Pro Kabaddi League 2025: Why Season 12 Stands Out
Pro Kabaddi League’s date for the Twelfth Season has finally been announced and now it is time for fans to brace themselves for what is expected to be an exhilarating season. The fans are now getting ready for the surprises in the auction and the new thrilling venues.
When And Where: The PKL Caravan Returns
As for the matches, the season initialization date is set for the 29th of August 2025 which will carry on until the 23rd of October in the same year. Four big cities will be maid host to the matches:
Visakhapatnam, August 29 to September 11.
Jaipur, September 12 to September 28.
Chennai, September 29 to October 12.
New Delhi, October 13 to October 23.
The season will commence with two exhilarating matches in Vizag: Telugu Titans taking on the Tamil Thalaivas while Bengaluru Bulls battle the Puneri Paltan.
Format and Playoff Structure: The Changes To This Season
The format will maintain a double round robin pattern for the first phase, and in the second, rely on knockout style playoffs, with a total of 137 matches to be played. The group stage will have 108 matches, and all 18 teams shall play 18 matches.
A notable addition to this season is the Golden Raid shootout tie-breaker: In the unfortunate occurrence of stalemates, a 5-raid shootout will be initiated, and if the tied teams are still level, a Golden Raid will be the decider.
The playoff format has changed as well; it not only the top 8 teams that get it. Teams that are ranked 5 to 8 get to compete in the Play-ins which leads to Eliminators, Qualifiers, and Mini-Qualifiers. This format has been created to increase the level of competition.
Kabaddi Pre-Season Auction Shockers
The pre-season auction that happened from 31st May to 1st June 2025 in Mumbai caused and still is causing a lot of shifts in the kabaddi world. A new record has been set as 10 players crossed the INR 1 crore mark in bidding which foreshadows a pretty good season.
Pardeep Narwal, the biggest surprise; untouched and not sold baffling fans and experts alike.
As in previous seasons, each franchise submitted squads with a mix of fresh talent and stale. A total of 83 players were retained as Elite, Young, or New Young Players, with many teams also fiercely drafting international talent such as Fazel Atrachali and Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh.
Focus On: Jaipur & UP Yoddhas
Under newly appointed coach Narender Redhu, Jaipur Pink Panthers are eyeing another PKL trophy. While the team has bolstered its defense, the loss of star raider Arjun Deshwal creates a challenge. The arrivals of Nitin Kumar Dhankhar and Uday Parte add fresh hope to the squad.
UP Yoddhas, led by new captain Sumit Sangwan, continue with 13 retained players to preserve balance. The side is also integrating younger players, highlighting management’s focus on long-term development and adaptability.
How to Watch & Why This Season is Unique
Every action-packed game can be viewed live on Star Sports and the JioHotstar streaming service.
Highlights of season 12 include its talent, new auction mechanics, wide-reaching geography, team spread, and dynamic rules. This season is full of surprises. There is room for the unexpected with fresh underdog and new hero storylines. Champions will face unprecedented challenges too.
Summary Table, Feature, Details, Start & End Duration
Aug 29 – Oct 23, 2025
Traveling From- Vizag → Jaipur → Chennai → New Delhi
Games- 137 total (108 league-stage)
Changes to Game Rules- Golden Raid tie-breaker, revamped playoffs
Headlines from Auction- 10 players sold above ₹1 cr, Pardeep Narwal unsold
Teams- Jaipur Pink Panthers, UP Yoddhas
Broadcasting channel- Star Sports Network, JioHotstar
Strategic plays, fans’ passions, and new storylines are certain to make season 12 of Pro Kabaddi League one of the most exciting yet. If you are interested in any of the teams’ schedules, player stats, or any storylines, just ask and I will provide you with the information.
