What Is 2018 Pro Kabaddi League season

Overview

The 2018 Pro Kabaddi League, officially the sixth season of the league, marked a significant shift in format and competition. Unlike previous seasons held in a single venue, Season 6 adopted a multi-city home-and-away structure, enhancing regional engagement and fan participation across India.

This season introduced greater parity among teams and saw improved defensive strategies, leading to tighter matches. The league's expansion to 12 teams allowed for broader representation and increased viewership, especially with prime-time telecasts on Star Sports.

• 12 teams competed in two zones—North and South—each with six franchises, fostering regional rivalries and deeper fan loyalty.
• The season spanned 72 days, beginning on July 28, 2018, and concluding with the final on October 7, 2018, in Ahmedabad.
• For the first time, matches were hosted in eight different cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Kolkata, to promote local support.
• Bengal Warriors, led by captain Maninder Singh, won their first-ever title after finishing mid-table in previous seasons.
• The league recorded a viewership of over 400 million across platforms, making it one of India’s most-watched sports leagues.

How It Works

The 2018 Pro Kabaddi League introduced structural changes to gameplay and scheduling, enhancing competitiveness and fan experience. The home-and-away format and zonal classification reshaped team dynamics and strategy throughout the season.

• Format Change: The league shifted from a single-venue model to a home-and-away system, allowing teams to play in their home cities, boosting local attendance and engagement.
• Zonal Division: The 12 teams were split into two zones—North and South—each playing intra-zone matches more frequently, reducing travel and increasing regional intensity.
• Match Structure: Each match consisted of two halves of 20 minutes each, with a 5-minute halftime break, following standard kabaddi rules with modifications for league play.
• Point System: Teams earned 3 points for a win, 1 for a tie, and 0 for a loss, with bonus points awarded for high-margin victories.
• Playoff Qualification: The top 6 teams from each zone advanced to the playoffs, though only the best eight overall moved forward due to cross-zone rankings.
• Final Format: The playoffs included two semifinals and a final, all single-elimination matches hosted at a neutral venue in Ahmedabad.

Comparison at a Glance

The 2018 season differed significantly from earlier editions in structure, participation, and viewership. The following table highlights key comparisons across the first six seasons:

The expansion to 12 teams and the home-and-away model in 2018 led to a record 137 matches, the most in league history at the time. This structure increased player workload but also boosted revenue, fan interaction, and broadcast hours, setting a new standard for future seasons.

Why It Matters

The 2018 Pro Kabaddi League was a turning point in the sport’s modern revival, proving kabaddi could sustain national interest with professional management and regional integration. Its success influenced future sports leagues in India to adopt similar decentralized formats.

• The season demonstrated increased investment in team infrastructure, with franchises spending more on training and analytics.
• Pardeep Narwal’s 362 raid points set a new benchmark, highlighting individual excellence in a traditionally team-oriented sport.
• Women’s kabaddi gained attention as exhibition matches were held alongside PKL games, promoting gender inclusivity.
• The league’s digital reach expanded, with over 100 million video views on YouTube and Facebook during the season.
• Several players, including Maninder Singh and Sandeep Dhull, became household names, boosting merchandising and endorsements.
• The success of 2018 led to long-term broadcasting deals with Star Sports, securing financial stability through 2022.

Overall, the 2018 season solidified Pro Kabaddi League’s status as a premier Indian sports league, combining tradition with modern sports entertainment to attract a diverse, pan-Indian audience.