The Haryana Steelers were in the thick of things last season reaching the Eliminator 2 before losing. The margins between losing and winning were so thin that a little bit of luck could have easily seen them win a title in their debut year.
The Steelers are built around attack and have a very impressive stable of raiders on their side. Monu Goyat will lead the attack and captain the side as he hopes to improve on a good performance last season. Vikash Khandola, Wazir Singh, Anand Surendra Tomar, and Bhuvaneshwar Gaur are all fine raiders in the squad. The problem in the opening game for the Steelers was its defense. The team conceded two all-outs and did not have a plan to counter the opposition's attacks.
Kuldeep Singh, Sunil, Vikash, and Sachin SHingade will need to get things right in order to be more competitive as a team. The season is just starting and there is plenty of time for the Steelers to get its combination right but another loss here is certainly going to complicate things.
The Gujarat Fortunegiants may not have won a match in the tournament yet but its tie against Dabang Delhi K.C. was enough to show that the side is going to be a contender this year as well. The Fortungiants were brilliant defensively last year as they made their way to the finals and this year has started out in a similar fashion as well.
Gujarat recorded 11 tackle points in its opening match and also managed to take 6do or die raid points as well. This shows that both facets of its game were working well. Defender Sunil Kumar who provides right cover is going to be leading the side this season.
His defense team will depend on himself, Ruturaj, Rohit Gulia, and Sachin Vittala t lock down raiders from the opposition. On the offensive side, K Prapanjan, Sachin, Yashwant Bishnoi, and Dong Geon Lee will be the players to look out for.
The Gujarat Fortunegiants is a tough, well-0drilled, side lead by the youngest captain in Pro Kabaddi history. There is no shortage of ambition in this side and they will be confident of winning their first match against the Haryana Steelers.
The two sides have met three times in the past and the Haryana Steelers have never lost any one of those encounters. The current record stands 2 victories and one tie in favor the Haryana Steelers. The Gujarat Fortunegiants, though, are a very strong side not to be taken lightly.
The Gujarat Fortunegiants started the season looking like the more competent side but Haryana is sure to up its game as well. This match is going to be about the Haryana offense versus the Gujarat defense. With home advantage and history in its favor, we are backing the Haryana Steelers to win this contest.
Back the Haryana Steelers to win.