Pro Kabaddi League 2025 Season 12 Kicks Off: Schedule, Teams & Playoff Roadmap

When Pro Kabaddi League rolled out its twelfth season on Friday, August 29, 2025, the buzz was palpable across India's sporting circles. The opening day, deliberately aligned with National Sports Day, took place at the Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vishakhapatnam, where the host Telugu Titans squared off against the neighboring Tamil Thalaivas. Behind the scenes, Mashal Sports, the league’s founding promoter since 2014, orchestrated a 108‑match marathon that will culminate at the iconic Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi on October 31.

Season Overview and Schedule

The format remains unchanged: twelve franchises travel across four hub cities – Vishakhapatnam, Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi – before converging for the final stretch. The league stage unfolds over seven weeks, with the marquee block of matches slated for October 17‑22 at the Delhi venue. Here’s a snapshot of the key dates:

• Kick‑off: August 29, 2025, Vishakhapatnam.
• Mid‑season hub shift to Jaipur (early September).
• South‑bound leg in Chennai (mid‑September).
• Final league round: October 17‑22, Delhi.
• Playoffs: Eliminator 3 – October 28; Qualifier 2 – October 29.
• Championship Final: October 31, 20:00 IST, Delhi.

Each match is broadcast live on major sports channels and streamed on the league’s digital platform, ensuring fans from Kolkata to Kochi can follow the action in real time.

Team Line‑ups and Coaching Staff

All twelve squads have confirmed their rosters, and the coaching carousel looks as lively as ever. Below is a quick rundown of the franchise leaders:

1. Bengal Warriorz – coached by Naveen Kumar, captain Devank Dalal.
2. Bengaluru Bulls – head coach BC Ramesh, captain Yogesh Dahiya.
3. Dabang Delhi K.C. – led by Joginder Narwal, skipper Ashu Malik.
4. Gujarat Giants – coach Jaivir Sharma, captain Md Reza Shadloui.
5. Haryana Steelers – defending champions, guided by Manpreet Singh, captain Jaideep Dahiya.
6. Jaipur Pink Panthers – coach Narender Redhu, captain Reza Mirbagheri.
7. Patna Pirates – steered by Randeep Dalal, captain Ankit Jaglan.
8. Puneri Paltan – head coach Ajay Thakur, captain Aslam Inamdar.
9. Tamil Thalaivas – coached by Sanjeev Baliyan, captain Arjun Deshwal.
10. Telugu Titans – led by Krishan Kumar Hooda, captain Vijay Malik.
11. U Mumba – coach Anil Chaprana, captain Sunil Kumar.
12. UP Yoddhas – guided by Jasvir Singh, captain Sumit Sangwan.

“The squads are deeper than ever, especially with the rise of young raiders from the northeast,” said veteran analyst Rahul Mishra. “If the Steelers can keep their defending champion edge, they’ll be hard to beat.”

Key Fixtures and Playoff Roadmap

While the regular season is packed with intrigue, the league’s climax promises high‑stakes drama. The crucial October block at Delhi features back‑to‑back matchups that could decide semifinal spots:

Post‑league, the playoff ladder looks like this:

• Eliminator 3 – Tuesday, Oct 28, 20:00, Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium.
• Qualifier 2 – Wednesday, Oct 29, 20:00, same venue.
• Final – Friday, Oct 31, 20:00, Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium.

The winner not only lifts the trophy but also secures a lucrative spot in the forthcoming Asian Kabaddi Championships, adding continental bragging rights to the mix.

Venue Highlights

Two arenas dominate the narrative this season. The historic Vishwanadh Sports Club in Vizag, with its 12,000‑seat capacity, blends coastal charm with modern lighting rigs. Meanwhile, Delhi’s Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium – a 16,000‑seat, cricket‑turned‑kabaddi venue – has undergone a fresh acoustic overhaul to amplify the roar of fans. Both sites feature state‑of‑the‑art anti‑COVID ventilation, ensuring safety without dampening the electric atmosphere.

Impact and Expectations

From a commercial angle, the season is projected to generate ₹1.2 billion in broadcast and sponsorship revenue, a modest rise over the 2024 figures, according to a report by sports‑consultancy firm KIRAN Analytics. The league’s outreach program, launched in partnership with the Ministry of Youth Affairs, aims to introduce kabaddi in 500 schools across tier‑2 cities, nudging grassroots participation.

Fans, meanwhile, are already marking their calendars. “I’ll be travelling from Pune to Delhi just for the finals,” said avid supporter Amit Rao. “Kabaddi feels like our own version of cricket – the hype is real.”

What’s Next?

Beyond October, the league’s organizers hint at a possible “Super 6” mini‑tournament in early 2026, featuring the top‑performing teams from Season 12. If the current enthusiasm holds, we could see new franchise bids from Bengaluru and Hyderabad, potentially expanding the league to fourteen teams.