The playoff press conference held in the capital today brought together the team captains of the top eight teams to set the tone for an electrifying finale of PKL Season 12.
The competition begins with the play-ins on October 25, 2025, pitting defending champions Haryana Steelers against Jaipur Pink Panthers. Meanwhile, Patna Pirates will face U Mumba in the second play-in. The winners from there go to the playoffs.
The playoffs begin on October 26th, with the winners of the play-ins competing in Eliminator 1. On the same day, Bengaluru Bulls will take on Telugu Titans in the Mini Qualifier. On October 27th, Eliminator 2 will witness the winner of Eliminator 1 take on the loser between Bulls and Titans. In addition, the two best teams in Qualifier 1 will fight for a place in the final.
Eliminator 3 will take place on October 28th between the winner of Eliminator 2 and the winner of the mini qualifier. The team that prevails in this match will play Qualifier 2 on October 29th, where the loser of Qualifier 1 awaits them. The winner of this duel will secure their place in the final, which will take place on October 31st.
“Season 12 has truly redefined competition in the Pro Kabaddi League – 48 of our 108 league games were decided by five points or less and 27 were decided in the final 90 seconds. The updated playoffs will now continue the best of that intensity in the final week of the season. With young captains at the helm and Raiders posting a Super 10 average almost every night, the stage is set for one of the most closely fought finals in PKL history.” said Mr. Anupam Goswami, Managing Director Mashal Sports and League Chairman of Pro Kabaddi League.
The league stage saw the introduction of tiebreakers for the first time, dramatically raising the level of competition this season. The games culminated in a dramatic race for qualification. The top two teams – Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi KC – raised the bar for the league this season, securing their playoff spot well ahead of the league stage with 26 points each. There was also an intense battle between the teams ranked third to sixth, with third-placed Bengaluru Bulls on 22 points, followed by Telugu Titans, Haryana Steelers and U Mumba, who were tied on 20 points.
PKL 12 also saw an amazing turnaround for season 11 runners-up Patna Pirates. They were at the bottom of the table until the 44th day of the season before staging a memorable comeback, winning five games in a row and finishing seventh in the points table. While U Mumba missed the chance to secure a place in the top four on the final day, Jaipur Pink Panthers completed the lot and finished eighth.
“The playoffs are all about composure and clarity. I have learned from leaders how to lead a team under pressure – how to speak, motivate and assess situations. These lessons help me now as a captain. We have worked hard to reach this stage and our sole focus is to carry that belief and discipline into the playoffs,” Puneri Paltan captain Aslam Inamdar said.
“In the playoffs, every raid and tackle can change the game. I realized that calm is my greatest strength – aggression can cost concentration. When the pressure mounts, I just remind myself to play with a fresh mind and trust our preparation. We have fought hard all season and are ready to give our best when it matters,” said Dabang Delhi KC captain Ashu Malik
Under the auspices and sanction of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), Mashal Sports and JioStar have built PKL into one of India’s most successful sports leagues. The competition comprises the largest number of matches of any sports league in India. The Pro Kabaddi League has transformed India’s indigenous sport of Kabaddi and its athletes at national and global levels.
