The Rise of Pro Kabaddi

The journey of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) began in 2014, and it went on to become the country’s first sports league to be played twice in a year. But what followed next was something magical. The unfashionable game of Kabaddi gained humongous popularity among the masses.

2015 FICCI-KPMG report stated that the very 1st season of 2015 PKL was watched by an approximate 435 million viewers in India. The third season of PKL which started on January 30, witnessed an upswing in viewership. The opening-week viewership, in the third season, was 36% higher than that of the second season’s in 2015, as per the report published by Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) rural viewership households measurement data. BARC data also suggests that the viewership in the urban townships for the third season increased by almost 20 units from season two—from 54.5 TVMs (television viewership in millions) in season two to 74 TVMs in season three.

After the grand success of Season 1, 70% stake of Mashal Sports was acquired by Star Sports with an objective of reinstating the lost glory of Kabaddi.

PKL Season 1 had surpassed an unbelievable viewership exceeding the 500 million mark, thus becoming the second largest sports tournament only after IPL. PKL has witnessed a growth of 20% YoY from season 1 to 2 and 35% YoY from season 2 to 3. This significant rise in the growth of this robust league resulted in the introduction of 2 seasons per year format with 2016 season having two seasons namely-Season 3 & 4 just 4 just months apart. The exponential boost in the viewership and fan-base of Pro Kabaddi has clearly depicted that people in both urban and rural parts of India are enjoying this traditional sport on TV.

Success Saga

Kabaddi, a sport that originated in rural India, lost its charm ever since the buzz of cricket and football started growing in this sports-loving nation. The game started becoming droopy and was on the verge of getting pushed into oblivion. But this low profile sport came into its full power with the introduction of Star Sports Pro Kabaddi League, being supported jointly by the International Kabaddi Federation, Asian Kabaddi Federation and the AKFI. Soon funds started flowing in from Bollywood honchos like Abhishek Bachchan, reputed sportsmen like Sachin Tendulkar and industry conglomerates that include names like Future Group. With the induction of PKL, this adventurous sport became blessed with a reincarnated life, and soon it started gaining attention from the numerous fans who believe in the power packed action sports. But, the credit for this grand success goes to the sports commentator turned entrepreneur, Charu Sharma, who laid the foundation stone of this dynamic tournament. In the past few years, the competition has gained momentum in terms of popularity and reach. Being promoted by one of India's biggest media and entertainment company, Star India and organised by Mashal Sports, the skyrocketing viewership of this league has rolled eyeballs of many. This league has been greeted with adoration and appreciation from nationwide fans, and in the coming days, it is set to amaze people from both the rural and urban parts of India.

There are twelve franchises across eleven states—Dabang Delhi (New Delhi), U Mumba (Mumbai), Telugu Titans (Hyderabad), Patna Pirates (Patna), Puneri Paltan (Pune), Bengaluru Bulls (Bengaluru), Jaipur Pink Panthers (Jaipur),  Haryana Steelers, Team Tamil Nadu (Chennai)Bengal Warriors (Kolkata), and Team Uttar Pradesh(Lucknow).

With the sheer attention of adding more teams in the future, the focus is now on to build high-quality infrastructures for hosting the matches.

The title sponsorship is acquired by broadcaster Star Sports while some of the managing sponsors include Airtel, Vini Cosmetics, Nestlé Munch, Bisleri, Castrol and Britannia. Some others in the list are Bajaj Electricals, Indo Nissin Foods, Fair & Lovely (Men), State Bank of India and Gionee Mobiles. The franchises have gone an extra mile and roped in various MNCs like TVS Tyres, one of the renowned manufacturers and exporters of two- and three-wheeler tyres in India which became the associate sponsor for Puneri Paltan for season four. Companies like Force Motors have expressed their long-term partnership with Pro Kabaddi League.

German sports and lifestyle brand Adidas is the official wardrobe partner for the Mumbai-based U Mumba.

A league of cash and fame

It is imperative to state that this league has reinstalled new life in the sport but what looks more promising is how money, acclaim, glory, and appreciation have been bestowed upon the lives of the kabaddi players, most of whom appeared in the biggest stage from humble backgrounds and small towns and villages. Just like another Virat Kohli or Rohit Sharma, we are having an Anup Kumar or a Rishank Devadiga. Nobody would have ever thought kabaddi could be this big in India. Previously, the scenario is in contrast to what happens in modern times. Players used to slog for hours, but there were no rewards, but with the introduction of pro kabaddi, players are experiencing a change in their daily lives. Ever since the pro kabaddi kicked off, most players started establishing themselves in the financial front. With such strong financial support, players are trying to change their style of living and serving their family. Players like Mohit Chillar believe that the boost in their economic condition is motivating them to perform better in future.

One of the star players in the league, Anup Kumar, U Mumba captain has inferred that there is an enormous advancement in the facilities provided to players as well. In the past, the national camps organised used to provide only mediocre food and hotels to stay in. But, this private league provides opportunities for players to ply by air and reside in 5-star accommodations. The entire kabaddi world has experienced a complete paradigm shift where the amenities offered to the players have been entirely upgraded. The 32-year-old Kumar, who is a veteran in this game, was a member of India’s kabaddi team that lifted the gold at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

In the 90s, kabaddi was the game that used to enable the players to secure a government job and help them in earning a handsome salary that would let the players make their both ends meet. Kabaddi was never a game that used to involve money, advertisements and so much attention from the crown. From the days when players used to travel by air to the recent times when the players are travelling by air, the kabaddi world has experienced a 360-degree change that has evolved the lives of the kabaddi players and their families. With the money involved, the players are leading a healthy lifestyle with their families, keeping the pressure of fame and performance at bay. Most of them are becoming equipped in handling fame and money at the same time and putting more efforts to stay in focus and perform better for their respective teams and country. Not only the current players, but this lucrative league is also encouraging thousands of aspiring kabaddi players to play this wonderful sport.

Just to add more flavours to the tournament, the auction procedure of IPL is replicated in PKL where the players are auctioned based on their seasonal performances, stamina and goodwill.

Key Stats

Defender Mohit Chhillar, for instance, became the highest-paid player in the 2016 auctions, when he was bought by Bengaluru Bulls for a whopping 75 Lakhs. Chillar is of Haryanvi origin, whose hometown is Nizampur village near New Delhi, works as a clerk for the north-western railways. Some notable names that add to the list of big gainers are 42-year-old defender Dharmaraj Cheralathan, who was bagged by 3-time champions Patna Pirates for R.29 lakh for season four. There is also an implausible jump in the salary of Jeeva Kumar, who was retained by U Mumba for R40 lakh for season four. His season-1 salary stood at Rs.9 Lakh. Rakesh Kumar, the invincible player of Patna Pirates, also saw a jump in the amount on his paycheque.

The dramatic increase in the price tag is not only applicable for Indian players. Some of the best foreign players like Fazel Atrachali of Iran was added to the team by Patna Pirates for R38 lakh, South Korean raider Jang Kun Lee was retained by Bengal Warriors for R22 lakh. Moreover, the spending bracket for each franchise has opened up, and they are spending in crores to get hold of their favourite players.