• Source:JND
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Pro Kabaddi League 2025: Haryana Steelers vice captain Rahul Sethpal has expressed unshakeable confidence in the team's ability to clinch the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2025 championship title, with the current team looking better equipped than last year's squad.

The highly anticipated 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is all set to kick off on Friday, August 29, at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag.

As the defending champions, Haryana Steelers are driven to make history in the upcoming season of the Pro Kabaddi League, becoming only the second team to retain their title after Patna Pirates. Defender Rahul Sethpal shared insights into the team’s preparation, stating that the team has been working tirelessly to fine-tune their strategy and skills.

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"We have to control ourselves. We have to be confident. Our team looks better than last year. We have to be confident that we will win. Our main focus is to maintain ourselves better than last year, physically and mentally. We have to become champions again," Sethpal said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Jagran.

Haryana Steelers will take on Bengal Warriors in the PKL opener on August 31 at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium.

Sethpal said Haryana Steelers' coaching staff has prioritised fitness, which has been a crucial factor in the team's preparation.

"The team has prepared much better than the last time. We have worked on our fitness. Our coach has given a lot of importance to our fitness. We have worked a lot on our small mistakes. Our standing coach has given a lot of importance to our fitness. That is why our team looks strong. We will try to become champions like last year," Sethpal said.

Haryana Steelers' Raider Vinay Tevathia disclosed that the team's strategy revolves around a balanced approach, stating that his role is to support both the defence and the raid.

Last season, he was at his top form, making 163 raid points in 23 matches.

"The strategy is different for each team. If we have to play aggressively with a team or defensively with a team, we make it together with the coach. If we have to play aggressively with a team or defensively with a team, we make it together with the coach. My contribution is that whenever the team needs a point on a duel or die raid, I can score a point there. Instead of doing super 10 or 20 points in my personal best, that is not very important for me," Tevathia said in an exclusive interview with The Daily Jagran.

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"When the team needs 1 or 2 points, I can score a point there. I have the same mentality and I want to score a point there. That is the only way we can win the match. When we win the match, it feels good. Otherwise, what is the use of all these efforts?" he added.

PKL 2025: Bhojpuri, Haryanvi added to commentary

For the first time, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) will be available in eight languages, with Haryanvi and Bhojpuri making their debuts in season 12, starting from Friday in Visakhapatnam. Haryanvi and Bhojpuri joined English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Marathi in the commentary feed. 

“Season 12 of PKL is about making the game more accessible and more engaging than ever. By presenting the league in eight languages, including Bhojpuri and Haryanvi for the first time, we are taking kabaddi deeper into its heartlands and closer to its fans. Combined with innovations like referee cam and dugout views, and a refreshed format that brings aggression to the fore, this season will deliver a richer and more immersive storytelling experience across platforms,” said Siddharth Sharma, Head, Audience Engagement, Viewership and Monetisation Initiative, JioStar.