PKL 13 Delayed to 2027: Why Season 13 Won’t Happen in 2026, All Teams and Sample Schedule

Fans have been asking whether Pro Kabaddi Season 13 will happen this year, and the latest reports say it will not. According to reports published on November 1, 2026, PKL 13 is delayed to a likely June–July 2027 window because the league has not signed a new broadcast deal. Mashal Sports, which runs the league, has not made an official announcement. This page explains what has been reported, why the season has been delayed, what it means for all 12 teams and players, and how a Season 13 schedule could look when it finally arrives.

PKL 13 Delayed to 2027: Why Season 13 Won't Happen in 2026, All Teams and Sample Schedule

By Vikas Sharma, founder of PKL Schedule. Last updated: November 5, 2026. The 2027 window comes from media reports quoting an unnamed source. We will update this page as soon as the league confirms dates.

PKL 13 Delayed: Quick Answer

QuestionAnswer
Is PKL 13 delayed?Yes, according to reports from November 1, 2026
Will PKL 13 happen in 2026?Reports say no
New expected windowJune–July 2027 (reported, not official)
Main reasonNo new broadcast deal after Season 12
Previous broadcast dealAbout INR 905 crore for Seasons 8 to 12, held by Star India (now JioStar)
Reported new offerAbout half the value of the previous deal
Official confirmationNone yet from Mashal Sports
Season 13 auction dateNot announced
TeamsThe same 12 franchises
Defending championsDabang Delhi K.C.

Key Takeaways

  • PKL 13 is delayed beyond 2026, with June–July 2027 the most likely new window, according to reports.
  • The league’s five-season broadcast deal ended with Season 12, and no new deal has been signed.
  • The 12 franchise owners reportedly decided to wait rather than accept a lower offer.
  • Owners have reportedly approached India’s Sports Ministry for guidance, as Indian Super League clubs did earlier.
  • No official schedule exists. The sample schedule on this page is for illustration only.

Why Is PKL 13 Delayed?

The short answer is money. Every PKL season needs a broadcaster to show the matches and pay for the rights. Without that partner, the league cannot set dates, plan venues or hold a player auction with confidence.

1. The Broadcast Deal Expired

In 2021, Star India won the PKL media rights for Seasons 8 to 12 for a reported INR 905 crore. That deal ended when Season 12 finished on October 31, 2025. Our PKL live streaming guide explains how Season 12 was shown on Star Sports and JioHotstar.

2. The Reported New Offer Is Much Lower

According to the reports, the current broadcaster has offered roughly half of what it paid last time, and there has been little interest from other broadcasters. Franchise owners, who need central revenue to run their teams, reportedly chose to hold out for a better deal rather than accept.

3. A Possible New Way of Running the League

Franchise owners have reportedly asked India’s Sports Ministry for guidance. This follows a similar step by Indian Super League football clubs, whose league moved to a club-led model after its long-term commercial agreement ended. Some reports suggest PKL could follow a similar path, with franchises playing a bigger role in selling rights and sponsorships. Nothing has been decided publicly.

4. Earlier Delays Already Pushed the Season Back

Even before these reports, Season 13 was running late. The 20th Asian Games (September 19 to October 4, 2026) and the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship (October 23 to 31, 2026) kept many top players busy, and the reported October auction window passed without an auction. Our PKL 13 auction date page tracks that side of the story.

ReasonStatusEffect on Season 13
Broadcast dealExpired; no new deal (reported)Main cause of the delay
Lower broadcast offerAbout half the previous value (reported)Owners chose to wait
Operating modelOwners sought Sports Ministry guidance (reported)Could change how the league is run
Asian Games 2026CompletedPushed the auction back
Commonwealth Kabaddi ChampionshipCompleted, October 31, 2026Players unavailable in October
Player auctionNot announcedSeason cannot start without it

Timeline: How the PKL 13 Delay Developed

DateDevelopment
October 31, 2025Season 12 final: Dabang Delhi K.C. beat Puneri Paltan 31-28. The five-season broadcast deal ends.
August 2026Reports suggest an auction between October 18 and 25 and a late-December 2026 start.
September 2026Reports say talks on a new rights deal are ongoing; industry estimates put its value at INR 1,000 crore or more.
September 19 to October 4, 2026Asian Games in Japan.
October 2026The reported auction window passes with no announcement.
October 23 to 31, 2026Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in Ahmedabad; India win both titles.
November 1, 2026Reports say there will be no PKL in 2026 and point to a June–July 2027 window.
Still awaitedOfficial statement, broadcast deal, auction date and schedule.

Our Hindi readers can follow the same story on PKL 13 kab shuru hoga.

Is the PKL 13 Delay Official?

No. As of November 5, 2026, neither Mashal Sports nor the league has confirmed the delay or the 2027 window. The reports rely on an unnamed source close to the matter. That does not make them wrong. The source’s details match what we already knew: the broadcast deal has expired and no auction has been announced. But an official statement could change the details, especially the exact month.

ClaimConfirmed?
The 2021 broadcast deal covered Seasons 8 to 12Yes
No new broadcast deal has been announcedYes
No Season 13 auction has been announcedYes
No PKL in 2026Reported, not official
June–July 2027 windowReported, not official
New offer is half the old valueReported, not official
Owners approached the Sports MinistryReported, not official

How to Spot Fake PKL 13 News

  • Be careful with videos titled “PKL 13 cancelled”. No report has said the league is ending.
  • Ignore “official schedule” images. No fixture list has been released.
  • Check whether a story names its source or quotes the league directly.
  • Trust announcements from the league’s official website and social media accounts.

All 12 PKL Teams Waiting for Season 13

All 12 franchises are expected to return when the league restarts. The table shows each team’s Season 12 finish and total titles. Click a team name for its full profile, or the squad link for the latest player list.

TeamSeason 12 finishPKL titlesSquad
Dabang Delhi K.C.Champions (2nd in league)2 (Seasons 8 and 12)Dabang Delhi squad
Puneri PaltanRunners-up (1st in league)1 (Season 10)Puneri Paltan squad
Bengaluru Bulls3rd in league1 (Season 6)Bengaluru Bulls squad
Telugu Titans4th in league0Telugu Titans squad
Haryana Steelers5th in league1 (Season 11)Haryana Steelers squad
U Mumba6th in league1 (Season 2)U Mumba squad
Patna Pirates7th in league3 (Seasons 3, 4 and 5)Patna Pirates squad
Jaipur Pink Panthers8th in league2 (Seasons 1 and 9)Jaipur Pink Panthers squad
UP Yoddhas9th in league0UP Yoddhas squad
Tamil Thalaivas10th in league0Tamil Thalaivas squad
Gujarat Giants11th in league0Gujarat Giants squad
Bengal Warriorz12th in league1 (Season 7)Bengal Warriorz squad

For an overview of every franchise, see our PKL teams page, and for who owns them, our PKL team owners guide.

PKL 13 Delay: Team-by-Team Guide to All 12 Teams

Here is where every franchise stands while it waits for Season 13. Each section covers the team’s Season 12 result, key people and what the delay means for it. Coaching and captaincy details are from Season 12 unless a Season 13 change has been confirmed.

Dabang Delhi K.C.

Dabang Delhi K.C. official logo

Dabang Delhi K.C. are the defending champions. They finished second in the Season 12 league table, beat Puneri Paltan on a tie-breaker in Qualifier 1 and then beat them again 31-28 in the final at Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium. Veteran defender Fazel Atrachali was named Most Valuable Player, and captain Ashu Malik led the attack.

Dabang Delhi K.C.Details
Home baseDelhi
Owner (as publicly reported)DoIT Sports Management (founded by Radha Kapoor)
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles2 (Seasons 8 and 12)
Season 12 finishChampions; 2nd in the league
Season 12 captainAshu Malik (raider)
Season 12 head coachJoginder Narwal
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

For Delhi, the PKL 13 delay is a mixed blessing. A long break gives older players time to recover, but it also makes it harder to keep a title-winning squad together until mid-2027. Their retention decisions will be among the most closely watched when the auction is finally announced.

Puneri Paltan

Puneri Paltan official logo

Puneri Paltan were the most consistent team of Season 12. They topped the league table on score difference, ahead of Delhi on the same points, and reached the final after beating Telugu Titans 50-45 in Qualifier 2. They then lost the final 31-28, their second defeat to Delhi in the playoffs.

Puneri PaltanDetails
Home basePune
Owner (as publicly reported)Insurekot Sports
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles1 (Season 10)
Season 12 finishRunners-up; 1st in the league
Season 12 captainAslam Inamdar (all-rounder)
Season 12 head coachAjay Thakur
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

Pune’s strength is continuity. Captain Aslam Inamdar has led the side for several seasons, and coach Ajay Thakur, a former India captain, has built a balanced squad. A long gap tests that continuity, but few teams are better placed to pick up where they left off.

Bengaluru Bulls

Bengaluru Bulls official logo

Bengaluru Bulls bounced back strongly in Season 12. After a difficult Season 11, they finished third in the league under head coach BC Ramesh, with defender Yogesh Dahiya as captain. Their run ended in Eliminator 2.

Bengaluru BullsDetails
Home baseBengaluru
Owner (as publicly reported)WL League Pvt. Ltd
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles1 (Season 6)
Season 12 finish3rd in the league; lost Eliminator 2
Season 12 captainYogesh Dahiya (defender)
Season 12 head coachBC Ramesh
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

Dahiya was also part of India’s gold-winning squad at the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in October 2026, making five tackle points in the final. Bengaluru will hope he and the rest of their defence stay sharp during the long wait for Season 13.

Telugu Titans

Telugu Titans official logo

Telugu Titans had one of their best seasons in Season 12, finishing fourth and reaching Qualifier 2, where they lost a high-scoring match 50-45 to Puneri Paltan. All-rounder Vijay Malik captained the side under coach Krishan Kumar Hooda.

Telugu TitansDetails
Home baseHyderabad
Owner (as publicly reported)Veera Sports
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles0
Season 12 finish4th in the league; lost Qualifier 2
Season 12 captainVijay Malik (all-rounder)
Season 12 head coachKrishan Kumar Hooda
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

The Titans are still waiting for their first PKL title, and Season 12 gave them real momentum. The delay risks losing that momentum, but it also gives the franchise more time to build around the core that took them so close.

Haryana Steelers

Haryana Steelers official logo

Haryana Steelers won the Season 11 title and remained competitive in Season 12, finishing fifth before losing in the play-in round. Captain Jaideep Dahiya leads one of the league’s most organised defences, and coach Manpreet Singh has built one of the most stable set-ups in the league.

Haryana SteelersDetails
Home baseHaryana
Owner (as publicly reported)JSW Group
PKL debutSeason 5 (2017)
PKL titles1 (Season 11)
Season 12 finish5th in the league; lost Play-in 1
Season 12 captainJaideep Dahiya (defender)
Season 12 head coachManpreet Singh
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

Haryana also used Final Bid Match cards on two-season deals before Season 12, including for Nepali raider Ghanshyam Roka Magar. How those multi-season contracts are handled during the delay is one of the open questions for Season 13.

U Mumba

U Mumba official logo

U Mumba finished sixth in Season 12 and lost in the play-in round. Defender Sunil Kumar captained the side, and the Maharashtra derby against Puneri Paltan remained one of the big fixtures of the season.

U MumbaDetails
Home baseMumbai
Owner (as publicly reported)Unilazer Ventures (Ronnie Screwvala)
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles1 (Season 2)
Season 12 finish6th in the league; lost Play-in 2
Season 12 captainSunil Kumar (defender)
Season 12 head coachAnil Chaprana
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed (change reported)

A coaching change has been reported for U Mumba, which means the extra time before Season 13 could help a new coach plan the squad and the auction strategy from the start.

Patna Pirates

Patna Pirates official logo

Patna Pirates are the most successful team in PKL history, with three straight titles from Season 3 to Season 5. In Season 12, they finished seventh and went out in Eliminator 3, but they produced the season’s two individual award winners: Ayan Lohchab was Best Raider with 316 raid points and Navdeep was Best Defender with 73 tackle points.

Patna PiratesDetails
Home basePatna
Owner (as publicly reported)Rajesh V Shah
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles3 (Seasons 3, 4 and 5)
Season 12 finish7th in the league; lost Eliminator 3
Season 12 captainAnkit Jaglan (all-rounder/defender)
Season 12 head coachAnup Kumar
Season 13 head coachJasveer Singh (confirmed)

Patna have already confirmed Jasveer Singh, formerly of UP Yoddhas, as their head coach for Season 13. With young stars and a new coach in place, they may be one of the teams best prepared for whenever the season starts.

Jaipur Pink Panthers

Jaipur Pink Panthers official logo

Jaipur Pink Panthers, owned by actor Abhishek Bachchan, won the first PKL season in 2014 and added a second title in Season 9. In Season 12, they finished eighth, qualifying for the playoffs before losing Eliminator 1. Iranian defender Reza Mirbagheri was captain.

Jaipur Pink PanthersDetails
Home baseJaipur
Owner (as publicly reported)Abhishek Bachchan
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles2 (Seasons 1 and 9)
Season 12 finish8th in the league; lost Eliminator 1
Season 12 captainReza Mirbagheri (defender)
Season 12 head coachNarender Redhu
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

Jaipur also hosted a leg of Season 12. If the league returns with a caravan format in 2027, the city could again be a strong candidate to host matches.

UP Yoddhas

UP Yoddhas official logo

UP Yoddhas missed the playoffs in Season 12, finishing ninth with defender Sumit Sangwan as captain. Long-time coach Jasveer Singh has since moved to Patna Pirates, and UP have confirmed Upendra Malik as his replacement.

UP YoddhasDetails
Home baseUttar Pradesh
Owner (as publicly reported)GMR Group
PKL debutSeason 5 (2017)
PKL titles0
Season 12 finish9th in the league
Season 12 captainSumit Sangwan (defender)
Season 12 head coachJasveer Singh
Season 13 head coachUpendra Malik (confirmed)

Malik was part of Jaipur Pink Panthers’ Season 9 title-winning coaching staff. For a new head coach, the PKL 13 delay offers extra time to shape the squad and plan for the auction.

Tamil Thalaivas

Tamil Thalaivas official logo

Tamil Thalaivas finished tenth in Season 12, even though they won the season’s opening match against Telugu Titans 38-35. Star raider Arjun Deshwal was captain, and Chennai hosted one of the season’s city legs.

Tamil ThalaivasDetails
Home baseChennai
Owner (as publicly reported)Magnum Sports Pvt. Ltd
PKL debutSeason 5 (2017)
PKL titles0
Season 12 finish10th in the league
Season 12 captainArjun Deshwal (raider)
Season 12 head coachSanjeev Baliyan
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed (change reported)

A coaching change has been reported for the Thalaivas, and the team will want a fresh start in Season 13. With a passionate Tamil fan base, they are one of the teams whose supporters will feel the long wait most.

Gujarat Giants

Gujarat Giants official logo

Gujarat Giants reached the final in each of their first two seasons but struggled in Season 12, finishing eleventh. Iranian all-rounder Mohammadreza Shadloui was captain. One of their wins was a thrilling 41-39 victory over UP Yoddhas.

Gujarat GiantsDetails
Home baseAhmedabad
Owner (as publicly reported)Adani Wilmar Ltd
PKL debutSeason 5 (2017)
PKL titles0
Season 12 finish11th in the league
Season 12 captainMohammadreza Shadloui (all-rounder)
Season 12 head coachJaivir Sharma
Season 13 head coachRandhir Singh Sehrawat (confirmed)

Gujarat have confirmed Randhir Singh Sehrawat, who coached Bengaluru Bulls to the Season 6 title, as their new head coach. Ahmedabad also hosted the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship in October 2026, showing the city’s growing role in the sport.

Bengal Warriorz

Bengal Warriorz official logo

Bengal Warriorz finished last in Season 12, a disappointing season for a team that won the title in Season 7. Raider Devank Dalal was captain.

Bengal WarriorzDetails
Home baseKolkata
Owner (as publicly reported)Capri Sports
PKL debutSeason 1 (2014)
PKL titles1 (Season 7)
Season 12 finish12th in the league
Season 12 captainDevank Dalal (raider)
Season 12 head coachNaveen Kumar
Season 13 head coachTo be confirmed

For a team at the bottom, the PKL 13 delay could be an opportunity. More time means more scouting, a clearer auction plan and a chance to rebuild the squad properly. Bengal will be one of the most interesting teams to watch at the Season 13 auction.

What the PKL 13 Delay Means for Players

Players are the people most affected by a long gap. A PKL season is the biggest payday of the year for most kabaddi professionals, and without it, many will rely on other income.

Player groupLikely effect of the delay
Star playersLong gap in top-level matches; national team and domestic events help them stay sharp
Retained playersContracts may need to be extended or adjusted; terms not public
Released playersLonger wait for a new franchise through the auction
Young playersDevelopment depends on domestic competitions and camps
Overseas playersUncertain plans; many play in their own countries’ events
VeteransAge and fitness become bigger questions by mid-2027

Where Players Can Still Play

Indian players have stayed active through the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship and the Senior National Kabaddi Championship. India’s men’s and women’s teams won both gold medals at the Commonwealth event in Ahmedabad, with PKL regulars such as Naveen Kumar, Bharat Hooda and Aditya Shinde in the squad. Read the full story on our Commonwealth Kabaddi Championship 2026 page.

Retained, Released and Unsold Players

The delay also leaves the player market on hold. Retention decisions, released players and the auction purse all depend on the new season’s dates. See our guides to PKL 13 retained players, PKL 13 released players and the PKL 13 auction purse.

Has PKL Played in June and July Before?

Yes. A June–July window would not be new. PKL’s early seasons were played in the middle of the year.

SeasonYearApproximate period
Season 12014July to August
Season 22015July to August
Season 32016January to March
Season 42016June to July
Season 52017July to October
Season 122025August 29 to October 31
Season 132027 (reported)June to July window

For a season-by-season history, see our PKL season history and PKL winners list.

Why Mid-Year Could Work

  • The IPL usually ends in late May or early June, leaving prime-time television free.
  • There are no Asian Games in 2027 to clash with.
  • Kabaddi is played indoors, so the monsoon does not affect matches.
  • It gives the league time to sign a broadcaster, hold the auction and run training camps.

What Must Happen Before PKL 13 Starts

StepWhat needs to happenStatus
1New broadcast deal signedNot yet
2Operating model agreed between league and franchisesReportedly under discussion
3Official Season 13 announcementNot yet
4Retention lists confirmedNot yet
5Player auctionNot announced
6Training camps (usually about a month)After the auction
7Fixture list and venues releasedUsually a few weeks before the opener
8Opening matchJune–July 2027 window (reported)

Possible PKL 13 Timelines

These scenarios are our own estimates, based on the usual gap between an auction and the first match. They are not official dates.

ScenarioBroadcast dealAuctionSeason startFinal
EarlyEarly 2027March–April 2027June 2027August 2027
Reported windowEarly to mid 2027April–May 2027July 2027September 2027
Further delayMid 2027 or laterJune 2027 or laterSecond half of 2027Late 2027

PKL 13 Sample Schedule (Not Official)

Important: the schedule below is a sample to show how a Season 13 fixture list could be laid out. It is not official, and the real fixtures, dates, order and venues will be different. We have used matchday numbers instead of dates on purpose, because no dates have been announced. The opening fixture pairs the defending champions with the team that finished last, which is a common way leagues open a season, but the real opener may differ.

Expected Format

If Season 13 keeps the Season 12 format, it would look like this:

Format detailSeason 12 (actual)Season 13 (expected)
Teams1212
League matches per team1818
Total league matches108108
Playoff matches99
Usual match times (IST)7:30 PM and 9:00 PMTo be confirmed
Points for a win2To be confirmed
Tied matchesFive-raid tie-breaker, then golden raidTo be confirmed
Season lengthAbout nine weeksAbout nine weeks

Sample First Leg: Matchdays 1 to 15

This sample covers the first 30 league matches. Each team plays five times, and no team plays twice on the same matchday.

MatchMatchdayFixtureTime (IST)Status
1Matchday 1Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Bengal Warriorz7:30 PMSample only
2Matchday 1Puneri Paltan vs Gujarat Giants9:00 PMSample only
3Matchday 2Bengaluru Bulls vs Tamil Thalaivas7:30 PMSample only
4Matchday 2Telugu Titans vs UP Yoddhas9:00 PMSample only
5Matchday 3Haryana Steelers vs Jaipur Pink Panthers7:30 PMSample only
6Matchday 3U Mumba vs Patna Pirates9:00 PMSample only
7Matchday 4Gujarat Giants vs Dabang Delhi K.C.7:30 PMSample only
8Matchday 4Tamil Thalaivas vs Bengal Warriorz9:00 PMSample only
9Matchday 5UP Yoddhas vs Puneri Paltan7:30 PMSample only
10Matchday 5Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Bengaluru Bulls9:00 PMSample only
11Matchday 6Patna Pirates vs Telugu Titans7:30 PMSample only
12Matchday 6U Mumba vs Haryana Steelers9:00 PMSample only
13Matchday 7Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Tamil Thalaivas7:30 PMSample only
14Matchday 7Gujarat Giants vs UP Yoddhas9:00 PMSample only
15Matchday 8Bengal Warriorz vs Jaipur Pink Panthers7:30 PMSample only
16Matchday 8Puneri Paltan vs Patna Pirates9:00 PMSample only
17Matchday 9Bengaluru Bulls vs U Mumba7:30 PMSample only
18Matchday 9Telugu Titans vs Haryana Steelers9:00 PMSample only
19Matchday 10UP Yoddhas vs Dabang Delhi K.C.7:30 PMSample only
20Matchday 10Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Tamil Thalaivas9:00 PMSample only
21Matchday 11Patna Pirates vs Gujarat Giants7:30 PMSample only
22Matchday 11U Mumba vs Bengal Warriorz9:00 PMSample only
23Matchday 12Haryana Steelers vs Puneri Paltan7:30 PMSample only
24Matchday 12Telugu Titans vs Bengaluru Bulls9:00 PMSample only
25Matchday 13Dabang Delhi K.C. vs Jaipur Pink Panthers7:30 PMSample only
26Matchday 13UP Yoddhas vs Patna Pirates9:00 PMSample only
27Matchday 14Tamil Thalaivas vs U Mumba7:30 PMSample only
28Matchday 14Gujarat Giants vs Haryana Steelers9:00 PMSample only
29Matchday 15Bengal Warriorz vs Telugu Titans7:30 PMSample only
30Matchday 15Puneri Paltan vs Bengaluru Bulls9:00 PMSample only

How the Rest of a Season Usually Works

After the first leg, PKL normally moves its “caravan” to two or three more host cities, with all 12 teams travelling together. The last part of the league stage is followed by the playoffs. In Season 12, the top two teams went straight to the playoffs, teams 3 and 4 played a mini-qualifier, and teams 5 to 8 played a play-in round. Our PKL playoffs schedule page explains the format, and the PKL points table will track standings once the season starts.

StageTypical lengthMatches
Leg 1About 2 weeksAbout 28 to 30
Leg 2About 2 weeksAbout 26 to 28
Leg 3About 2 weeksAbout 26 to 28
Leg 4About 2 weeksAbout 24 to 26
Playoffs and finalAbout 1 week9

Where Could Season 13 Be Played?

Venues have not been announced. Season 12 was played in Visakhapatnam, Jaipur, Chennai and Delhi. Host cities usually change from season to season and depend on arena availability and the home franchises. Our PKL venues guide lists recent host cities.

Match Times for Fans Abroad in a June–July Window

A mid-year season would change local match times for overseas fans, because the UK, USA and Canada would be on summer time. Gulf, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh times would not change.

India (IST)Saudi ArabiaUAEPakistanUK (summer)US Eastern (summer)
7:30 PM5:00 PM6:00 PM7:00 PM3:00 PM10:00 AM
9:00 PM6:30 PM7:30 PM8:30 PM4:30 PM11:30 AM

Country guides: PKL schedule in UK time, PKL schedule in USA time and PKL schedule in Bangladesh time.

Rivalries Waiting for PKL 13

The delay means fans will wait longer for some of the league’s biggest matches. These are the rivalries we expect to be most watched when the season returns:

RivalryWhy it matters
Dabang Delhi vs Puneri PaltanA rematch of the Season 12 final
U Mumba vs Puneri PaltanThe Maharashtra derby
Haryana Steelers vs Patna PiratesA rematch of the Season 11 final
Bengaluru Bulls vs Tamil ThalaivasThe southern derby
Patna Pirates vs Bengal WarriorzThe eastern rivalry
Jaipur Pink Panthers vs Puneri PaltanTwo recent champions

What Fans Should Do During the PKL 13 Delay

  • Follow the league’s official channels for the real announcement.
  • Do not buy streaming plans or tickets for Season 13 until dates and partners are confirmed. Our PKL tickets guide will be updated when sales open.
  • Watch international and domestic kabaddi, where many PKL stars are still playing.
  • Bookmark this page and our PKL schedule homepage for updates.

Could the PKL 13 Delay Be Good for the League?

A long break is painful for fans and players, but it is not all bad news. If the franchises and the league use the time to agree a stronger commercial model, Season 13 could return on a firmer footing.

Possible benefitPossible risk
A fairer or more valuable broadcast dealFans lose interest during a 20-month gap
More say for franchises in how the league is runDisagreements could cause further delays
Time for a well-planned auction and training campsPlayers lose a year of income and match practice
A clear mid-year slot without clashesSponsors may move to other sports

The Gap Between Seasons

If Season 13 starts in July 2027, the gap after Season 12’s final would be about 20 months. Only the break caused by the COVID-19 pandemic was longer: Season 7 ended in October 2019 and Season 8 did not start until December 2021. Apart from that, most seasons have started within a year of the previous one.

PKL 13 Delayed: Our View

Every sign points to the same conclusion: without a broadcast deal, there was no realistic way to start Season 13 in 2026, and the reported June–July 2027 window makes sense. What matters now is whether the league and the franchises can agree a new model and a deal that keeps all 12 teams healthy. Until there is an official announcement, treat every date, including the 2027 window, as provisional.

We will update this page, the team pages and our schedule pages as soon as Mashal Sports confirms the broadcast partner, auction date and fixtures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PKL 13 delayed?

Yes. Reports from November 1, 2026 say Season 13 will not be played in 2026 and is likely in June–July 2027. The league has not officially confirmed this.

Why is PKL Season 13 delayed?

The main reason is that the league has no broadcast partner. The previous deal ended with Season 12, and the reported new offer was about half the previous value.

Is PKL 13 cancelled?

No. The reports describe a delay, not a cancellation. The league is expected to return with the same 12 teams.

When will PKL 13 start?

Reports point to a June–July 2027 window. No official date has been announced.

Is there an official PKL 13 schedule?

No. The sample schedule on this page is for illustration only. The official fixture list will be released after the broadcast deal and auction.

When is the PKL 13 auction?

No date has been announced. It is expected only after a broadcast deal is agreed.

Who won the last PKL season?

Dabang Delhi K.C. won Season 12, beating Puneri Paltan 31-28 in the final on October 31, 2025.

How many teams will play in PKL 13?

Twelve, the same franchises as in Season 12.

Where can I watch PKL 13?

The broadcaster has not been decided, which is the reason for the delay. Season 12 was shown on Star Sports and JioHotstar.