PKL 12 Mei 'Panne Paltenge'? Manpreet Singh issues open challenge to Devank Dalal's Bengal Warriorz

Haryana Steelers lifted the PKL 11 trophy under the guidance of Manpreet Singh.

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12) is set to commence this coming Friday, August 29, 2025. As the days of battle on the mat approach, the coaches and players have begun to play mind games ahead of the electrifying season.

On the same note, Manpreet Singh, coach of defending champions Haryana Steelers, set a similar challenge for the new young players of Bengal Warriorz. Haryana Steelers defeated Patna Pirates to lift the Season 11 title.

Also Read: PKL 12 schedule undergoes major change; Delhi leg to begin earlier

Devank Dalal started this rivalry last season

Although the season has changed, the rivalry between the most successful coach of PKL 11 and the most successful raider of PKL 11, Devank Dalal, continues. Interestingly, the PKL 12 fixture has hyped this rivalry even more, as Singh’s Steelers would face Dalal’s Warriorz in the first match of the respective teams.

In the PKL 12 auction, Bengal Warriorz bought Devank Dalal for a whopping INR 2.205 crores. Although he will be representing a different team, his hunger to defeat the Haryana Steelers remains unbothered.

In the PKL 11, Devank Dalal said, “Time ka intezar kar rahe hain kab Haryana ke sath dobara match aega. Panna palat denge us din to, sbka khoon garam hai, hum bhi dikha lenge.”

Manpreet Singh challenges Devank Dalal

Manpreet Singh clearly recalls the words of the young raider from the last season and replied with fun banter in a recent interview with Khel Now.

Singh replied, “Sir sabse tagda match to dekho, saare k saath hi acche match honge, lekin pichle season me jo sabse zyada controvery hui hai ki bhai, panne palat denge, panne faad denge, khoon boht garam hai, to hmara pehla match to unhi se hai.”

He further added, “Since I have become Haryana’s coach, we have never won the first match of the season. So, we will try to win the first match this time.”

Singh is a very experienced coach and has taken the Steelers to new heights since joining as the Head Coach in Pro Kabaddi League Season 9. He has constantly improved the team’s performance throughout and would be looking to defend the title this season.

During the interview, Singh also expressed his excitement about playing against his friend, Naveen Kumar, who is now the coach of the Bengal Warriorz. While praising Kumar, Singh said, “Naveen is like a little brother to me who has joined the Warriorz as the Head Coach, and is an extremely experienced and intelligent coach. Beside him is Praveen, the ONGC coach.”

He further added, “So, the team, the players, and the coaching staff are all intelligent. The first match will be a crucial challenge to win for everyone, and get a good start to the season while putting points for the team on the scoreboard.”

On the other hand, Dalal is also looking forward to this matchup. Recently, in an interview with Khel Now, Dalal said, “Haryana Steelers won the last time when I was playing for the Patna Pirates, and now we are heading into the season with the first match against them.”

He further added, The thing is, their team has changed, so has ours. So we will see who plays better and wins this time. Only time will tell.

PKL 12 is set to commence in a few days, and the excitement of the fans is at its peak. Bengal Warriorz will face Haryana Steelers in the 6th match of the season on August 31, 2025.

The rivalry is worth all the hype, and with such a huge commitment from these two, the excitement of the match reaches a whole other level.

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