Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates: Head-to-Head Record, Stats & Rivalry
Patna Pirates spent years being the team every other franchise measured itself against. Then Haryana Steelers showed up, and one of the most successful teams in league history suddenly had a genuine rival standing in the way of a record fourth title, one built through a much shorter league history but a rapidly growing defensive reputation that opposition coaches have come to respect.
Haryana Steelers and Patna Pirates have met 14 times through the end of Season 11, with Haryana Steelers holding the edge at 8 wins to Patna’s 5, and 1 match ending tied. Their biggest meeting came in the Season 11 final, played on December 29, 2024, where Haryana Steelers beat Patna Pirates 32-23 to claim their first-ever PKL title, a result that still gets discussed as one of the more significant upsets against the league’s most decorated franchise.
This guide covers the full history between these two teams, breaks down what happened in their title-deciding final, and explains why this matchup has become one of the most closely watched rivalries in the league, especially given how quickly Haryana built their advantage against such an established opponent.
Complete Head-to-Head Record
Through the end of Season 11, Haryana Steelers hold a clear advantage in this fixture, winning 8 of their 14 meetings against Patna Pirates, with the Pirates picking up 5 wins and 1 match ending in a tie.
| Stat | Record |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played (through Season 11) | 14 |
| Haryana Steelers Wins | 8 |
| Patna Pirates Wins | 5 |
| Matches Tied | 1 |
| Season 11 Final Result | Haryana Steelers won 32-23 |
What makes this record notable is how recent Haryana Steelers’ rise has been. The franchise only joined the league in Season 5, meaning their entire head-to-head history against a three-time champion like Patna Pirates has built up in a relatively short window, and they have already come out ahead, a genuinely rare feat against a franchise with that much championship pedigree, and one that speaks to how quickly Haryana’s program matured under consistent coaching.
The Season 11 Final: A New Champion Is Crowned
Both teams arrived at the Season 11 final having already fought through tough semifinal battles. Haryana Steelers narrowly beat U.P. Yoddhas 28-25, with an All Out swinging momentum in their favor during the second half. Patna Pirates, meanwhile, edged past Dabang Delhi K.C. 32-28, with Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab driving their raiding attack throughout that contest.
The final itself, played at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, saw Haryana Steelers control the match from start to finish. Their win made them just the second team not ranked in the top two after the league stage to reach a final, following the same pattern Haryana had themselves set one season earlier at the Season 10 final, where they also entered as the lower-ranked side.
This victory also gave head coach Manpreet Singh his first PKL title after years of building competitive squads. He had previously led Gujarat Giants to back-to-back finals in Seasons 5 and 6 without winning, and guided Haryana Steelers to a runner-up finish in Season 10 before finally breaking through. Our full profile of every current PKL head coach, including how Manpreet’s coaching philosophy shaped this title run, is covered in our PKL head coaches guide.
How Patna Pirates’ Legacy Shapes This Rivalry
Patna Pirates remain the most successful franchise in PKL history, with three championships won in a row between Season 3 and Season 5, a streak no other team has come close to matching since. That history means every matchup against Patna carries extra weight, since beating the league’s most decorated franchise is always a statement result.
For a full look at how Patna Pirates’ three-peat and their place among PKL’s all-time champions compares to every other title-winning franchise, our PKL season history guide breaks down every season’s winner from 2014 through the present.
Patna’s recent seasons have been more turbulent than their trophy case suggests. Their Season 11 final appearance came after finishing outside the top two in the league stage, similar to Haryana’s own underdog run one year earlier, showing how the expanded playoff format has given mid-table finishes a real path to the final.
How This Rivalry Has Evolved Since Haryana Joined the League
Haryana Steelers entered PKL in Season 5, more than a decade after Patna Pirates had already established themselves as a founding franchise and eventual three-time champion. That gap in league experience makes Haryana’s current head-to-head lead over Patna even more notable, since they built it up against a genuinely established powerhouse rather than a fellow newcomer.
Early meetings between the two teams were relatively even, reflecting Haryana’s growing pains as a newer franchise finding its footing against more experienced opposition. The turning point came around Season 9 and Season 10, when Haryana’s defense, built around emerging talent like Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, started consistently limiting Patna’s attacking output.
By the time Season 11 arrived, Haryana had already reached one final and built genuine belief that they could compete with, and beat, the league’s most decorated team when it mattered most. That belief paid off directly in the Season 11 final itself.
Key Players Who Have Defined This Matchup
Vinay and Shivam Patare: Haryana’s Raiding Foundation
Haryana Steelers built much of their recent success around a raiding rotation featuring Vinay and young talent like Shivam Patare, who made an immediate impact upon debuting in Season 10 by outplaying established defenders during the playoffs. That kind of young talent breaking through against a storied opponent like Patna Pirates has become a recurring theme in this rivalry.
Rahul Sethpal and Mohammadreza Shadloui: Haryana’s Defensive Core
Haryana’s defense, anchored by players like Rahul Sethpal, has been the foundation of their success in this matchup specifically. Their ability to limit Patna’s normally potent raiding attack has been a consistent theme across their recent meetings, including the Season 11 final itself.
Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab: Patna’s Modern Raiding Threat
Patna Pirates have leaned on Devank Dalal and Ayan Lohchab as their primary raiding options in recent seasons. Devank’s Best Raider award in Season 11 translated directly into a 2.205 crore rupee price tag at the following season’s auction with Bengal Warriorz, showing how performances in matches like these against Haryana Steelers carry real financial weight beyond just the scoreline. Our highest-paid PKL players guide covers exactly how auction prices like this get decided.
The Auction Decisions Behind Both Rosters
Squad building through the PKL auction has shaped this rivalry just as much as coaching or player development. Patna Pirates have historically prioritized proven raiding talent at auction, a pattern reflected in prices paid for players like Devank Dalal, whose 2.205 crore rupee move to Bengal Warriorz came directly off his form playing against teams like Haryana Steelers.
Haryana Steelers, by contrast, have built their recent success around a more balanced approach, retaining key defensive pieces while still investing in raiders capable of controlling tempo against stronger opposition. Understanding exactly how retention rules and auction categories work, including how a team decides which pieces to protect heading into a new season, is covered in our PKL Season 13 retained players guide, which explains the full retention system ahead of the next auction cycle.
What a Win in This Fixture Means for Playoff Positioning
Because both teams have historically finished in the middle of the pack during the league stage before surging in the playoffs, their head-to-head results during the regular season carry extra weight for seeding purposes under PKL’s current eight-team playoff format.
A team that beats a rival like this during the league stage often gains a small but real edge in tie-breaker scenarios later in the season, since PKL uses score difference and head-to-head results as part of its playoff qualification criteria. Our full breakdown of exactly how the modern playoff bracket works, including the Play-in round both of these teams have had to get through in recent seasons, is available in our PKL playoffs schedule guide.
Recent Form and the Path Back to Another Final
Haryana Steelers enter Season 13 with real momentum, having already proven they can win the biggest matches against the league’s most storied franchise. Their challenge now is showing that Season 11’s title was not a one-off, given how quickly playoff fortunes can shift under PKL’s current eight-team format.
Patna Pirates, meanwhile, will be looking to add a fourth championship and reclaim their status as the league’s most dominant team. Their history of building competitive rosters, whether through the auction or through developing younger talent, means a return to championship form is never out of the question, regardless of how any single recent season against Haryana Steelers has gone.
Where This Rivalry Fits Into the Wider PKL Picture
Neither team has appeared in every recent final, but both have shown up often enough that their meetings genuinely matter for playoff seeding and momentum heading into the postseason. Checking the PKL points table during any active season quickly shows how close these two teams typically sit to each other, reinforcing just how competitive this specific fixture usually is.
The venues where these two teams have met also tell part of the story. Their Season 11 final took place in Pune, while earlier meetings have been spread across whichever city happened to be hosting that particular leg of the season. Our PKL venues guide explains how PKL’s caravan format determines where matches like these actually get played each season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has the better head-to-head record between Haryana Steelers and Patna Pirates?
Haryana Steelers hold the advantage with 8 wins to Patna Pirates’ 5 across 14 meetings through the end of Season 11, with 1 match ending tied.
What happened in the Haryana Steelers vs Patna Pirates Season 11 final?
Haryana Steelers won 32-23 on December 29, 2024, at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Pune, claiming their first-ever PKL title.
How many PKL titles has Patna Pirates won?
Patna Pirates have won three PKL titles, all consecutively between Season 3 and Season 5, making them the most successful franchise in league history.
Who coaches Haryana Steelers?
Manpreet Singh coaches Haryana Steelers, having guided them to a runner-up finish in Season 10 before winning their first title in Season 11.
Is this considered a major PKL rivalry?
Yes. The closely contested head-to-head record, combined with a title-deciding Season 11 final between a rising franchise and the league’s most historically successful team, makes this one of the more significant matchups in recent PKL history.
Has Haryana Steelers always had the edge in this fixture?
No. Their advantage built up gradually after joining the league in Season 5, with the balance shifting in Haryana’s favor around Season 9 and Season 10 as their defense matured against Patna’s traditionally strong raiding attack.
Which teams did Haryana Steelers and Patna Pirates each beat to reach the Season 11 final?
Haryana Steelers beat U.P. Yoddhas 28-25 in their semifinal, while Patna Pirates edged past Dabang Delhi K.C. 32-28 to reach the final.
What should fans watch for when these two teams meet again?
Keep an eye on the tackle point battle specifically. Historically, whichever defense controls the middle raids in this fixture tends to control the entire match, since neither team typically relies on one explosive raider to carry the scoreline the way some other franchises do, making this one of the more tactically interesting matchups to watch closely rather than just checking the final score afterward.
How has coaching stability affected this rivalry?
Both franchises have benefited from relatively stable coaching in recent years, with Manpreet Singh’s long tenure at Haryana Steelers and Patna Pirates settling on experienced leadership giving both teams a consistent identity heading into each new meeting, rather than constantly shifting tactics season to season. That stability shows up directly in how predictable their playing styles have become to opposition scouts, even if the results themselves remain genuinely hard to call in advance.
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