The 12 team captains strike a pose after the trophy unveiling at the INS Kursura Submarine Museum in Visakhapatnam on Thursday.
| Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK
Visakhapatnam Out with the old, in with the new — that’s the mantra for the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) heading into Season 12. The second-most followed league in the country, after the Indian Premier League (IPL), has drawn from the multi-billion dollar entity with a host of changes to further expand its footprint.
There is a new league structure in place, with each team playing 18 matches rather than 22. Draws have been eliminated, replaced by a structured five-round shootout. The play-offs format has also been revamped, with three Eliminators and two Qualifiers now giving two more teams a chance to fight for the title.
“We’ve come back refreshed and renewed. We’ve thought long about the changes. This is innovative, we’ve learned from other leagues,” PKL commissioner Anupam Goswami told media here on Thursday.
“The new rules will now make the matches even more entertaining, especially for the fans. Players might now tend to be a lot more aggressive. And if the contest ends with the scores tied, that also has some added interest now, as we will see a golden raid shootout,” Vijay Malik, skipper of home team Telugu Titans, which will take on Pawan Sehrawat’s Tamil Thalaivas in the season opener on Friday, added.
There have been personnel changes aplenty as well, with only four teams sticking with their gaffers from the last edition. The pre-season auction and the exit of the last of the league’s golden generation have democratised competitive advantage across squads.
The league also returns to the Port City, a place that boasts a rich, albeit slowly fading, kabaddi history, after a seven-year hiatus. The trophy launch was set against the backdrop of INS Kursura, the submarine that played a key role in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.
Influencers were also invited to take part in the pre-season festivities with the 12 captains, as the league looks to further reach the younger generation that has made social media their world.
With a spruced-up format, a new generation of players awaiting stardom and an audience hungry for excitement, the league is poised for another chapter of pulsating action.
Published – August 28, 2025 07:19 pm IST
