The stage is set for the biggest Kabaddi game of the year as Puneri Paltan and Haryana Steelers are set to lock horns in the summit clash of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2023-24 season on Saturday, March 1, at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad.
Puneri Paltan got the better of three-time PKL champions Patna Pirates in the semi-final, beating them 37-21 to register only their fifth win in 22 games against them.
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Meanwhile, Haryana Steelers, who finished fifth in the PKL table, continued their resurgent form by knocking two-time winners Jaipur Pink Panthers out with a 31-27 scoreline.
A lot of star players will be appearing on the mat in the PKL 2023-24 final. The Sporting News highlights the star players to watch out for ahead of the final.
MORE: Three key battles to watch out for in the PKL 2023-24 final
Three players to watch out from Puneri Paltan
Aslam Mustafa Inamdar
After rising to prominence in the eighth season of PKL, captain Aslam Mustafa Inamdar is enjoying another successful campaign for the Puneri Paltan, emerging as one of their most crucial players.
The all-rounder ranks ninth in the list for most points won in this season. Indeed, the 24-year-old has 164 points from 22 games, averaging 7.45 points per game. He has 139 raid points, and 25 tackle points, turning out to be a major all-round force for the Paltan.
Mohammadreza Chiyaneh
Mohammadreza Chiyaneh shot to limelight when Puneri Paltan splashed INR 2.35 Crore for the Iranian at the PKL Season 10 auctions, making him the most expensive foreign player in PKL history, as well as the second-most expensive player ever (behind Pawan Sehrawat).
Having made his debut in PKL two years ago, Chiyaneh has become one of the best players in the league. He's following the footsteps of veteran countryman Fazel Atrachali, who is widely regarded as the greatest defender in PKL history.
This season, the 23-year-old has collected 97 tackle points from 23 games, averaging 4.22 points per game. He is well on course to break Nitesh Kumar's PKL record of 100 points from PKL Season 6.
Chiyaneh would be keen to get the better Haryana Steelers' talismanic raider Vinay, who has been in astonishing form this season.
Mohit Goyat
The extremely quick and agile Mohit Goyat has continued to make his name as one of the best young raiders in PKL and has been a vital player in the Paltan's dominance this season.
Although he hasn't been as prolific as he has been in his previous two seasons, Goyat has still been a very effective raider who can get a point or two from any given raid at any point of time.
This season, he averages a tad less than 6 raid points per game (117 raid points from 21 games, averaging 5.71).
However, he has improved his defensive skills a lot, acquiring 29 tackle points this season from the left-cover position.
MORE: Who will win PKL 10? Predictions, betting odds and chances
Haryana Steelers
Jaideep Dahiya
The Haryana Steelers captain has been in solid form and has been a robust presence as a defender for his team.
Dahiya has accumulated 68 tackle points from 22 outings (eighth-most in PKL 10), averaging 3.09 tackle points per game.
Given his leadership acumen and the way he has been at the forefront of all the action in a squad that is brimming with youthful energy, the Steelers will once again rely on their seasoned campaigner to make the team an impenetrable force against a team full of lethal raiders.
Rahul Sethpal
The right-corner of Haryana Steelers is experiencing a terrific season in defence, securing 71 tackle points from 23 games (3.09 tackle points on average). He sits in fourth position for most tackle points in PKL Season 10.
Injuries to bigger names have allowed the 22-year-old to take centre stage and showcase his range of defensive abilities, having one of the best succession rates in tackles. Sethpal also leads the charts for the most Super Tackles this season with 15, six more than any other player.
Vinay Tevathia
Hands down the best raider of Haryana Steelers this season, Vinay has been simply brilliant.
Although he ranks ninth for the most raid points this season with 160 points from 22 games, it's the manner in which he has won those points that has really set him apart this season.
Vinay has six Super Raids, the fourth-most this season, and 39 points won via Do-or-Die raids, just two less than the first-ranked Dabang Delhi's Ashu Malik in this category.
Steelers will be relying on Vinay's clutch raids if the going gets tough against Puneri Paltan, and you can certainly bet on the raider delivering under pressure.