List of PKL teams who are yet to win the trophy

Four out of twelve teams are yet to lift the PKL trophy even once.

The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has become one of the most followed leagues in the country since being introduced in 2014. The last 11 seasons saw a lot of teams lifting the coveted trophy, with the Jaipur Pink Panthers winning the inaugural edition.

It was U Mumba, with a star-studded team (comprising the likes of Anup Kumar, Rishank Devadiga, Surender Nada, Mohit Chhillar), which attracted attention first up. They lifted the trophy in PKL 2, apart from reaching the finals in the preceding and succeeding seasons.

Next, it was the turn of the Patna Pirates. With Pardeep Narwal as their X-factor, they clinched three successive titles starting from the third edition. The tournament at that stage was threatening to turn lopsided. However, no team has been able to defend their title ever since.

The Pirates remain with three trophies, while the Jaipur Pink Panthers (PKL 1 and PKL 9) is the only other team to emerge victorious more than once. When the Puneri Paltan clinched the trophy in season 10, they left only one among the eight original teams without a title. Meanwhile, Haryana Steelers became the first new team (four franchises were introduced in the fifth instalment of the competition) to earn silverware.

However, there are four sides yet to clinch a title with their ever-loyal fan bases who remain waiting for that historic moment. The year 2025 has seen clubs across sports lift their maiden trophy. Maybe this could be the lucky year for one of the four teams, which are mentioned below:

Also Read: List of PKL champions from every season

Telugu Titans

Two semifinal finishes, way back in season two and season four, are the only instances where Telugu Titans‘ passionate fan base in Hyderabad could bring out a smile. In the earlier instance, they won the 3/4 classification match, but suffered defeat in the latter edition. It has been a drought ever since, coming close to breaking it last time, when they finished seventh.

For a team which has previously included stars like Rahul Chaudhari, Siddharth Desai and Pawan Sehrawat, finishing at the bottom three successive times starting PKL 8 doesn’t do justice. The Titans remain the only team from the eight original ones to have yet clinched a title.

Gujarat Giants

Gujarat Giants were originally named the Gujarat Fortunegiants in their first appearance in season five, before being renamed so in the next edition. They ended as runners-up in the first two seasons, first under Fazel Atrachali and then under Sunil Kumar, both of whom have gone on to become the most successful skippers in the history of the league.

A side which has introduced many young talents to the competition, they have been unable to replicate the previous success. The Ahmedabad-based franchise did reach the playoffs again in the eighth and tenth editions but lost in the Eliminator on both occasions.

Also Read: PKL 12: Top five players who went for lower auction price than last season

Tamil Thalaivas

After finishing right at the bottom in their first three seasons (i.e. starting season five), Tamil Thalaivas have produced improved results but continue to be the underachievers in the league. They have qualified for the knockouts just once- a semifinal finish in PKL 9.

Representing a state which is one of the pioneers of the sport, the franchise hasn’t really done justice to the legacy. From opting for all-star teams (they had Rahul, Ajay Thakur, Manjeet Chhillar, Mohit Chhilar and Ran Singh in their squad in the seventh season) to making squads filled with youngsters like Narender, Sagar; none of the tactics have borne fruit for the management.

UP Yoddhas

A story of so near, yet so far. The UP Yoddhas have entered the playoffs every time since their inception in PKL 5, barring in PKL 10, but are yet to enter the final. They suffered defeat in the Eliminator thrice (seasons five, seven and nine), the semifinal twice (seasons eight and eleven) and Qualifier 2 in season six.

Such has been their luck that they were part of the only two playoff matches in PKL history which have ended as a tie, finishing on the losing side eventually in both instances (PKL 7 and PKL 9). With marquee names such as Rishank, Pardeep, and Nitesh Kumar having donned the jersey, it is surprising that the Yoddhas are yet to clinch a trophy.

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