On this day in 2014: PKL kicked off with Jaipur Pink Panthers vs U Mumba clash

PKL 12 is set to commence on August 29, 2025.

Serendipity – a word that could perfectly describe the events during the 2000s that changed the landscape of sports in India. Abhinav Bindra won India’s first-ever Individual Olympic Gold medal in 2008.

The Indian Cricket Team won the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007. The 2006 Asian Games saw exceptional performances with Tennis and Kabaddi producing outstanding results.

The T20 Cricket World Cup win led to the creation of the franchise-based Indian Premier League, and the popularity of Kabaddi during the Asian Games prompted the idea of mulling a league for Kabaddi. There were doubts whether a sport that has its roots in the small towns and villages of India could have global appeal.

It all started from the 2006 Asian Games, when Kabaddi Operations Competition Manager E. Prasad Rao spoke to renowned commentator Charu Sharma about creating this exciting sport into a global league.

The success of the IPL gave a push as Mashal Sports, an initiative for Kabaddi since 1994, by industrialist Anand Mahindra and Charu Sharma, joined hands with broadcasters Disney Star to announce the inaugural edition of the Pro Kabaddi League in 2014. It was officially launched on May 20, 2014, through the player auction.

PKL’s first match was played on July 26, 2014

It was announced that the first season would begin on July 26, 2014, and would be played in a round-robin format. Many had doubts about how the audience would perceive. But the excitement in the sport and the Indianess attached to it made it a resounding success with a viewership of 435 million in the inaugural year.

To put it in numbers, the viewership for the first-ever IPL season was 101 million. Abhishek Bachchan-owned Jaipur Pink Panthers won the inaugural edition, and the organisers were overwhelmed by the response. The league’s popularity increases rapidly, as organizers hosted two seasons in a year in 2016, once in January and again in July.

PKL teams expanded

The organisers expanded the league from eight to 12 teams, including teams from two traditional Kabaddi states, Tamil Nadu and Haryana. The fan base has been increasing year on year.

The players have benefited from the league as they have started earning better. More than the economic aspect, access to world-class training facilities has helped players become better ones.

PKL has not only increased the popularity of Kabaddi in India but has also made the sport more professional, gaining corporate sponsorships and increasing the salaries of players. Additionally, it has made investments in local development, nurturing talent, and encouraging physical fitness in rural regions.

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