Pro Kabaddi League 2026 arrives with Dabang Delhi K.C. defending their title, franchises already signing New Young Players, coaching setups being overhauled, and an auction expected to shatter spending records.
Whether you follow kabaddi closely or are just getting started, this guide covers everything about PKL Season 13, from auction dates and squad updates to format, schedule, and the key battles that will define the title race.
Pro Kabaddi League 2026?
The Pro Kabaddi League is India’s premier franchise-based kabaddi competition, organised by Mashal Sports and broadcast on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
Season 13 continues with the same 12-franchise structure that has made it one of India’s most-watched sports properties.
| Team | Home City | PKL Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Patna Pirates | Patna | 3 |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Jaipur | 2 |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Delhi | 2 |
| Bengal Warriorz | Kolkata | 1 |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Bengaluru | 1 |
| Haryana Steelers | Haryana | 1 |
| Puneri Paltan | Pune | 1 |
| U Mumba | Mumbai | 1 |
| Gujarat Giants | Ahmedabad | 0 |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Chennai | 0 |
| Telugu Titans | Hyderabad | 0 |
| UP Yoddhas | Lucknow | 0 |
PKL Season 12 Result: What Happened Last Season
Dabang Delhi K.C. edged out Puneri Paltan 31-28 in a thrilling PKL Season 12 final at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, marking their second PKL crown and making them the first home side since U Mumba in Season 2 to clinch the title on home soil.
Neeraj Narwal and Ajinkya Pawar were decisive in attack, while Fazel Atrachali sealed the game with a crucial late tackle and was named MVP of the season.
Season 12 Awards:
- Most Valuable Player: Fazel Atrachali (Dabang Delhi K.C.)
- Raider of the Season: Ayan Lohchab (Patna Pirates, 316 raid points)
- Defender of the Season: Navdeep Singh (Patna Pirates, 73 tackle points)
PKL Season 13 Auction: Dates, Format and Big Names
Auction Date
No official date has been announced by Mashal Sports. Reports suggest the PKL Season 13 auction is expected to take place between July and August 2026.
| Event | Expected Window |
|---|---|
| PKL 13 Auction | July to August 2026 (unconfirmed) |
| Season Opener | December 2026 (expected) |
| Season End / Final | March 2027 (projected) |
How the PKL Auction Works
Players are divided into Category A through D based on value, with teams bidding from a fixed salary purse. Two rules significantly shape squad-building:
- Final Bid Match (FBM): Allows teams to buy back their released players by matching the final auction bid, for one or two seasons.
- New Young Players (NYP): Signed outside the auction window, giving teams development rights over emerging domestic talent.
PKL Season 12 Auction Spending: The Benchmark
The PKL Season 12 auction saw total expenditure of INR 37.90 crores across two days, with 121 players acquired and a record number of crorepatis. From Season 1’s modest team purse of INR 60 lakhs to this scale, the league’s financial growth has been extraordinary.
| Player | Team (PKL 12) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Gujarat Giants | INR 2.23 Cr |
| Devank Dalal | Bengal Warriorz | INR 2.205 Cr |
| Ashu Malik (FBM) | Dabang Delhi K.C. | INR 1.90 Cr |
| Arjun Deshwal | Tamil Thalaivas | INR 1.405 Cr |
| Yogesh Dahiya | Bengaluru Bulls | INR 1.125 Cr |
Players to Watch at PKL 13 Auction
- Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh — Two-time champion, always commands the highest bids
- Devank Dalal — Season 12’s top Indian buy, value rising rapidly
- Ashu Malik — Current champion captain, will attract fierce bidding wars
- Ayan Lohchab — Season 12 Raider of the Season with 316 raid points
- Pawan Sehrawat — Third highest raid-point scorer in PKL history, still match-defining
Pre-Auction Activity: Teams Already Moving
New Young Player Signings for PKL Season 13
Telugu Titans have signed four NYPs ahead of Season 13: Aryan Dhawale (right raider, Maharashtra), Himanshu Lather (right corner, Haryana), Laren Kumar (right raider, Telangana), and Prince Kumar (left corner, Haryana).
Tamil Thalaivas have recruited right raider Suthil Darshan and Lakshay Suhag as NYPs for PKL 13 and 14, as part of their post-Season 12 rebuild.
Coaching Changes for PKL Season 13
| Team | Change |
|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants | Randhir Singh Sehrawat appointed as new head coach |
| Patna Pirates | Jasveer Singh appointed head coach; new assistant coach added |
| UP Yoddhas | Upendra Malik appointed head coach |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Sanjeev Baliyan released after PKL 12 |
| Telugu Titans | Krishan Kumar Hooda retained |
Pro Kabaddi League 2026 Format Explained
The league stage follows a double round-robin format across multiple city venue legs. Each matchday features “Triple Panga” evenings with three back-to-back matches.
Points System:
| Result | Points |
|---|---|
| Win | 5 |
| Tie | 3 |
| Narrow Loss (under 7 points) | 1 |
| Heavy Loss (7+ points) | 0 |
PKL Season 12 featured eight teams in the second stage rather than the traditional six, with the top two qualifiers going directly to Qualifier 1. Season 13 is expected to continue this expanded playoff format.
Key Storylines to Follow in Pro Kabaddi League 2026
Can Dabang Delhi Defend?
Patna Pirates remain the only franchise to successfully defend their PKL title, having won Seasons 3, 4, and 5 back-to-back. Dabang Delhi now carry that pressure. Their core of Ashu Malik, Neeraj Narwal, and Fazel Atrachali will need to stay together after what will be an aggressive auction from rival teams.
Tamil Thalaivas’ Identity Crisis
Despite fielding Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal, and Narender Kandola last season, the Thalaivas won only 6 of 18 matches and were eliminated, with the mid-season release of their own captain making headlines. Their auction approach and new coaching structure will define whether they genuinely rebuild or repeat the same mistakes.
The NYP Generation
Multiple teams are already investing heavily in young players before the auction opens. Season 13 could be the breakout season for the next crop of kabaddi stars at both ends of the mat.
PKL All-Time Champions
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 (2014) | Jaipur Pink Panthers | U Mumba |
| Season 2 (2015) | U Mumba | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Season 3 (2016) | Patna Pirates | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Season 4 (2016) | Patna Pirates | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Season 5 (2017) | Patna Pirates | Gujarat Giants |
| Season 6 (2018) | Bengaluru Bulls | Gujarat Giants |
| Season 7 (2019) | Bengal Warriorz | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Season 8 (2022) | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Patna Pirates |
| Season 9 (2022-23) | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Puneri Paltan |
| Season 10 (2023) | Puneri Paltan | Haryana Steelers |
| Season 11 (2024) | Haryana Steelers | Patna Pirates |
| Season 12 (2025) | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Puneri Paltan |
Final Word: The Pro Kabaddi League 2026 Is Worth Following
Pro Kabaddi League 2026 enters a genuinely competitive era. Defending champions are under pressure, rebuilding franchises are thinking longer-term, and a new generation of players is knocking at the door.
Once Mashal Sports confirms the official auction date and schedule, every piece falls into place. Bookmark this page for all PKL Season 13 updates as they break.
FAQs
The official date is unconfirmed. December 2026 is the current expected window based on available reports.
Expected between July and August 2026. Watch prokabaddi.com for the official announcement.
Dabang Delhi K.C. defeated Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final.
Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, bought by Gujarat Giants for INR 2.23 crore at the PKL 12 auction.
Star Sports (TV) and JioHotstar (streaming), based on Season 12 broadcast rights.
