Pro Kabaddi League

VIVO Pro Kabaddi, a ground-breaking initiative by Mashal Sports and STAR India, is the only league to bring the franchise-based format to India’s indigenous sport of kabaddi. Ever since its inception in 2014, the league has revolutionised the sport with stunning innovations, which has made it into an aspirational sport for players and fans alike. Backed by the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), Asian Kabaddi Federation (AKF) and the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), the league has witnessed tremendous growth over the past four seasons.

Mashal Sports and STAR India have jointly worked towards elevating the sport of kabaddi to an international standard with new and exciting innovations in the rules and how the game is viewed, thus heralding a new era. They infused new life into the sport by bringing it to the major metropolitan cities of India along with the regions where kabaddi was yet to gain a foothold. VIVO Pro Kabaddi now has unprecedented participation from various parts of the country owing to the outreach over the past four seasons and the advent of new programmes pioneered by Mashal Sports to encourage young talent from across the country. Kabaddi is now seen as a viable career option by various aspiring players in India and abroad.

This year, Mashal Sports announced the addition of four new teams for the fifth edition of the league. The new sides – Gujarat Fortunegiants, Haryana Steelers, Tamil Thalaivas and UP Yoddha – will now contest alongside the established eight teams namely, Bengal Warriors, Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi K.C., Jaipur Pink Panthers, Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan, Telugu Titans and U Mumba in a 138-match season over 13 weeks in what will be a test of skill as well as physical fitness for the coveted title.

The current edition with the four new entrants will make VIVO Pro Kabaddi India’s biggest sports league in terms of geographical representation. 12 franchises across 11 states, with a host of international talent and Indian superstars, will go toe-to-toe against one another in some high-octane action on the mat.

Key People

Charu Sharma

“(The fact) that the sport had immense popularity throughout India - from the street to the national level - was an eyeopener. I wondered why the game hadn't been made more available to us.”

A well-known Indian television personality, Charu Sharma is one of the founders of Mashal Sports and Pro Kabaddi. He has worn many hats in his broadcast career ranging from commentator to quizmaster. He was also the CEO of Royal Challengers Bangalore, the Indian Premier League franchise, for the 2008 season.

Anand Mahindra

“I always felt it is important to encourage other sports (compared to cricket), especially those that bring communities together and promote active lifestyles to Indian youth.”

Anand Mahindra is the chairman and managing director of the Mahindra Group. He has been listed in Forbes magazine as one of 25 most influential business people in Asia. Besides his extensive profile as an industrialist, he is also a member of the council and executive committee of the National Sports Development Fund (NSDF).

Anupam Goswami

“Heralding a new era in Indian sports, Pro Kabaddi has revamped kabaddi, transforming it into an inspirational, world-class spectacle with a remarkable following.”

Anupam Goswami is the executive head of Mashal Sports and the League Commissioner of VIVO Pro Kabaddi. Joining Star Sports in 2013, he was instrumental in leading and launching the business and broadcast programming of kabaddi.