What to Expect from Pro Kabaddi League Season 12

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 starts August 29, 2025, in Vizag.
• Record-breaking player auction saw ten athletes cross the 1 crore mark.
• Strategic venues include Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai, and Delhi for matches.
• Haryana Steelers aim to defend title; Dabang Delhi strong contenders.
• Kabaddi World Cup success fuels global excitement for PKL Season 12.

PKL or Pro Kabaddi League is one of the most-watched sports in India. Its season that came out in 2023 was able to gain 351 million viewers. 

Now, on August 29, 2025, its twentieth edition is going to start, and the hype can be seen all over the country. The Pro Kabaddi League will have 12 teams that will face each other in 108 matches to claim the title. But what are the key things fans should be expecting? 

In this article, I’ll mention what to expect from the Pro Kabaddi League season 12. It would mention all those things that might take place in the upcoming tournament. Let’s get started.

Evolution of Sports Pro Kabaddi

The once traditional and rural sports Pro Kabaddi League has now been transformed into a commercial and professional league. Ever since its launch in 2014, Kabaddi has been transformed through stunning innovations, making it an aspirational and enjoyable sport for both fans and players alike. 

After just a couple of seasons, Kabaddi was transformed from a sport played in rural areas to one played in sold-out arenas and stadiums, with millions of fans tuning in from wherever they are. The Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) is one of the major supporters for this. They have also allied with the International Kabaddi Federation and the Asian Kabaddi Federation. 

It became India’s biggest sports league in terms of number of teams and geographical representation after four new teams were added in the fifth season. The sport has surely cultivated loyal fan bases across the country, from the World Cup connections to League tournaments. Below, you can see all the teams participating in the season. 

Key Highlights of Season 12 

The 2024 season is over, and the 2025 season is about to begin. Let’s take a look at some significant highlights of the Pro Kabaddi twelfth edition that will change how players and fans experience the games. 

Key Features This Year:

• A Revamped Pro Kabaddi League Schedule: The schedule for the twelfth edition of the Pro Kabaddi League is a lot more strategic than past seasons. High-profile matches are played mainly during the weekends and at the start of the season so that the viewership can be maximized. 

1. August 29, Friday: Bengaluru Bulls vs. Puneri Paltan & Telugu Titans vs. Tamil Thalaivas. 
2. August 30, Saturday: U Mumba vs. Gujarat Giants. 
3. September 2, Tuesday: Dabang Delhi vs. Bengaluru Bulls.

• Record-Breaking Player Auction: This season’s auction, ten players passed the 1 crore mark during the season 12 player auction held on the 31st of May and 1st of June in Mumbai. Ashu Malik, the seasoned Kabaddi player, emerged as one of the most expensive players at 1.9 crore, signifying the league’s growing value. 

• Venue Selection: The season’s schedule is not the only strategic thing about it, as match venues have also been chosen to promote fan engagement and regional representation. All the venues decided to go deeper than the matches that will be held there, as they all have historical significance. 

1. The legacy of Jaipur, which was where the 1,000th match was held during the 10th season. 
2. Vizag, as one of the locations, signifies a return to Kabaddi after seven seasons. 
3. Delhi and Chennai are known for established fan bases and urban viewership. 
4. The final leg of the PKL league will be held at the Thyagaraj Sports Complex at Delhi on the 13th of October. 

• Fan Zones and Live Entertainment: This season will feature interactive fan experiences at the different match venues to improve the overall PKL league experience. 

• Competitive Team Landscape: Nothing screams a fun sports league than healthy competition between rival teams, and the 12th season of the PKL is a major rise from the 11th season. Below, the teams are mentioned: 

• Dabang Delhi K.C.: The recurring storyline is Delhi vs. everyone, and the team is living up to its name as one of the strongest in the real Kabaddi league. A balanced squad that comprises international and emerging players with popular names like Ashu Malik and Naveen Kumar. 

1. Gujarat Giants: The Gujarat Giants are also not left out when it comes to big names in the PKL league. The campaign is set to be started on 30th August against the U Mumba team.
2. Fans have high expectations and expect only the best. 
3. Haryana Steelers: Judging from their impressive performance in the last season, the defending champions are ready to take on this season head-on. With a team of high-performing athletes, we can expect nothing less than high-quality performance from them. 

• Increased International Participation: The 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League is set to have more foreign players competing than ever before due to backing from the International Kabaddi Federation. 

Kabaddi League Season 12 Schedule Breakdown

The official Kabaddi League Season 12 schedule is set to kick off on the 29th of August 2025, with 137 matches featuring 12 franchises, including Patna Pirates, Dabang Delhi, Gujarat Giants, Puneri Paltan, etc. 

It has been stated that Jaipur, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and New Delhi are going to be the major hubs where the league will take place. The schedule is as follows: 

1. First Leg (August 29 to September 11) at Visakhapatnam. There will be 22 matches held at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium, Vizag, for a duration of 14 days. 

• Matches between Bengaluru Bulls vs. Puneri Paltan. 
• Telugu Titans vs. Tamil Thalaivas. 
• Gujarat Giants vs. U Mamba. 
• Dabang Delhi vs. Bengaluru Bulls.
• Gujarat Giants vs. Tamil Thalaivas, Jaipur Pink Panthers, and Puneri Paltan.

2. Second Leg (September 12 to September 28) at Jaipur. There will be over 27 matches held at the Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium, Jaipur, for a duration of 17 days. 

• The rivalry matches, like the U Mumba vs. Dabang Delhi. 
• Matchups with the three-time champions, Jaipur Pink Panthers. 

3. Third Leg (September 29 to October 12) at Chennai. There will be about 22 matches held at the SDAT Indoor Stadium, Chennai, for a duration of 14 days. 

• Dabang Delhi vs. Gujarat Giants. 
• Patna Pirates vs. Bengaluru Bulls. 
• UP Yoddhas vs. Tamil Thalaivas. 
• All home games by Tamil Thalaivas will be played during this leg. 

4. Fourth Leg (October 13 to October 23) at New Delhi. There will be about 18 matches held at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, New Delhi, for a duration of 11 days. 

• The home team, Dabang Delhi, will play all critical matches. 
• Dabang Delhi vs. Patna Pirates. After a very painful match in 2016, let’s see what fate has in store for both teams.  
• Haryana Steelers vs. Jaipur Pink Panthers. 
• UP Yoddhas vs. Bengaluru Bulls. 

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 Predictions

There are several predictions surrounding the 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League. The competitions are expected to be tough as multiple teams are contending for the title. Here are a couple of them: 

• The Dabang Delhi is expected to emerge as a major title contender due to its balanced squad. 
• The Haryana Steelers will most likely turn up the heat to defend their maiden title. 
• The usual is expected from the Jaipur Pink Panthers: high-quality strategy and gameplay, as they have multiple championships to their name. 

How to Book PKL Tickets 

There’s nothing like supporting your favorite team and experiencing them play live: you get to be in the midst of it all and enjoy a top-tier experience. Seeing the match with the arena filled with energetic fans who are rooting for their favorite teams is the ultimate way of watching the upcoming season, the entertainment would be on the next level. 

Here’s how you can book tickets to your favorite matches. Simply follow the steps below: 

• You can book from the official Pro Kabaddi website or the partner platforms like BookMyShow or Paytm Insider. 
• Make sure that you have subscribed to the alerts so that you can get early access to the perks.
• Choose your seating preference so you can enjoy a perfect viewing experience. 

Fans are also encouraged to download the official PKL app to get exclusive coverage, real-time updates, and player stats. 

The Kabaddi World Cup Hype

It is no surprise that there is a lot of hype surrounding this Pro Kabaddi season, as the Kabaddi World Cup tournament was just concluded in March. It is an indoor international Kabaddi tournament organized by the International Kabaddi Federation. 

The most recent Kabaddi World Cup, marking its second edition, took place in the West Midlands, England, from 17 to 23 March. The tournament consisted of both men’s and women’s competitions with some of the best Kabaddi players and over 60 matches. 

The success of international PKL players had a significant impact on the sport’s popularity worldwide. Participants from all around the globe, from Asia to Africa and Europe to Oceania, competed against each other. 

It was indeed a thrilling event, with the India team winning both the men’s and women’s World Kabaddi championship events, and England as the runner-up. 

An Exciting Season to Look Forward To 

With everything written above: record-breaking auctions, venues, competitive matches, and many more to look forward to, it is undeniable that season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League will be nothing short of exciting. 

From tracking your favorite Kabaddi player to keeping up with the different matches, whether online or physically, you’re sure to enjoy all that this season has in store.