Season Overview and Key Details
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) 2024, marking its 11th season, is set to kick off on October 18, 2024, with a thrilling match between the Telugu Titans and the Bengaluru Bulls at the Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad. This season promises to be an exciting one, featuring 12 teams competing in a double round-robin format followed by playoffs.
Teams and Captains
- Bengal Warriors: Maninder Singh
- Bengaluru Bulls: Vikash Kandola
- Dabang Delhi K.C.: Sandeep Narwal
- Gujarat Giants: Sunil Kumar
- Haryana Steelers: Rohit Kumar
- Jaipur Pink Panthers: Deepak Niwas
- Patna Pirates: Prashanth Kumar
- Puneri Paltan: Fazel Atrachali
- Tamil Thalaivas: Ajay Thakur
- Telugu Titans: Ravi Kumar
- U Mumba: Siddharth Desai
- UP Yoddhas: Nitesh Kumar
Schedule and Venues
The league stage will be held across three cities: Hyderabad, Noida, and Pune. The first leg will take place in Hyderabad from October 18 to November 9, followed by the second leg in Noida from November 10 to December 1, and the third leg in Pune from December 3 to December 24.
The schedule for the playoffs and the final will be announced later. However, the top two teams in the league standings will directly qualify for the semifinals, while teams placed third to sixth will compete in the eliminators.
Key Matches and Highlights
The opening day will feature two matches: Telugu Titans vs. Bengaluru Bulls and Dabang Delhi K.C. vs. U Mumba. Defending champions Puneri Paltan will face Haryana Steelers on the second day.
One of the notable matches includes the clash between Puneri Paltan and Patna Pirates on October 21, which is a rematch of last season’s final.
Live Streaming and Broadcasting
Fans can catch all the action live on the Star Sports Network in India and stream the matches on Disney+ Hotstar.
Player Highlights
This season will see some of the biggest names in kabaddi, including Pawan Sehrawat of the Telugu Titans and Pardeep Narwal of the Bengaluru Bulls. Sunil Kumar, the most expensive Indian defender in PKL history, will be playing for U Mumba.
Format and Competition
The league follows a double round-robin format, where each team plays against every other team twice during the league phase. This format ensures that each team faces stiff competition, making the league highly competitive and unpredictable.
At the end of the league phase, the top teams qualify for the playoffs, which consist of eliminators and finals. The winners of the two semifinals will then face each other in the final match to determine the champion of the Pro Kabaddi League.
Conclusion
The Pro Kabaddi League 2024 promises to be an exhilarating season with top-notch players, intense matches, and a well-structured format. As the league kicks off on October 18, fans are eagerly anticipating the action-packed matches that will unfold over the next few months.