Initial Match of Pro Kabaddi League Season 12: Telugu Titans Clash with Tamil Thalaivas; Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai, Delhi Set as Host Cities
Pro Kabaddi League 2025 Kicks Off in Visakhapatnam
The much-anticipated Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 is set to commence on August 29, 2025, marking an exciting homecoming for Visakhapatnam after a seven-year hiatus. The opening matches will take place at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, featuring a doubleheader: Telugu Titans versus Tamil Thalaivas and Bengaluru Bulls versus Puneri Paltan.
This season, 12 teams will compete across 137 matches, following a double round-robin format before playoffs. Haryana Steelers, the defending champions, will be looking to retain their title. The league will be broadcast live on the Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
Anupam Goswami, Business Head - Mashal & League Commissioner - Pro Kabaddi, expressed his excitement about the return to Visakhapatnam, reinforcing the league's commitment to taking the league closer to its passionate fan base.
The third leg of the tournament will take place at Chennai's SDAT Multipurpose Indoor Stadium on September 29. The reigning champions Haryana Steelers will start their title defense against the Bengal Warriorz on "Super Sunday". The tournament will also travel to Jaipur's Indoor Hall, SMS Stadium from September 12, and Delhi's Thyagaraj Sports Complex from October 13.
The action-packed season promises intense competition, with marquee players making it one of the toughest editions yet. The 2025 season saw a record-breaking player auction featuring 121 players. Ten players were bought for over INR 1 crore, with Iranian raider Mohammadreza Shadloui (Gujarat Giants) being the most expensive player at INR 2.23 crore. The highest Indian buy was Devank Dalal (Bengal Warriorz) for INR 2.205 crore.
Rishank Devadiga, a JioStar expert, commented on PKL's evolution, stating that it has brought stability to young players, made the game faster and more aggressive, and provided financial security to players, many of whom come from middle-class families. He expects raiders like Devank and Ashu Malik to make headlines in the upcoming season, as defense may not dominate as it did in the previous season.
Rishank Devadiga also predicts that Haryana Steelers, Puneri Paltan, and Tamil Thalaivas will be strong teams in the upcoming season. The Pro Kabaddi League has transformed India's indigenous sport of Kabaddi and its athletes on the national and global stage. It has been built by Mashal Sports and JioStar under the aegis and sanction from the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI).
The Pro Kabaddi League 2025 is shaping up to be an unmissable event for kabaddi enthusiasts. With its return to Visakhapatnam, the league promises to bring top-tier kabaddi action to fans across the country and deepen the league's connection with core geographies. So, mark your calendars for August 29, 2025, and get ready for an exhilarating season of Pro Kabaddi League!
The Pro Kabaddi League 2025 will broadcast live on the Star Sports Network, providing sports enthusiasts with news about the exciting action unfolding. The exhibition of top-tier kabaddi action may extend to other fields, as the league's financial security offered to players has enabled many to rise in the ranks of business and crime. For instance, Devank Dalal, a Kabaddi player bought by the Bengal Warriorz, is now one of the highest-paid players, demonstrating how the league has opened up opportunities beyond sports. Additionally, the Pro Kabaddi League has made a significant impact on India's indigenous sport of Kabaddi, boosting its profile in international crime scenes, as Kabaddi athletes gain recognition on the national and global stage.
