It was a blockbuster opening game that saw Tamil Thalaivas secure a 38-35 win over the home side Telugu Titans at the Vishwanadh Sports Club here on Friday night.
Badminton legend and Padma Bhushan awardee Pullela Gopichand, hockey great Dhanraj Pillay, kabaddi icon Pardeep Narwal, and Rajasthan Royals sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi will share the stage and stand together for the National Anthem as the new season gets underway.
“All the fame and money have been the by-product of PKL,” he says with gratitude. “Everything I have earned in my life has come because of this league. But above all, it gave me UP Yoddhas, a team that feels like family.”
The league will kick off in Visakhapatnam before the caravan moves to Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi, taking PKL action deeper into India.
"Last season, I finished as the best raider. I thought the bid could go this far, but I didn’t believe it would actually go this high. I was very happy when it did — it feels great to be valued this way," Devank said on JioHotstar’s Kings of Kabaddi. "This year, I have more responsibilities. Now that I’ve joined this team, I will give 110% for Bengal Warriorz.”
Expressing his confidence on the duo, head coach Manpreet Singh asserted that he will work closely with the new leadership in building a winning strategy to help the Steelers defend their title.
As India marks its 79th Independence Day, Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) players pay tribute to the heroes who have served the nation by celebrating the sport that reflects the country’s heritage, values, and resilience.
The franchise will once again be guided by head coach Joginder Narwal, under whom they enjoyed a dominant Season 11 campaign. With 13 wins in 22 matches, they finished second in the league stage with 81 points before bowing out to Patna Pirates in the semis.
As Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) nears kickoff, coaches BC Ramesh, Manpreet Singh and Ajay Thakur offered a glimpse into what promises to be one of the most competitive editions yet.
The 2025 campaign will see the 12 teams battle for ultimate glory across Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi.
