PKL 2025 Thriller: Haryana Steelers Edge U Mumba 46-45 in Tie-Breaker, Naveen Kumar & Shivam Patare Shine Under Pressure
PKL 2025: Haryana Steelers edge past U Mumba 46-45 in a nail-biting tie-breaker. Naveen Kumar and Shivam Patare deliver match-winning performances in this epic kabaddi clash
Haryana Steelers clinched their first win of the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 against U Mumba in a thrilling encounter that went to the tie-breaker — the third one in 12 games — at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag on Wednesday. Ajit Chouhan’s Super 10 and Naveen Kumar’s game-changing Super Raid headlined a clash that swung wildly before Shivam Patare’s stunning strike in the tie-breaker sealed it for the Steelers.
U Mumba got off to a flying start against the defending champions, with Ajit Chouhan opening the account through a successful raid. A couple of strong tackles followed, and U Mumba quickly raced to a 5-0 lead. The pressure mounted on the Steelers, and within just over six minutes, they were handed an ALL OUT, leaving them trailing 2-12. This was the fastest All-Out by any team in the ongoing edition.
Ajit Chouhan continued to shine, adding valuable raid points and keeping Haryana under pressure. However, the defending champions began to make a comeback. By the 10th minute, they reduced the deficit to 8-14. Soon after, Shivam tackled Ajit to remove U Mumba’s key raider, and the Steelers capitalised by enforcing an ALL OUT of their own, narrowing the margin to 12-16.
The momentum shifted further in the closing stages of the half. A brilliant raid by Vinay brought the Steelers closer, and a superb tackle on Ajit in the final three minutes made it 19-20. Vinay then levelled the scores at 20-20 with a successful raid. But U Mumba responded immediately, holding their nerves. Thanks to that resurgence, they reduced the deficit to just three points, as U Mumba went into the break with a slender 23-20 lead.
U Mumba quickly regained control, extending their lead to 24-21 within the first two minutes. A calm finish from Sandeep in a Do-or-Die raid pushed the advantage further to 26-21. But just when it looked like U Mumba would pull away, Naveen Kumar stepped up in the 15th minute with two crucial raid points, cutting the deficit to 23-26. Ajit Chouhan soon completed his Super 10, helping U Mumba push ahead once again at 31-25 early in the final quarter.
But the Steelers weren’t done. Naveen continued to lead their charge, reducing the gap to 27-31 in the 7th minute of the half. Then came the game-changing moment; in the final three minutes, Naveen Kumar produced a stunning raid, inflicting an ALL OUT to put Haryana Steelers ahead for the first time in the match.
With the scores tied at 34-34 after U Mumba managed a bonus point, the drama only intensified. Shivam Patare gave the Steelers the lead again with a successful raid, but Ajit Chouhan quickly struck back to level things up. Naveen then faltered in a crucial raid, handing the advantage back to U Mumba. In the dying seconds, Ajit Chouhan went in for a Do-or-Die raid but was caught, allowing Haryana Steelers to snatch a point and force a 36-36 tie, sending the contest into a tie-breaker.
This was U Mumba’s second tie-breaker of the season, but it was Haryana Steelers who struck first. The tie-breaker was a rollercoaster, with both teams trading blows in quick succession.
U Mumba struck first through Sunil Kumar and Sandeep, while Ajit Chouhan added to his tally with yet another raid. The Steelers, however, responded with resilience – Jaya Soorya and Vinay chipped in with crucial points before Shivam Patare produced the moment of the contest, a stunning Super Raid that wiped out Rohit Raghav, Sandeep and Rinku in one go.
That decisive strike swung the momentum firmly in Haryana’s favour, and despite Mumba’s attempts to claw back, the Steelers held their nerve to edge ahead in the final exchanges and clinch a thrilling tie-breaker victory.
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025 witnessed one of its most electrifying matches of the season as Haryana Steelers edged out U Mumba 46-45 in a dramatic tie-breaker finish. The contest, filled with high-octane raids, fierce tackles, and edge-of-the-seat drama, kept fans hooked until the very last moment.
From the very beginning, both Haryana Steelers and U Mumba showcased their intent to dominate. The first half saw U Mumba, known for their aggressive defensive strategies, taking a slight lead. However, Haryana Steelers, backed by their never-say-die spirit, kept clawing their way back into the game.
By halftime, the scoreboard read 21-20 in favor of U Mumba, setting the stage for an intense second half. With both teams refusing to give an inch, every raid and tackle became a decisive moment in the match.
Haryana’s star raider Naveen Kumar once again proved why he is considered one of the most lethal raiders in PKL history. His quick reflexes, sharp footwork, and ability to escape defenders under immense pressure earned him crucial raid points throughout the match. Naveen’s consistency ensured that the Steelers never allowed U Mumba to build an unassailable lead.
While Naveen’s brilliance was expected, it was Shivam Patare who stole the limelight in the tie-breaker. Patare, relatively new on the big stage, rose to the occasion with fearless raids and sharp strategies that caught U Mumba’s defense off guard. His contribution turned out to be the game-changer, helping Haryana edge past their opponents by the slimmest of margins.
With the match tied at the end of regulation time, fans were treated to the rare spectacle of a PKL tie-breaker. Both teams fielded their best raiders and defenders for the deciding moments. It was a battle of nerves, but Haryana Steelers displayed remarkable composure. Naveen set the tone with a successful raid, and Shivam followed up with a crucial point that sealed the 46-45 win.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, U Mumba showcased incredible resilience. Their defense, led by stalwarts like Surinder Singh and Rinku, managed multiple super tackles that nearly turned the game in their favor. Raider Guman Singh also delivered under pressure, keeping U Mumba alive until the final seconds.
Social media erupted with reactions as fans hailed the clash as one of the best games of PKL Season 12. Hashtags like #PKL2025, #HaryanaSteelers, and #KabaddiThriller trended across platforms.
With this victory, Haryana Steelers not only boosted their playoff hopes but also established themselves as a team capable of holding their nerve in crunch situations. U Mumba, meanwhile, will look to bounce back stronger, as their performance showed plenty of positives despite the narrow defeat.
Final Score: Haryana Steelers 46 – 45 U Mumba
Top Performers: Naveen Kumar (Haryana), Shivam Patare (Haryana), Surinder Singh (U Mumba)
The PKL 2025 season continues to thrill, and this Haryana Steelers vs U Mumba clash will be remembered as a match where determination, skill, and nerves of steel made all the difference.
