India’s second most-viewed sports tournament is back with another season, starting from December 22 in Bengaluru. The Pro Kabaddi League organizer, Mashal Sports, unveiled the date on December 8.
In the first match of PKL Season 8, U Mumba will take on Bengaluru Bulls. The second match will be the southern derby, with the Telugu Titans facing the Tamil Thalaivas. The reigning champions Bengal Warriors will lock horns with UP Yoddha in the last game of the first day.
The entire season will be held without spectators in the Sheraton Grand Bengaluru Whitefield Hotel & Convention Centre, which will be turned into a single integrated and secure bio-bubble, keeping the players’ health and safety in mind, according to the organizers. Patna Pirates are the most successful team in the PKL as they have already won three titles out of the last seven seasons.
This season, Triple Headers will be played on all Saturdays throughout the tournament. The organization also expects the release of the season’s second-half schedule by mid-January to enable PKL clubs in assessing and rebuild their competitive tactics for the second half of the tournament.
“We hope to continue redefining the sport,”
stated Anupam Goswami, CEO of Mashal Sports and league commissioner.
Teams would be able to strategize better, and spectators will be more interested in the schedule being released in two parts. The fans will have more opportunities to see their favorite players and teams compete for the crown through the triple headers and “Triple Panga“.
Mashal Sports will turn the whole venue at Sheraton & Convention Centre into a single integrated and protected bio-bubble with the health and safety of players in mind. Because of this format, all 12 teams will stay and play at the same location, while Mashal Sports focuses on following and complying to the authorities’ safety standards.
The player auction of this year’s PKL was held in August. The ceremony was staged in Mumbai, and over 450 players were available on the auction list. Out of these 450 players, 190 were sold for a total of Rs 48.22 crore.
Pardeep Narwal, who was signed by UP Yoddha for Rs 1.65 crore, became one of the most expensive players auctioned in a league other than cricket. Telugu Titans have retained Siddharth Desai for Rs 1.30 crore.
