Exclusive: No PKL 13 in 2026; Season 13 likely in June-July 2027 window
The league is yet to land a new broadcast deal, with the current broadcaster offering half of the previous agreement.
The 13th season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL 13) will not take place in 2026, and the next edition is likely to be held in the June-July 2027 window, reported exclusively by Khel Now.
The league has been without a broadcast partner since its five-year media rights deal with Star India, now JioStar, ended after Season 12 in October 2025. Talks over a new agreement have not produced a deal.
“There has not been much interest in the open market, and the new deal offered by the current broadcaster is half of the previous deal. So all parties have decided that we need more time, and we will not see PKL before June 2027,” a source close to the development told Khel Now.
The previous deal, which covered Seasons 8 to 12, was worth around ₹905 crore.
Team owners approach the Sports Ministry
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Khel Now understands PKL team owners have also approached the Sports Ministry for guidance, on similar grounds to the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs earlier this year.
In May, ISL clubs wrote to the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the Sports Ministry seeking a club-led structure for the league after its commercial arrangement ended. Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya met the clubs in June and asked them and the AIFF to form a task force and return with a commercial plan. The ISL has since started its 2026-27 season under a club-led model.
How the last deal was done
In 2021, Mashal Sports, which runs the league, held an open media rights auction, with a base price of ₹900 crore for five seasons.
Several companies picked up the tender document, including Sony, Dream11 and Reliance, but Star India was the only bidder. It retained the rights for around ₹905 crore, just above the base price.
The process left several team owners unhappy. They argued there was a conflict of interest, as Star India owned a 74 per cent stake in Mashal Sports, and the auction never established the rights’ true market value. Mashal Sports rejected the charges at the time, calling them “baseless”.
A league built on television
Anand Mahindra and Charu Sharma launched the PKL in 2014, and Star Sports has broadcast the league since the first season.
The first season was a huge hit. According to Star’s figures, it drew 435 million viewers; only IPL 2014 had more, with 552 million. Star India then bought a 74% stake in Mashal Sports, making it the league’s majority owner.
PKL is often called India’s second-most-watched league after the Indian Premier League (IPL).
A year without PKL
The last season ended on October 31, 2025. Dabang Delhi defeated Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in New Delhi to lift their second title, and fans are still waiting for any news on Season 13.
There is no word on the player auction either. The auction usually takes place a few months before the season. Last year, it was held on May 31 and June 1, and the season started on August 29. With only two months left in 2026, PKL 13 cannot happen this year.
Kabaddi fans have still had a busy few weeks. Indian men’s and women’s teams both won gold at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya in September, beating Iran in the finals. After that, both teams also clinched the inaugural Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 title in Ahmedabad on October 31.
Now, all eyes are on the media rights deal. It will decide where fans watch PKL and how much the league can grow, both in India and abroad.
Will PKL 13 take place in 2026?
No. Khel Now understands PKL 13 will not take place in 2026, and the next season is likely to be held in the June-July 2027 window.
Why is PKL 13 delayed?
The league has no broadcast deal. Its five-year media rights agreement with Star India, now JioStar, ended after Season 12 in October 2025, and the current broadcaster’s offer for the new cycle is half of the previous deal, according to a source.
How much was the previous PKL media rights deal worth?
Around ₹905 crore for five seasons, from Season 8 to Season 12. The base price in the 2021 auction was ₹900 crore, and Star India was the only bidder.
Who owns the Pro Kabaddi League?
The league is run by Mashal Sports, in which Star India, now JioStar, holds a 74 per cent stake. The PKL was co-founded by Anand Mahindra and Charu Sharma.
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