PKL 12: Why did Naveen Kumar miss the clash against Patna Pirates?

Naveen Kumar suffered an injury to his left knee.

Haryana Steelers have been dealt a major challenge in Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 (PKL 12) as they face last season’s finalists, Patna Pirates, at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium in Jaipur on Wednesday, September 17.

With Naveen Kumar sidelined due to injury, the defending champions are entering the match under pressure, knowing that his absence is creating a huge void in their attack at this crucial stage.

His return will be crucial if the defending champions aim to climb up the table, as the team is struggling to balance its raiding strength and defensive setup without him.

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Why is Naveen Kumar not playing for Haryana Steelers?

Naveen Kumar picked up an injury during Haryana Steelers’ game against Bengaluru Bulls in the Vizag leg. The star raider hurt his left knee during a raid in the first half and fell awkwardly on his back. He was immediately stretched off the mat in visible pain, leaving fans and teammates deeply concerned.

Despite travelling with the squad to Jaipur, Naveen was not fit enough to feature against the Patna Pirates. Haryana head coach Manpreet Singh revealed the same during the post-match press conference after the win against Gujarat Giants.

“As much as you are waiting for his return, my team and I are waiting even more than that because we need him a lot, and we are praying to God. We are slowly training him, but it will probably take 1-2 weeks, and only then will we be able to confirm whether he will play or not,” said Manpreet.

“But as of now, the hope remains that he is making a comeback, and God willing, his return might happen in five to seven days,” he added.

The coach added that Naveen could return within five to seven days if his recovery goes smoothly. For now, his absence has left a huge gap in the squad, particularly in crucial games against strong opponents.

Haryana Steelers’ performance in PKL 12 till now

Haryana Steelers began PKL 12 with a tough 54-44 defeat to Bengal Warriorz. However, they bounced back quickly with back-to-back wins. The first came in a thriller against U Mumba, where they edged past 36-36 in a tie-breaker. They followed it up with a 37-32 win over UP Yoddhas.

Their momentum took a hit when they lost to Bengaluru Bulls, but the team regrouped. They started the Jaipur leg with a narrow 40-37 victory over Gujarat Giants, a result that placed them eighth on the points table with three wins from five matches.

While Haryana’s raiding unit is performing reasonably well even without Naveen, their defense is struggling for consistency. The backline is not matching last season’s standards, forcing the side to depend heavily on individual brilliance. Against teams like Patna Pirates, this imbalance is becoming even more apparent.

Haryana Steelers lineup vs Partna Pirates:

Playing 7: Shivam Patare, Vinay, Hardeep, Jaideep Dahiya, Rahul Sethpal, Sahil Narwal, Neeraj Kumar.

Substitutes: Rahul Ahri, Ghanshyam Magar, Ritik Radheyshyam, Jaya Soorya, Vishal Tate, Mayank Saini, Ankit Dhull.

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