PKL 2026: Complete Guide to Schedule, Teams, Squads, Points Table and Season Updates
PKL 2026 — the 13th edition of the Pro Kabaddi League — is shaping up to be the most anticipated season in the competition’s history, not because of what has already happened but because of what is still being decided. The player auction window is being reported for mid-to-late October 2026, the season itself is expected to begin around late December 2026, and for the first time in five seasons, the league does not have a confirmed broadcaster after the previous media-rights deal expired. Defending champions Dabang Delhi K.C. will carry the target on their backs after a dramatic title run in Season 12, while the other 11 franchises are rebuilding through retentions, releases, and what is expected to be another high-stakes auction.
This guide brings together everything that is confirmed, everything that is reported, and everything that is still unknown about PKL 2026. It covers the history of the league, the tournament format, the 12 teams, the auction landscape, the points table framework, key players, kabaddi rules, and the questions fans are actually asking — without inventing match dates, player prices, or standings that do not yet exist.
What Is PKL 2026?
PKL 2026 is the working name for the Pro Kabaddi League Season 13, India’s flagship franchise kabaddi competition organised by Mashal Sports. The league launched in 2014 with eight teams and has since expanded to 12 franchises, becoming one of the most-watched sporting properties in the country. Season 12, held in 2025, concluded with Dabang Delhi K.C. defeating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi, securing their second title.
The 2026 edition is unusual because it is operating on a compressed and delayed calendar. The Asian Games and the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship have crowded the international schedule, pushing the auction and the season later than usual. As a result, several key details — including the exact start date, venue list, and broadcaster — remain unconfirmed as of late October 2026.
PKL History and Evolution
The Pro Kabaddi League began in 2014 with eight franchises: Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi K.C., Jaipur Pink Panthers, Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan, Telugu Titans, U Mumba, and Bengal Warriors. The league expanded to 12 teams in 2017 with the addition of Gujarat Giants, Haryana Steelers, Tamil Thalaivas, and UP Yoddhas.
The competition’s early years were dominated by Patna Pirates, who won three consecutive titles between 2016 and 2018. Since then, the league has produced a different champion almost every season, reflecting its competitive balance. Dabang Delhi’s 2025 triumph was their second title, following their first in 2019. Haryana Steelers entered PKL 2026 as the defending champions from Season 11, but their title defence ended before the final in Season 12.
The league has also evolved commercially. The 2026 auction saw ten players cross the ₹1-crore mark, with Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh joining Gujarat Giants for ₹2.23 crore and Devank Dalal moving to Bengal Warriorz for ₹2.25 crore — figures that underline kabaddi’s growing financial footprint.
PKL 2026 Season 13
Explore the Pro Kabaddi League 2026 season with team information, player details, match fixtures, venues and important tournament updates.
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Explore the twelve Pro Kabaddi League franchises and their team information.
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PKL 2026 Tournament Format
The format for PKL 2026 has not been officially confirmed, but the framework used in Season 12 is the most reliable guide. Season 12 introduced significant changes that are likely to carry forward:
108 league-stage matches, with each of the 12 teams playing 18 matches.
Two points for a win, zero for a loss, simplifying the points table.
Golden Raid tie-breakers applied to all league matches, not just playoffs. If a match is tied after regulation, teams contest a five-raid shootout; if still level, a Golden Raid decides the winner, and a toss is the final fallback
Top eight teams qualify for the playoffs, with a Play-In phase for teams finishing 5th to 8th, a Mini-Qualifier for 3rd and 4th, and Qualifier 1 for the top two.
For PKL 2026, these rules are expected to remain in place unless Mashal Sports announces further changes. The league has not confirmed any format alterations for Season 13.
PKL 2026 Teams: All 12 Franchises
The 12 franchises remain unchanged from Season 12. The table below lists the teams, their home cities, and their primary venues based on verified league information.
| Team | Home City | Primary Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | Kolkata | Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Indoor Stadium |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Bengaluru | Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Delhi | Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium |
| Gujarat Giants | Ahmedabad | EKA Arena |
| Haryana Steelers | Panchkula/Hisar | Tau Devi Lal Indoor Stadium |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Jaipur | Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium |
| Patna Pirates | Patna | Patliputra Sports Complex |
| Puneri Paltan | Pune | Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Chennai | Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium |
| Telugu Titans | Hyderabad/Visakhapatnam | Gachibowli Indoor Stadium |
| U Mumba | Mumbai | Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium |
| UP Yoddhas | Lucknow | Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium |
The venue list is based on the franchises’ traditional home bases and the venues used in recent seasons. The actual PKL 2026 host cities have not been officially announced, and the league may follow the caravan format used in Season 12, which travelled to Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai, and Delhi.
PKL 2026 Auction: What We Know
The PKL 2026 auction is the most immediate event on the calendar. Multiple reports indicate that the auction is expected to take place between 18 and 25 October 2026, although Mashal Sports has not issued a formal confirmation. The delay is linked to the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship, which have occupied the international kabaddi window.
The Season 12 auction offered a preview of the financial scale involved. Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh became the most expensive overseas signing in PKL history at ₹2.23 crore, joining Gujarat Giants. Devank Dalal, the best raider of Season 11, moved to Bengal Warriorz for ₹2.25 crore. Ten players in total crossed the ₹1-crore mark, a record for the league.
Aanil Mohan, a relatively unknown talent from Himachal Pradesh, was picked by U Mumba for ₹78 lakh — the highest-ever Category D bid in PKL history. These figures illustrate the auction’s dual character: it rewards established stars and can transform the lives of domestic players overnight.
For PKL 2026, the auction purse, retention rules, and final player list are still being finalised. Teams have begun announcing retentions and releases, with Dabang Delhi retaining Ashu Malik as captain and Tamil Thalaivas appointing Pawan Sehrawat as captain with Arjun Deshwal as vice-captain, though Sehrawat’s tenure has since been affected by disciplinary proceedings.
PKL 2026 Squads: Retention and Building
Full squads for PKL 2026 will not be confirmed until after the auction. However, the retention and release activity provides a picture of how teams are approaching the season.
Dabang Delhi K.C. have retained Ashu Malik, the 22-year-old raider who was the top scorer in Season 12, as captain. The defending champions are aiming for consistency after their title run.
Haryana Steelers, the Season 11 champions, have brought in Naveen Kumar on a ₹1.2 crore deal but lost key defender Mohammadreza Shadloui to Gujarat Giants. Their left-side defence is considered a potential vulnerability heading into the new season.
Telugu Titans are reportedly pursuing a youth-focused strategy, rebuilding around emerging talent rather than relying on established stars.
Puneri Paltan, the Season 12 runners-up, have retained Aslam Inamdar, whose journey from washing tea glasses to lifting the PKL trophy has become one of the league’s most inspiring stories.
Bengaluru Bulls are building around a balanced squad under coach BC Ramesh, blending experienced players with young talent.
The full PKL squads for 2026 will be published after the auction, and readers should treat any pre-auction squad list as provisional
PKL 2026 Schedule: What Is Confirmed
As of late October 2026, the PKL 2026 schedule has not been officially announced. No match dates, host cities, venues, or timings have been confirmed by Mashal Sports, and the league does not have a confirmed broadcaster for the first time in five seasons.
Based on current reports, the season is expected to begin in late December 2026, with some sources projecting a 25–27 December start window. The final is expected in early 2027, though the exact date has not been confirmed.
Readers should be cautious of any website publishing a “full PKL 2026 schedule” at this stage. Several sites are circulating sample or illustrative fixture lists that are not official. The safest approach is to wait for Mashal Sports’ official announcement and check the Pro Kabaddi League’s official channels.
PKL 2026 Points Table: The Framework
There are no live standings for PKL 2026 because the season has not started. However, the points table framework is known from the Season 12 format, and it will populate once matches begin.
| Position | Team | Played | Won | Lost | Score Difference | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bengal Warriorz | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 2 | Bengaluru Bulls | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 3 | Dabang Delhi K.C. | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 4 | Gujarat Giants | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 5 | Haryana Steelers | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 6 | Jaipur Pink Panthers | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 7 | Patna Pirates | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 8 | Puneri Paltan | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 9 | Tamil Thalaivas | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 10 | Telugu Titans | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 11 | U Mumba | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
| 12 | UP Yoddhas | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 |
The PKL Points Table will update after each match once the season begins. A win earns two points and a loss earns zero, with score difference used as the primary tiebreaker.
PKL 2026 Live Score and Broadcast
Live score updates for PKL 2026 will be available on the Pro Kabaddi League’s official website, ESPNcricinfo, and other cricket and sports score platforms once the season starts. The broadcast situation is less clear: Star Sports and JioHotstar held the rights through Season 12, but that deal has expired, and a fresh media-rights auction is expected.
Until a new broadcaster is confirmed, fans should rely on official league channels and established sports news outlets for PKL Live Score updates rather than unverified streaming services.
Top Raiders and Defenders to Watch
The PKL 2026 auction will determine which raiders and defenders are paired with which teams, but the individual quality of the league’s best players is already established.
Ashu Malik (Dabang Delhi) was the top scorer in Season 12 and remains the league’s most consistent young raider. Pawan Sehrawat (Tamil Thalaivas) is one of the most explosive raiders in PKL history, though his tenure at Thalaivas has been complicated by disciplinary proceedings. Naveen Kumar (Haryana Steelers) moved for ₹1.2 crore and is expected to lead their raiding unit. Devank Dalal (Bengal Warriorz) was the best raider of Season 11 and commanded ₹2.25 crore in the auction.
Among defenders, Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (Gujarat Giants) is the most expensive overseas player in league history and a two-time champion. Jaideep Dahiya (Haryana Steelers) demonstrated extraordinary commitment in Season 12, returning from hospital to lead his team to victory. Sunil Kumar (U Mumba) remains one of the most reliable Indian defenders, having commanded over ₹1 crore in previous auctions.
Kabaddi Rules and Terminology Explained
Kabaddi can be confusing for new viewers, so here is a plain-English guide to the terms that matter most.
Raid: A player (the raider) crosses the midline into the opponent’s half, chants “kabaddi” without taking a breath, and tries to touch defenders before returning to their own half. Each defender touched scores a point.
Tackle: Defenders try to stop the raider from returning to their half. A successful tackle scores a point for the defending team.
Super Raid: When a raider touches three or more defenders in a single raid and returns safely.
Super Tackle: When a team with three or fewer defenders on the mat tackles the raider. It scores two points instead of one.
All-Out: When all seven players of a team are out, the opposing team scores two bonus points and the all-out team revives all seven players.
Super 10: A raider scoring 10 or more raid points in a single match.
High Five: A defender scoring five or more tackle points in a single match.
Do-or-Die Raid: A raid in which the raider must score a point or be out, introduced in the closing minutes of each half to prevent negative play.
These rules apply to PKL 2026 unless the league announces changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
The season is expected to begin in late December 2026, with reports pointing to a 25–27 December window. Mashal Sports has not confirmed the exact date.
The auction is expected between 18 and 25 October 2026, according to multiple reports. An official confirmation is still awaited.
There are 12 teams, the same franchises that competed in Season 12.
Dabang Delhi K.C. won Season 12, defeating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final.
The broadcaster has not been confirmed. Star Sports and JioHotstar held the rights through Season 12, but the deal has expired and a new media-rights auction is expected.
A win earns two points, a loss earns zero, and the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs with a Play-In and Mini-Qualifier structure.
Devank Dalal (₹2.25 crore, Bengal Warriorz) and Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh (₹2.23 crore, Gujarat Giants) are among the highest-priced signings in league history.
Mahadevbookidd.com provides cricket and sports updates, including PKL 2026 team news, auction information, and match analysis. Readers can also follow the Pro Kabaddi League’s official channels for confirmed announcements.
Mahadevbook and PKL 2026 Updates
For fans who want to follow PKL 2026 without sifting through unverified speculation, Mahadevbookidd.com offers a structured way to track team news, auction developments, and season updates. The platform’s cricket and sports information section covers Pro Kabaddi League content alongside cricket previews and analysis.
Readers interested in a Mahadevbook ID or Mahadevbook login can find the relevant details on the official website. Those access steps are separate from the informational content discussed here, and they do not constitute an endorsement of any specific outcome or prediction.
Cricket Betting ID and Responsible Information
A cricket betting ID is an account identifier used to access an online betting platform. An online betting ID functions similarly for internet-based services. Cricket betting information covers rules, odds formats, and the legal requirements that vary by jurisdiction.
A betting ID guide should make clear that these credentials are access tools, not guarantees of profit. Mahadevbook betting ID and Mahadevbook ID information should be verified against the platform’s terms before use. WBBL betting analysis and PKL betting analysis are analytical exercises, not promises of outcomes.
Readers should follow applicable local laws, respect age restrictions, and understand that betting involves financial risk. No prediction or betting ID can eliminate the uncertainty of sport.