Pro Kabaddi League - 2022

Introduction

The 9th Pro Kabaddi League 2022 ended on 17th December 2022, with the Jaipur Pink Panthers defeating Puneri Paltan 33-29 in a thrilling final. 

This elite kabaddi league comprises 12 teams from across India who battle for the top six positions to enter playoffs. The top two teams in the league table lock horns to decide the trophy, as the team with the most points within the stipulated time wins the face-off.

Table of content

• Details

• History

• Theme

• Registration

• Star Players

• Schedule

• Venue

• Broadcasting Rights and Match Ticket Availability

• Conclusion

Details

History

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)was pitched as a hockey-based version of the IPL model to offer a thrilling showdown of Kabaddi matches annually. Since its inception in 2014, the PKL began with eight teams, which have scaled to 12 since 2018 (fifth season).

Held in India, this international league includes a prolific display of athleticism and raw skillset as players come from worldwide to compete and lift the trophy. The PKL attempted to commercialise the kabaddi, which enjoys popularity more than cricket and football in rural India. With a rich tradition inheriting the bouts of Kusti, this unlikely kabaddi league highlighted the thirst of the domestic audience for sports entertainment beyond the foolproof experience of cricket and football. 

Besides, India is the undisputed champion of all five Kabaddi World Cups. It made this event an open arena for all Kabaddi professionals and fans worldwide to watch the best panga on the mat. Pardeep Narwal of India is the best raider in PKL (1542 points), and Fazel Atrachali from Iran is the most feared tackler (424). 

Theme

The Pro Kabaddi League theme follows the classical practices of the game with additional rules to enhance competitiveness. It includes:

• The raiding team loses a player if unable to earn a touch in three consecutive raids, with the last raid, so called the do-or-die raid

• A defensive team comprising three or fewer players can earn a double point if they tackle the incoming raider (super tackle)

Besides, each PKL match includes 40 minutes of playtime with a five-minute interval between the two halves. Also, if a team loses all the players, it's declared all out, and the opposition team wins valuable bonus points. The 12 teams competing in the league have unique mascots that ensure splendid performances to connect deeply with an engaging audience.

Registration

In the ninth season of the Pro Kabaddi League, 12 teams played 132 games in double rounds. Each team played 11 matches in home and away stadiums. The top two teams advance to the semifinals, while the bottom four teams occupying the first six spots must play two elimination matches to reach the penultimate stage of the league.

The winning team from the two semifinal matches will compete for the prestigious championship trophy.

Check out the final standings:

Star Players

 Check out the best players from the 12 teams in the Pro Kabaddi League, who, over the years, have produced unique instances of le panga:

Schedule

 The outcome of the 132 Pro Kabaddi League saw the top six teams qualify for the final round.

These matches occurred between 7th October 2022 to 10th October 2022. Out of the top six teams, the first two qualified for the semifinals, while the rest four played eliminators on 13th December 2022. The semifinals took place on 15th January 2022. Check out the schedule of the playoffs that led to the last clash between Jaipur Pink Panthers and Puneri Paltan:

Venue

Play

Pro Kabaddi League matches get organised in indoor stadiums across India. All matches get played on synthetic turf across both home and away fixtures for 12 teams. During season 9, only 4 indoor stadiums of Bengaluru, Pune, Hyderabad, and Mumbai hosted 132 group matches, two eliminators, and both the semifinals. The final of the PKL 9th season took place in the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium on 17th December 2022 between Jaipur Pink Panthers and Puneri Paltan.

Check out the stadiums and their seating capacity for organising kabaddi league games:

Broadcasting Rights and Match Ticket Availability

 The Star Sports Network is the official broadcaster of the Pro Kabaddi League across India. Want to watch on OTT? Subscribe to Disney Hotstar+ to catch the latest scores if you cannot manage TV time to watch your favourite team raid across the opponent's turf. 

While the competition is over, the 10th season shall resume in October, or check out for more updates on the official website of Pro Kabaddi. 

Conclusion

The Pro Kabaddi League is a breath of fresh air in the worlds of MMA and wrestling. The active clash of raw strength, critical intelligence, and seamless strategies make kabaddi games a miniature battlefield, where each team dares the other's limits. PKL is an inspiring success, with its overall viewership just below the IPL.

The OTT viewership is at an all-time high of 1.3 crores.

Besides, it led to unprecedented revenue generation and inspired thousands of kabaddi players across India to strive and dream beyond the struggles of meeting ends. It also invigorated the traditional Kusti akhara, the nest of kabaddi. Jaipur Pink Panthers winning the PKL for the third time make it worth the watch if they equalise with the most crowned Patna Pirates in the 10th season.