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The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has helped in changing the lives of many individuals. Before the league’s inception, hardly anyone knew about the Kabaddi stars of our country. But now thanks to this league, not only the Indian kabaddi players but also the overseas players have become household names in the country.
Mashal Sports, in collaboration with Star Sports India, started PKL as an IPL-style Kabaddi tournament, wherein eight city-based franchises battled in a two-month long tournament. Patna (Patna Pirates), Hyderabad (Telugu Titans), Mumbai (U Mumba), Pune (Puneri Paltan), Delhi (Dabang Delhi), Kolkata (Bengal Warriors), Bengaluru (Bengaluru Bulls), and Jaipur (Jaipur Pink Panthers) were the first eight cities to have their own PKL teams.
However, due to the league’s success, it expanded to a 12-team tournament after introducing teams from Ahmedabad (Gujarat Fortune Giants), Chennai (Tamil Thalaivas), Sonipat (Haryana Steelers) and Lucknow (UP Yoddha).
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All the aforementioned cities host the PKL matches in beautiful stadiums and always witness a full house in the weekend matches of the league. Each city gets to host the league for a week as the organizers have planned a caravan-based format.
Here’s all you need to know about the 12 venues of VIVO PKL -
#12 Sawai Mansingh Indoor Stadium - Jaipur Pink Panthers, Capacity -2,000
The Abhishek Bachchan owner Jaipur Pink Panthers’ home ground is in the pink city of Rajasthan. Sawai Man Singh Indoor Stadium has all the facilities needed to host a Kabaddi game. Season 5’s interzonal wildcard matches took place at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium. Owned by the Rajasthan State Sports Council, the stadium will host the VIVO Pro Kabaddi League from season 1 to 5.
However, the Pink Panthers have changed their home turf and will play their matches in Panchkula, Chandigarh at the Tau Devilal Indoor Stadium which has a seating capacity of 7,000 people.
#11 Motilal Nehru School of Sports, Sonipat - Haryana Steelers, Seating Capacity- 2,000
The JSW Group owned Haryana franchise, Haryana Steelers completed their home leg in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League. Captained by Surender Nada, the team made news for purchasing the costliest player in the VIVO PKL auctions. They bought raider Monu Goyat for a record 1.51 crores INR. They could win only 2 out of the 6 matches they played in the 2,000 capacity Motilal Nehru School of Sports stadium.
Though the team could not repeat its season 5 performance, the fans turned out every night in huge numbers to cheer for their heroes. Sonipat is famous for producing many Kabaddi legends in Sandeep Narwal, Deepak Narwal, the superstar Pardeep Narwal, Ravinder Pahal, Rajesh Narwal, Mahipal Narwal, Sonu Narwal, wily Joginder Narwal to name a few.
#10 Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium - Bengaluru Bulls, Seating Capacity - 4,000
The Sree Kanteerava Indoor Stadium in Bengaluru has been hosting the Pro Kabaddi League since season 1. Located near Cubbon Park in the heart of the city, the indoor stadium has a maximum seating capacity of 4,000. Though there are a lesser number of Kabaddi fans in Bengaluru as compared to other cities, the fans always fill 70-80% of the seats to see their home team play Kabaddi.
Rohit Kumar’s side has made a sound start in the season 6 winning both of their opening matches and will take field against Girish Maruti Ernak’s Puneri Paltan tonight. The second and the third seasons of the league were the best seasons for Bulls as they finished fourth and second in the two seasons, respectively. However, the side has failed to make it big ever since Manjeet Chillar’s departure.
#9 The Arena by TransStadia, Ahmedabad - Gujarat Fortunegiants, Seating Capacity - 4,000
The newly inaugurated Arena by TransStadia in the city of Ahmedabad has a seating capacity of 4,000 in its indoor stadium. It was first used for the Kabaddi World Cup in 2016 and then made the home ground for Manpreet Singh’s Gujarat Fortunegiants. During their home leg in season 5, the Fortunegiants were undefeated in Ahmedabad. Of the 6 matches they played, Sukesh Hegde’s side won 5 and tied 1 match in the Arena.
The Arena by TransStadia also has an outdoor stadium having a seating capacity of 20,000. Manpreet Singh had surprisingly released the Iranian duo of Abozar Mighani and Fazel Atrachali for season 6 and went for a young, inexperienced team in season 6. Finished as the runners-up in season 5, the Giants may find it tough to replicate their last year’s performance with a young squad.
#8 Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi - Puneri Paltan, Seating Capacity - 4,400
Puneri Paltan play their homes matches in an indoor stadium located 14-15 km from Pune. The huge fan following of the Pune franchise ensures full-houses in their home games despite the long distance. Pune had a dismal start to the Pro Kabaddi League having finished at the bottom of the table in the first two seasons. However, ever since Manjeet Chillar and Sandeep Narwal joined with the franchise, they have always managed to reach the second round. Currently, Girish Ernak is the captain of the Puneri Paltan and the team is playing its home leg in the league.
With the likes of Nitin Tomar, Sandeep Narwal, GB More and Deepak Dahiya in the squad the Puneri Paltan have high chances to make it to the play-offs once again.
#7 Thyagaraj Sports Complex, New Delhi - Dabang Delhi, Seating Capacity - 4,494
Built for hosting the Commonwealth Games 2010, the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium is used as Dabang Delhi's home ground in the Pro Kabaddi League. Dabang Delhi have turned out to be the least successful team in the league failing to reach the playoffs even once. The Delhi fans are also seen cheering for other big players like Rahul Chaudhari, Rohit Kumar, Manjeet Chillar, Pardeep Narwal despite the fact that they play against their home team.
However, in season 6 the team looks improved with 1 win, 1 loss and 1 tie in their first 3 matches so far. The Iranian all-rounder Meraj Sheykh has been with the franchise for a long time now and needs to perform big before the time runs out for him.
#6 Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai - Tamil Thalaivas, Seating Capacity - 5,000
The multi-purpose indoor stadium in Chennai also has an outdoor stadium which is used by ISL Club Chennaiyan FC. Having a seating capacity of 5,000, the Tamil Thailavas home matches have always witnessed a packed Jawaharlal Nehru stadium. Ajay Thakur, the captain of the Indian Kabaddi team has been the face of Tamil Thalaivas ever since its inception. Despite the support shown by the fans, the team has failed to live up to their expectations. With the likes of Sukesh Hegde, Manjeet Chillar, Jasvir Singh, C Arun, Amit Hooda and Ajay Thakur in the squad the Thailavas could only win 1 of their 7 matches in the league so far.
Tamil Thailavas took the last position in the Zone B in season 5 and if the team doesn't improve expect the South Indian franchise to take the wooden spoon home again.
#5 Gachibowli Indoor Stadium, Hyderabad- Telugu Titans, Seating Capacity- 5,000
Telugu Titans have 2 home grounds in the Vivo Pro Kabaddi League. The first is the 5,000 capacity Gachibowli Indoor Stadium in Hyderabad while the second is the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag. In season 6, the team will play in the latter stadium but Rahul Chaudhari's Telugu Titans have played a host of matches in Hyderabad.
Fans have always turned up in huge numbers at both the venues and cheered for their superstars. The Telugu Titans have played the role of chokers in the 5 seasons of the league so far. But this season have looked in fine touch with Rahul Chaudhari and Nilesh Salunkhe leading the raiding department while Iranian Abozar Mighani and Vishal Bhardwaj handling the responsibility of the defense. The Vizag leg of PKL 6 commences from 7th December
#4 Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Indoor Stadium, Mumbai- U Mumba, Seating Capacity - 5,000
U Mumba are one of the most successful franchises in the history of the Pro Kabaddi League winning the title once and finishing twice as the runners-up. They reached the first final of the league and lost to Jaipur Pink Panthers but returned stronger in the second season defeating the Bengaluru Bulls to lift the trophy. Mumbai fans have always supported their team but this year they will miss their Captain Cool Anup Kumar who will be representing the Jaipur Pink Panthers. Nevertheless, Fazel has done a commendable job thus far handling the defense of U Mumba while young raider Siddharth Desai has stepped up as the key raider of the Mumbai franchise.
#3 Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex, Greater Noida- U.P Yoddha, Seating Capacity - 8,000
A franchise which made its debut in season 5, UP Yoddha reached the playoffs of the league in their very first season. Captained by Rishank Devadiga, the side from Uttar Pradesh has lost its last three matches on the trot. However, with the team scheduled to play their home leg at a new venue from 2nd November, Rishank would be keen to make sure his team bounces back.
UP's Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath attended their first home game in season 5 at the Babu Banarasi Das Indoor Stadium while the team chave shifted their base to a bigger stadium this year. UP Yoddha will play their home matches at the Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Sports Complex in Greater Noida having a capacity of 8,000.
#2 Netaji Indoor Stadium, Kolkata - Bengal Warriors, Seating Capacity- 12,000
Bengal Warriors began their PKL stint with two dismal seasons but the fortunes of the side changed when Nitin Tomar joined them in season 3. The franchise has also done away with Nilesh Shinde, a veteran defender who was their skipper for the first 4 seasons. Surjeet Singh has been leading the side ever since and the team reached the playoffs stage in season 5. Raiders like Maninder Singh and Jang Kun Lee have proved to be the cornerstones of the Bengal Warriors.
The Bengal based franchise plays its home matches in the 12,000 capacity strong Netaji Indoor Stadium located in Kolkata. It is one of the biggest indoor stadiums of the country and hosts several cultural and sports programmes. The Kolkata leg of season 6 commences from the 23rd of December.
#1 Patliputra Sports Complex, Patna Pirates - Patna, Seating Capacity- 20,000
The Patliputra Sports Complex in Patna has a seating capacity of 20,000 and is the biggest sports stadium to host the VIVO Pro Kabaddi League. Patna can boast of having the most successful team in the PKL with their side lifting the trophy thrice. Pardeep Narwal's side has managed to win the last 3 seasons but has failed to repeat their performance in the season 6 so far. With Monu Goyat leaving the side to play for Harayan Steelers, the responsibility of the entire raiding department is on the shoulders of Pardeep Narwal.
With the home leg of the Pirates approaching, the defending champions would love to play their "A" game in front of the home crowd and bounce back in the league.
Which team do you think has the best home stadium in the Pro Kabaddi League? Share your views in the comments box below.
