Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 Roars On: Playoffs Set for Late October in Delhi

When Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 Visakhapatnam kicked off on August 29, 2025, fans across India found themselves glued to the action. Organized by Mashal Sports, the franchise tournament opened with a clash between the Telugu Titans and the Tamil Thalaivas at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Defending champions the Haryana Steelers entered the fray with high expectations after their maiden title last year.

Season Overview and Key Dates

Here's the thing: the league runs for three months, criss‑crossing twelve major Indian cities. After the inaugural match in Visakhapatnam, the schedule bounced to Jaipur, Chennai, and finally to Delhi, where the bulk of games now sit. As of October 17, 2025, the league stage still has a handful of matches left, most of them at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi.

Match 91 – Bengal Warriorz vs. Patna Pirates – kicked off at 19:30 IST, followed by a back‑to‑back showdown between Tamil Thalaivas and Dabang Delhi K.C. at 20:30 IST, and finally Jaipur Pink Panthers taking on UP Yoddha at 21:30 IST. The league will wrap up after 108 fixtures, leaving the top four to battle it out in the playoffs.

The 12 Teams and Their Leaders

Each franchise brings its own flavour, but a few names keep floating to the top of conversations. For instance, the Bengal Warriorz, captained by Devank Dalal, rely on a fast‑paced raiding combo, while Bengaluru Bulls lean on veteran coach BC Ramesh to tighten their defence.

• Telugu Titans – Captain: Vijay Malik; Head Coach: Krishan Kumar Hooda
• Tamil Thalaivas – Captain: Arjun Deshwal; Head Coach: Sanjeev Baliyan
• Haryana Steelers – Captain: Jaideep Dahiya; Head Coach: Manpreet Singh (defending champs)
• UP Yoddha – Captain: Sumit Sangwan; Head Coach: Jasvir Singh
• ... and the remaining six squads follow a similar structure, each with a distinct captain‑coach duo guiding them through the grind.

The twist is that many of these captains are only in their mid‑20s, proving how quickly young talent is reshaping the sport.

Current League Stage: Matches and Standings

Oddly enough, the points table is tighter than anyone anticipated. Haryana Steelers sit second with 13 wins, but Bengal Warriorz trail by just a single point after their narrow loss to Patna Pirates. Meanwhile, the Puneri Paltan have surged into the top three thanks to a last‑minute raid in their match against Dabang Delhi K.C. on October 15.

Statistically, the season has produced an average of 48 raid points per match, a modest rise from the 44‑point average recorded in Season 11. Experts attribute the bump to rule tweaks introduced by the league’s Technical Committee, which now awards an extra point for “Super Raid” attempts that cross the 15‑meter line.

Playoff Timeline and What to Expect

The playoffs kick off on October 25, 2025, with two play‑in games at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium. Play‑in 1 starts at 20:00 IST, followed by Play‑in 2 at 21:00 IST. Winners of these bouts will join the top‑ranked teams in the Qualifier rounds.

1. Qualifier 1 – October 27, 20:00 IST: Puneri Paltan vs. Dabang Delhi K.C.
2. Qualifier 2 – October 28, 20:00 IST: TBD based on play‑in outcomes.
3. Final – October 31, 20:00 IST: The championship clash that will decide whether Haryana Steelers can defend their crown or if a new dynasty rises.

Fans are already buzzing about a potential showdown between the Steelers and the Kannada‑backed Bengaluru Bulls, who have been unbeaten in their last five games. If the Bulls keep the momentum, the final could become a classic.

From Season 11 to Season 12: A Brief History

Season 11, which began on October 18, 2024, was the league’s 11th edition. It marked the first time the tournament was broadcast on a free‑to‑air channel across rural India, resulting in a 23 % spike in viewership. That season also introduced the “Super 5” rule, allowing teams to field an extra raider during the last two minutes of each half – a move that made games edge‑of‑the‑seat thrilling.

Much of that experimental spirit carried over into Season 12, but the organizers trimmed the “Super 5” concept after mixed feedback. Instead, they focused on tightening the “Fair Play” guidelines, which has reduced on‑court disputes by roughly 15 % according to league statistics.

Future Outlook for Kabaddi

Looking ahead, the Pro Kabaddi League is eyeing an expansion into two new cities—Kolkata and Pune—by 2027. The board also hinted at a possible partnership with a major streaming platform to stream matches internationally, which could bring kabaddi to a global audience for the first time.

Meanwhile, grassroots programs funded by Mashal Sports are already sprouting in schools across Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, planting the seeds for the next generation of raiders. If those pipelines stay healthy, we could see the sport’s talent pool double within the next decade.