider. Vinay and Shivam are excellent, and their left-right combination works perfectly for the team.
Q: Which team do you see as the biggest challenge for Haryana in the playoffs?
A: Honestly, no team is stronger than Haryana this season. Of course, we can lose to anyone—that’s the nature of the game. Matches can change in an instant, depending on the situation. But if you look at this Haryana team, it’s tough for any raider to score against us when we’re in form. In kabaddi, you have to adapt to every situation. No matter how much planning you do beforehand, it rarely works out. As a coach, you need to think two raids ahead, almost 1.5 minutes into the future. That’s the only way to play and coach effectively. I always think two raids ahead.
