Pro Kabaddi League: A Comprehensive Guide
Introduction
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) is a professional kabaddi league in India, founded in 2014. It is the most popular kabaddi league in the world and has played a significant role in the revival of the sport in India. The league features 12 teams representing different cities and states across the country.
History and Evolution of the Pro Kabaddi League
The PKL was founded in 2014 by Mashal Sports, a sports management company owned by the Star India Group. The inaugural season was held in 2014 with eight teams and has since expanded to 12 teams in 2017. The league has grown significantly in popularity over the years, with increasing viewership and attendance at matches.
Teams and Players
The PKL consists of 12 teams, each representing a different city or state in India. The teams include: Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi KC, Gujarat Giants, Haryana Steelers, Jaipur Pink Panthers, Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan, Tamil Thalaivas, Telugu Titans, U Mumba, UP Yoddhas, and Bengal Warriors.
The PKL features some of the best kabaddi players in the world, including raiders like Pawan Sehrawat, Pardeep Narwal, and Siddharth Desai; defenders like Surjeet Singh, Manjeet Chhillar, and Nitesh Kumar; and all-rounders like Deepak Niwas Hooda and Rohit Kumar.
Format and Gameplay
The PKL follows a round-robin format, with each team playing each other twice during the regular season. The top six teams at the end of the regular season qualify for the playoffs, which consist of two semi-finals and a final.
Kabaddi is a team sport played on a rectangular court. The objective of the game is to score points by sending a raider into the opponent's half and touching as many defenders as possible without being tackled. The defenders try to prevent the raider from crossing the midline and touching them. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
Dream11 and the Pro Kabaddi League
Dream11 is a fantasy sports platform that allows users to create virtual teams of real kabaddi players and earn points based on their performances. Dream11 has been the title sponsor of the PKL since 2018 and has played a significant role in increasing the popularity of the league.
Conclusion
The Pro Kabaddi League is one of the most popular sports leagues in India and has played a significant role in the revival of kabaddi in the country. The league features some of the best kabaddi players in the world and has a large and passionate fan base. The PKL is expected to continue to grow in popularity in the years to come.
