Every kabaddi fan has felt it by now. If you have searched for the PKL schedule lately, you already know the wait has been long. The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), India’s biggest professional kabaddi competition, usually fills the second half of the year with raids, tackles and late-night arguments about Do-or-Die decisions. In 2026, the mat has been quiet for almost twelve months. Season 12 ended on October 31, 2025, when Dabang Delhi K.C. beat Puneri Paltan 31-28 in front of a home crowd in Delhi, and since then fans have had little to hold on to except rumours and old highlights.
That wait is nearly over. The pieces for Season 13 are finally moving: retention decisions, a player auction, and a season that is expected to start before the year ends. For the latest confirmed dates, the full PKL Schedule for Season 13 is the best place to keep track as each announcement arrives. But this will not be a carbon copy of the seasons you remember. The league changed a lot in 2025, the calendar has shifted, and the auction will be the first real test of what teams learned from last season.
Whether you have followed PKL since Jaipur Pink Panthers lifted the first trophy in 2014 or you are a newer fan who discovered kabaddi through the Season 12 playoffs, here are seven things worth knowing about the PKL schedule and the new season before the first raid.
PKL Schedule 2026 at a Glance
Before getting into the details, here is a quick snapshot of where PKL Season 13 stands right now.
| Detail | Current status |
| Tournament | Pro Kabaddi League Season 13 (PKL 13, also called PKL 2026-27) |
| Organiser | Mashal Sports, under the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) |
| Teams | 12 franchises |
| Defending champions | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Player auction | Reported for October 18-25, 2026 |
| Season start | Expected late December 2026 |
| Final | Expected February 2027 |
| Points system | Win = 2, Loss = 0, no ties |
| Playoffs | Top 8 teams (Season 12 format, not yet confirmed for Season 13) |
1. The PKL Schedule Is Running Later Than Any Recent Season
In most recent years, the PKL auction happened in the middle of the year and the season followed a few months later. Season 12 is a good example: the auction took place in Mumbai on May 31 and June 1, 2025, and the first match was played in Vizag on August 29.
Season 13 has broken that rhythm. With the Asian Games in Aichi and Nagoya running from September 19 to October 4, 2026, and the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship scheduled after it, the national-team calendar came first. Many of PKL’s biggest Indian and overseas stars play international kabaddi, and the league could not ask franchises to build squads while their best players were away.
The result is a pushed-back PKL schedule. Here is how the Season 13 timeline currently looks, based on the latest reports:
| Milestone | Expected timing | Status |
| Season 12 final | October 31, 2025 | Completed |
| Asian Games | September 19 – October 4, 2026 | Completed |
| PKL 13 player auction | October 18-25, 2026 | Reported, not confirmed |
| Season 13 opening match | Late December 2026 | Expected |
| Playoffs and final | February 2027 | Expected |
One important caution: none of these dates have been officially confirmed by Mashal Sports, the league’s organiser. If you see a full fixture list online before the auction has even happened, treat it as a guess. Fixtures are usually released only after squads are final. Until Mashal Sports releases the official PKL schedule, every date in the table above should be read as an estimate.
Where Will the Season 13 Matches Be Played?
Host cities for Season 13 have not been announced. What we do know is how PKL usually organises its fixtures. Instead of true home-and-away matches, the league uses a caravan format: all 12 teams travel together to a handful of host cities and play there for two or three weeks at a time, often with “Triple Panga” nights of three back-to-back matches.
Season 12 used four city legs, and the venues give a good idea of what to expect:
| Leg | City | Venue |
| Leg 1 | Visakhapatnam (Vizag) | Vishwanadh Sports Club |
| Leg 2 | Jaipur | SMS Indoor Stadium |
| Leg 3 | Chennai | SDAT Multipurpose Indoor Stadium |
| Leg 4 and playoffs | Delhi | Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium |
A similar multi-city model is likely for Season 13, but the league could add or swap cities depending on stadium availability and broadcast slots. City-wise fixtures and match timings will only be known once the full fixture list is released.
2. The Points System Is Completely Different Now
If you stepped away from kabaddi for a couple of years, this is the change most likely to confuse you. For the first eleven seasons, PKL used a points system that rewarded close games: 5 points for a win, 3 points to each team for a tie, and 1 bonus point for a team that lost by 7 points or fewer.
That system is gone. Since Season 12, the league awards 2 points for a win and 0 for a loss. There are no ties anymore. This applies to every league match, whether the result comes from raid points, tackle points, bonus points or an All-Out late in the second half. If a match ends level, it goes to a five-raid tie-breaker in which each team sends five different raiders, outs and revivals do not apply, and only points scored count. If the shootout is still level, a Golden Raid settles it.
The league stage also became shorter. In Season 11, each team played 22 league matches, 132 in total. In Season 12, that dropped to 18 matches per team, 108 in total. Season 13 is expected to keep both changes, although the official regulations have not been published yet.
Why does this matter to you as a fan? Because with only two possible outcomes per match, teams finish level on points far more often, and score difference becomes the deciding factor. Season 12 showed this perfectly: Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi K.C. both finished with 13 wins and 26 points, and Puneri topped the table only because their score difference was +88 against Delhi’s +38. A heavy defeat in a meaningless-looking match can now cost a team a playoff place weeks later.
3. Finishing Eighth Can Still Win You the Title
Season 12 also introduced a bigger playoff system. Instead of six teams reaching the knockouts, eight now qualify, and the bracket rewards teams that finish higher with shorter paths to the final.
• 1st and 2nd go straight to Qualifier 1. The winner reaches the final, and the loser gets a second chance in Qualifier 2.
• 3rd and 4th meet in the Mini-Qualifier. The winner moves deeper into the bracket, and the loser drops into an Eliminator.
• 5th to 8th start in the Play-ins and must win several knockout games in a row.
• 9th to 12th are out.
The format created one of the best stories of Season 12. Patna Pirates finished seventh in the league, then beat U Mumba, Jaipur Pink Panthers and Bengaluru Bulls in three straight knockout matches before Telugu Titans finally stopped them in Eliminator 3. Under the old six-team system, Patna would not even have qualified.
At the other end, Dabang Delhi K.C. showed exactly why a top-two finish matters. They needed just one playoff win, against Puneri in Qualifier 1, to book their place in the final. If the same format returns in Season 13, the race for the top two and the fight for eighth place will both matter right up to the last round of league matches.
4. Dabang Delhi Are Chasing Something Only One Team Has Done
Dabang Delhi K.C. enter Season 13 as defending champions with their second PKL title. History, however, is not on their side. In twelve seasons, only one franchise has ever defended a PKL crown: Patna Pirates, who won three titles in a row in Seasons 3, 4 and 5. Since then, every champion has failed to repeat.
Delhi’s Season 12 title was built on smart squad decisions as much as on talent. At the auction, they used a Final Bid Match card to bring back star raider Ashu Malik for INR 1.90 crore instead of losing him to a rival. They also signed Fazel Atrachali, widely seen as the greatest defender in league history, for his base price of just INR 30 lakh. Fazel went on to be named the Most Valuable Player of the season. Few auction bargains in PKL history have paid off so dramatically.
The challenge for Delhi now is keeping that core together. Every team will study their system closely, and the auction will test whether they can retain Ashu Malik, Fazel and their supporting cast without leaving their purse too thin to fill the rest of the squad.
5. Big Auction Money Did Not Buy Success Last Season
The Season 12 auction broke records. Teams spent INR 37.90 crore on 121 players, and a record ten players crossed the INR 1 crore mark. Each franchise had a purse of INR 5 crore, which sounds generous until you remember it has to cover a squad of 18 to 25 players, including two to four from overseas.
Here is the part that should make every franchise think carefully before the Season 13 auction. The biggest buys did not translate into wins:
| Team | Biggest Season 12 signing | Price (INR) | League finish |
| Gujarat Giants | Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh | 2.23 crore | 11th |
| Bengal Warriorz | Devank Dalal | 2.205 crore | 12th |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Arjun Deshwal | 1.405 crore | 10th |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Ashu Malik (via FBM) | 1.90 crore | 2nd, champions |
The two most expensive players in the auction played for the two teams that finished at the very bottom of the table. Meanwhile, the champions combined one well-judged retention with a base-price bargain and a balanced squad. You can see exactly how every franchise finished, including the score differences that separated teams level on points, in the final Season 12 PKL points table.
That does not mean expensive players are bad signings. Shadloui and Devank are genuine stars. It means that one big name cannot carry a squad on its own, especially in a league where depth matters across 18 matches and a long playoff run. Expect the smarter franchises to spread their money more evenly this time.
6. The Teams Worth Watching Closely
It is far too early to name a favourite before the auction has even happened. Retentions, injuries and coaching changes can turn any squad upside down. Still, Season 12 gives us a few teams that deserve attention.
Puneri Paltan
Puneri topped the Season 12 league table with 13 wins and a +88 score difference, then lost the final by just three points. If they keep their core together, they have every reason to believe this could be their year. They have already won one title, in Season 10, and they know exactly what is needed.
Bengaluru Bulls
Bengaluru had the best score difference in the entire league at +97, yet finished third because they won two fewer matches than the top two. Their league form was excellent; their playoff form was not, as defeats to Telugu Titans and Patna Pirates ended their run. Fixing that knockout gap is their clear priority.
Telugu Titans
Telugu Titans have never won a PKL title, but Season 12 was their most promising campaign in years. They finished fourth, knocked out Bengaluru and Patna, and came within one win of the final before losing to Puneri in Qualifier 2. They have also moved early for Season 13, signing four New Young Players, including Aryan Dhawale and Himanshu Lather.
Patna Pirates
Patna remain the league’s most successful franchise with three titles, and their Season 12 playoff run showed they still know how to win under pressure. They also had the standout raider of the season: Ayan Lohchab finished with 316 raid points and was named Raider of the Season. If Patna build a more consistent league campaign around him, they will be dangerous again.
Teams in rebuild mode
At the other end of the table, Tamil Thalaivas, Gujarat Giants and Bengal Warriorz all finished on 12 points from six wins. Each of them has a reason to rethink its approach. Tamil Thalaivas fielded Pawan Sehrawat and Arjun Deshwal and still won only six of 18 matches. Gujarat have already appointed Randhir Singh Sehrawat as head coach. Watch how these three teams spend at the auction, because a smart rebuild can turn a bottom-three side into a playoff team in a single season.
7. Following the PKL Schedule From Outside India
Pro Kabaddi has a large following outside India, especially among South Asian fans in Pakistan, the Gulf, the UK and North America. If you are one of them, two things are worth knowing.
First, the Season 13 broadcaster has not been announced yet. Season 12 was shown live on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar, but nobody should assume that arrangement carries over automatically. Wait for the official announcement, and stick to licensed broadcasters rather than unofficial streams.
Second, match times are set in Indian Standard Time, so you will need to convert them. Official Season 13 timings are not out yet, but here is what a typical 8:00 PM IST start would mean in a few countries during the December to February window:
| Country | Local start time for an 8:00 PM IST match |
| India | 8:00 PM |
| Pakistan | 7:30 PM |
| UAE | 6:30 PM |
| Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait | 5:30 PM |
| United Kingdom | 2:30 PM |
| USA (East Coast) | 9:30 AM |
For fans in the Gulf, that is a comfortable early-evening slot. For those in the UK and the USA, many matches will fall during the working or school day, so highlights and replays on official channels will be the practical option.
Quick Answers for Fans
Has the PKL schedule for Season 13 been announced?
No. The official PKL schedule for Season 13 has not been released yet. Fixtures are usually published after the player auction, once every squad is final.
When does PKL Season 13 start?
Season 13 is expected to start in late December 2026, with the final likely in February 2027. The official date has not been announced.
When is the PKL 13 auction?
The auction is reported for October 18-25, 2026, after being delayed by the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship.
How many points does a team get for a win in PKL?
A win is worth 2 points and a loss is worth 0. Tied matches go to a five-raid tie-breaker and, if needed, a Golden Raid.
Where will PKL 13 matches be played?
Host cities have not been announced. Season 12 used a four-city caravan format across Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi, and a similar model is expected for Season 13.
Where can I watch PKL Season 13 live?
The Season 13 broadcaster has not been confirmed. Season 12 was shown on Star Sports Network and streamed on JioHotstar.
How many matches will each team play?
In Season 12, each team played 18 league matches, 108 in total, followed by a nine-match playoff stage. Season 13 has not confirmed its match count yet.
Who won PKL Season 12?
Dabang Delhi K.C. won Season 12, beating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final on October 31, 2025, at Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi.
Which team has won the most PKL titles?
Patna Pirates, with three titles in Seasons 3, 4 and 5. Dabang Delhi K.C. and Jaipur Pink Panthers have two each.
The Wait for the PKL Schedule Is Almost Over
Season 13 has asked a lot of kabaddi fans. The longest gap between seasons in years, a calendar reshaped by international events and a points system that still catches people out have made this an unusual build-up. But the next few weeks will change everything. The auction will shape every squad, retention lists will reveal which teams are going big, and the official PKL schedule will finally give us something real to argue about.
If Season 12 taught us anything, it is that titles are won by balanced squads, smart auction decisions and teams that treat every league match as if score difference might decide their season. Delhi got that right last year. Puneri, Bengaluru, Telugu Titans and Patna will all believe they can do it this time.
One thing is certain: when the first raid of Season 13 is made, the long wait will be forgotten almost instantly. That is what PKL does best.
