PKL 12: What will be Haryana Steelers' starting 7 in Pro Kabaddi 2025?

Defending Champions retain their core players to defend the title in PKL 12.

Haryana Steelers will be one of the favorites going into the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12). The defending champions had a dominating journey last year on their way to lift their maiden title. But they had to let go of one of their stars of the campaign, Mohammadreza Shadloui.

However, the Manpreet Singh-coached side retained their core squad for PKL 12. The likes of Jaideep Dahiya and Rahul Sethpal will once again be the leaders of the side. The auction saw the men in blue replace one champion with another as they spent Rs 1.20 crore to acquire the services of Naveen Kumar.

Here we take a look at the predicted starting 7 of the defending champions.

Strengthened their raiding attack

Haryana Steelers have never had a star attraction in the raiding department. But this time, they bought Naveen Express in the auction. Naveen Kumar was unstoppable for Dabang Delhi, but injuries in the last two seasons have hindered his performances.

The 25-year-old will be keen to improve his fitness and contribute to his home state. He will join forces with the dynamic duo of Vinay Tewatia and Shivam Patare. The pair were instrumental in the team reaching the finals for two consecutive seasons and lifting the cup last year. They have also retained Vishal Tate and Ghanshyam Magar as their backup raiders.

A defence that can hold its fort

Skipper Jaideep Dahiya and right corner Rahul Sethpal will be the top guards protecting their defence. The captain has been leading the Steelers from the front, and Rahul at the right corner has been one of his most trusted deputies. Both will have the responsibility of handling the young defenders.

Two inexperienced players, Hardeep Kandola and Rahul Ahri, have been picked to replace Shadloui at the left corner. The right cover will have multiple options, such as N Manikandan, Sachin, or Zubair. This won’t be a problem for the Steelers, as they have discovered a lot of talent over the past few years.

Haryana Steelers predicted starting seven for PKL 12:

Raiders – Naveen Kumar, Vinay Tewatia, and Shivam Patare.

Defenders – Rahul Sethpal (Right Corner), Rahul Ahri (Left Corner), N Manikandan (Right Cover), and Jaideep Dahiya (Left Cover).

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