The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has done more than just raise the profile of a rustic sport it has repackaged it. Once confined to mud-yards, local tournaments and rural strongholds, kabaddi has become a slick, indoor mat sport with simplified rules, dramatic formats, and television-friendly setups. With backing from major media (STAR) and franchises, it now punches well above many leagues in visibility and profitability.

Over ten seasons, PKL has expanded its team base (from eight to twelve), improved athlete pay (players who once earned lakhs now command crores in auction), and improved production and technical support foreign players, scientific coaching, modern facilities. The viewer base has exploded: youth across states new to the sport, even non-traditional markets, are tuning in. Sponsors, too, have jumped on board, signalling confidence in kabaddi’s growth story.

Challenges remain building deeper grassroots systems, maintaining relevance in off-season, ensuring financial consistency for all stakeholders. Nonetheless, PKL’s makeover has made kabaddi not just a sport, but a cultural brand, bringing new opportunities to players, communities, and the sports ecosystem.