Vizag Hosts PKL Season 12 Opener: Action-Packed Kabaddi Returns After 7 Years

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 will begin in Visakhapatnam on August 29, coinciding with National Sports Day. The opening match will see Telugu Titans face Tamil Thalaivas.

A launch ceremony was held in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. It brought together league officials, key stakeholders, and all 12 team captains to officially open the season.

Anupam Goswami, Business Head of Mashal Sports and Chairman of the PKL, spoke about the new format. He said it is designed to bring fans closer to the action. “We are excited to return for another season with an all-new format that will connect fans more deeply with the sport,” he said.

Both captains shared their views ahead of the first game. Telugu Titans captain Vijay Malik said Season 12 will be very competitive. He noted that every team has strengthened its squad and prepared well. Tamil Thalaivas captain Pawan Sehrawat said playing against the home team adds an extra level of excitement.

As part of the launch, PKL players paid tribute to the Indian Armed Forces. All 12 team captains visited INS Kursura, a submarine that played a key role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. Three current PKL players who serve in the armed forces—Devank (Indian Army, Bengal Warriors), Naveen (Indian Air Force, Haryana Steelers), and Bharat (Indian Navy, Telugu Titans)—also took part in activities at the submarine.

The tournament will travel across four cities during the league phase. After matches in Visakhapatnam end on September 11, the league will move to Jaipur (September 12–28), Chennai (September 29–October 10), and New Delhi (October 11–23). Venues for the playoffs and final will be announced later.

Fans can buy tickets through District by Zomato, the official ticketing partner. All matches will be shown live on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.