Pro Kabaddi League Teams are once again at the centre of India’s biggest kabaddi conversation as Season 13 approaches. With Dabang Delhi K.C. defending their crown, a high-stakes auction on the horizon, and franchises reshaping coaching staff and young talent pools, PKL 2026 promises fierce competition.
This guide covers all 12 Pro Kabaddi League teams, their captains, coaches, auction details, player prices, and what to expect from Season 13.
Pro Kabaddi League Teams 2026: Quick Overview
Pro Kabaddi League Season 13 continues with the same 12-franchise structure that has defined the competition since its recent expansion. The league is organised by Mashal Sports and broadcast on Star Sports and JioHotstar.
| Team | Home City | PKL Titles Won |
|---|---|---|
| Patna Pirates | Patna | 3 |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Jaipur | 2 |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Delhi | 2 |
| Bengal Warriorz | Kolkata | 1 |
| Bengaluru Bulls | Bengaluru | 1 |
| Haryana Steelers | Panchkula | 1 |
| Puneri Paltan | Pune | 1 |
| U Mumba | Mumbai | 1 |
| Gujarat Giants | Ahmedabad | 0 |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Chennai | 0 |
| Telugu Titans | Hyderabad | 0 |
| UP Yoddhas | Lucknow | 0 |
PKL Season 12 Recap: Setting the Stage for Pro Kabaddi League Teams in 2026
Dabang Delhi K.C. defeated Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the Season 12 final at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, claiming their second PKL title and becoming the first home franchise since U Mumba in Season 2 to lift the trophy on home soil. Neeraj Narwal and Ajinkya Pawar led the attack, while Fazel Atrachali’s late tackle sealed the win and earned him the season’s MVP award.
Season 12 Award Winners:
- Most Valuable Player: Fazel Atrachali (Dabang Delhi K.C.)
- Raider of the Season: Ayan Lohchab (Patna Pirates, 316 raid points)
- Defender of the Season: Navdeep Singh (Patna Pirates, 73 tackle points)
Pro Kabaddi League Teams and the PKL 13 Auction: Dates, Categories and Rules
No official auction date has been confirmed by Mashal Sports yet, but reports point to a July-to-August 2026 window, with the season itself expected to open in December 2026.
| Event | Expected Window |
|---|---|
| PKL 13 Player Auction | July to August 2026 (unconfirmed) |
| Season 13 Opener | December 2026 (expected) |
| Season 13 Final | March 2027 (projected) |
Player auctions across Pro Kabaddi League teams follow a structured process:
- Category System: Players are grouped into Category A through D based on market value, and franchises bid using a fixed salary purse.
- Final Bid Match (FBM): Allows a team to retain a released player by matching the highest bid made for them at auction.
- New Young Players (NYP): A separate signing window outside the main auction, used to secure development rights over emerging domestic talent.
Player Prices at the PKL Auction: What Pro Kabaddi League Teams Have Spent
Auction spending across Pro Kabaddi League teams has grown steadily. The Season 12 auction alone saw a combined spend of INR 37.90 crore across two days, with 121 players sold and a record number of crorepati signings, a sharp rise from Season 1’s total team purse of just INR 60 lakh.
| Player | Team (PKL 12) | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | Gujarat Giants | INR 2.23 Cr |
| Devank Dalal | Bengal Warriorz | INR 2.205 Cr |
| Ashu Malik (FBM) | Dabang Delhi K.C. | INR 1.90 Cr |
| Arjun Deshwal | Tamil Thalaivas | INR 1.405 Cr |
| Yogesh Dahiya | Bengaluru Bulls | INR 1.125 Cr |
Players expected to draw big bids at the PKL 13 auction:
- Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, the two-time champion who consistently tops bidding charts
- Devank Dalal, Season 12’s standout Indian buy with rising market value
- Ashu Malik, the current champion captain likely to spark a bidding war
- Ayan Lohchab, fresh off a 316 raid-point season as Raider of the Season
- Pawan Sehrawat, the third-highest raid scorer in PKL history and still match-defining
Auction Buzz and Betting Market Interest Around Pro Kabaddi League Teams
As auction prices climb each season, fan interest in Pro Kabaddi League teams extends beyond match-day viewership into fantasy platforms and sports betting apps that track player form, auction valuations, and franchise depth. This growing commercial ecosystem reflects how far PKL has come since its modest Season 1 purse. Readers should note that betting on sports carries financial risk and legal status varies by Indian state, so any engagement with betting platforms should be approached with caution and awareness of local regulations.
Pro Kabaddi League Teams Profile: Captains, Coaches and Key Players
Each Pro Kabaddi League team’s profile includes its captain, head coach, and key players. Get a quick look at the leadership and star performers for the latest PKL season.
1. Bengal Warriorz
Based in Kolkata, Bengal Warriorz have been part of the league since 2014 and won their only title in Season 7 (2019).
Devank Dalal captains the side, with Naveen Kumar as head coach. Yash Malik and Vishwas S remain key raiding threats heading into Season 13.
2. Bengaluru Bulls
Bengaluru Bulls, champions of Season 6 (2018), are coached by BC Ramesh.
The captaincy remains open following Pardeep Narwal’s exit as leader, with Yogesh Dahiya and Ankush Rathee expected to anchor the squad’s raiding and defensive core.
3. Dabang Delhi K.C.
The defending champions of Season 13, Dabang Delhi K.C. are led by captain Ashu Malik and coached by Joginder Narwal.
Their title-winning core of Ashu Malik, Neeraj Narwal, and MVP Fazel Atrachali faces pressure to stay intact through an aggressive auction.
4. Gujarat Giants
Gujarat Giants have made the biggest off-season move among Pro Kabaddi League teams, appointing Randhir Singh Sehrawat, the decorated former Bengaluru Bulls coach known as the “Chanakya of Kabaddi,” as head coach.
Mohammadreza Shadloui remains the squad’s headline defender.
5. Haryana Steelers
The Season 11 (2024) champions, Haryana Steelers, are captained by Jaideep Dahiya under head coach Manpreet Singh.
Rahul Sethpal and Vinay continue to form the backbone of a squad still riding the “Dhaakad Boys” identity.
6. Jaipur Pink Panthers
A two-time champion franchise (2014, 2022), Jaipur Pink Panthers are coached by Narender Redhu.
With Arjun Deshwal having moved to Tamil Thalaivas at the last auction, the captaincy remains a key question for Season 13.
7. Patna Pirates
The league’s most successful franchise with three straight titles (Seasons 3-5), Patna Pirates enter Season 13 under new head coach Jasveer Singh.
Ankit Jaglan has led the side as captain, with Raider of the Season Ayan Lohchab and Defender of the Season Navdeep Singh giving them a strong core.
8. Puneri Paltan
Runners-up in Season 12, Puneri Paltan are captained by Aslam Inamdar under head coach Ajay Thakur.
The franchise, Season 10 (2023) champions, remains known for elite tackle-point numbers and disciplined defensive structure.
9. Tamil Thalaivas
Tamil Thalaivas endured a difficult Season 12, winning just 6 of 18 matches despite fielding Pawan Sehrawat, Arjun Deshwal, and Narender Kandola, and released their own captain mid-season.
Coach Sanjeev Baliyan has departed, and the franchise has already signed young raiders Suthil Darshan and Lakshay Suhag as it rebuilds for Season 13.
10. Telugu Titans
Telugu Titans, historically the biggest spenders after signing Pawan Sehrawat for a record fee, retain Krishan Kumar Hooda as head coach with Vijay Malik as captain.
The franchise has already added four New Young Players ahead of the auction, including raiders Aryan Dhawale and Laren Kumar.
11. U Mumba
U Mumba, champions of Season 2 (2015), are led by captain Sunil Kumar under head coach Anil Chaprana.
Amir Mohammad Zafardanesh continues to partner Sunil Kumar in a raiding unit built around discipline and consistency.
12. UP Yoddhas
UP Yoddhas have appointed Upendra Malik as their new head coach for Season 13.
Sumit Sangwan has captained the defence-oriented squad, with Surender Gill and Guman Singh adding balance to the raiding unit.
Pro Kabaddi League Teams: All-Time Champions List
Take a look at every Pro Kabaddi League champion since the tournament began. See which teams have won the most titles and their championship-winning seasons.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up |
|---|---|---|
| Season 1 (2014) | Jaipur Pink Panthers | U Mumba |
| Season 2 (2015) | U Mumba | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Season 3 (2016) | Patna Pirates | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Season 4 (2016) | Patna Pirates | Jaipur Pink Panthers |
| Season 5 (2017) | Patna Pirates | Gujarat Giants |
| Season 6 (2018) | Bengaluru Bulls | Gujarat Giants |
| Season 7 (2019) | Bengal Warriorz | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Season 8 (2022) | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Patna Pirates |
| Season 9 (2022-23) | Jaipur Pink Panthers | Puneri Paltan |
| Season 10 (2023) | Puneri Paltan | Haryana Steelers |
| Season 11 (2024) | Haryana Steelers | Patna Pirates |
| Season 12 (2025) | Dabang Delhi K.C. | Puneri Paltan |
Where to Watch Pro Kabaddi League Teams in Season 13
Based on Season 12 broadcast rights, PKL Season 13 matches involving all Pro Kabaddi League teams are expected to air on Star Sports and stream live on JioHotstar across multiple regional languages.
Conclusion: Pro Kabaddi League Teams Head Into a Defining Season 13
Pro Kabaddi League teams enter Season 13 with defending champions Dabang Delhi K.C. under pressure, rebuilding sides like Tamil Thalaivas searching for identity, and a record-breaking auction still ahead.
With coaching changes, young talent signings, and rising player valuations shaping every franchise, PKL 2026 looks set to be one of the most competitive and closely watched seasons in the league’s history.
FAQs
Twelve franchises compete in PKL Season 13, the same structure carried over from previous seasons.
No official date is confirmed, but it is expected between July and August 2026.
Dabang Delhi K.C. enter Season 13 as defending champions after beating Puneri Paltan in the Season 12 final.
Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh, bought by Gujarat Giants for INR 2.23 crore at the Season 12 auction.
They are value-based groupings that determine the bidding order and price bracket for each player during the auction.