PKL Prize Money 2026: Winner, Runner-up and Award Amounts Explained
PKL prize money rewards both the champions and the season’s best individuals. In Season 12, Dabang Delhi K.C. received INR 3 crore for winning the title, runners-up Puneri Paltan took home INR 1.8 crore, and the Most Valuable Player award was worth INR 20 lakh. This guide breaks down every Season 12 prize, explains how prize money fits into the league’s wider finances, and sets out what fans can expect when Season 13 is decided.
PKL Prize Money: Season 12 Breakdown
| Award | Prize Money | Winner | Team |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champions | INR 3 crore plus trophy | Dabang Delhi K.C. | – |
| Runners-up | INR 1.8 crore | Puneri Paltan | – |
| Most Valuable Player | INR 20 lakh | Fazel Atrachali | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Raider of the Season | INR 15 lakh | Ayan Lohchab | Patna Pirates |
| Defender of the Season | INR 15 lakh | Navdeep | Patna Pirates |
| New Young Player of the Season | INR 8 lakh | Deepak Sankar | Bengaluru Bulls |
| Tackle of the Season | INR 5 lakh | Sunil Kumar | U Mumba |
| Super Tackle of the Season | INR 5 lakh | Shankar Gadai | Telugu Titans |
| Tackle of the Final | INR 50,000 | Fazel Atrachali | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
Key Takeaways
- The Season 12 champions received INR 3 crore and the runners-up INR 1.8 crore.
- The MVP award was worth INR 20 lakh, the biggest individual prize.
- Raider and Defender of the Season were each worth INR 15 lakh.
- Fazel Atrachali won two prizes: MVP and Tackle of the Final.
- Patna Pirates players won both the raiding and defending awards.
PKL Prize Money: Team Prizes
The biggest prizes go to the two finalists. The Season 12 final was played on October 31, 2025, at Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi, where Dabang Delhi K.C. beat Puneri Paltan 31-28.
| Finish | Team | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Champions | Dabang Delhi K.C. | INR 3 crore |
| Runners-up | Puneri Paltan | INR 1.8 crore |
| Total for the two finalists | INR 4.8 crore |
The gap between first and second place was INR 1.2 crore, so the final itself was worth a great deal financially as well as in prestige.
PKL Prize Money: Individual Awards
| Award | Prize | What It Recognises |
|---|---|---|
| Most Valuable Player | INR 20 lakh | The season’s best overall player |
| Raider of the Season | INR 15 lakh | The best raider |
| Defender of the Season | INR 15 lakh | The best defender |
| New Young Player of the Season | INR 8 lakh | The best young player |
| Tackle of the Season | INR 5 lakh | The season’s best single tackle |
| Super Tackle of the Season | INR 5 lakh | The season’s best super tackle |
| Tackle of the Final | INR 50,000 | The best tackle in the final |
Adding up the seven individual prizes gives a total of INR 68.5 lakh, on top of the INR 4.8 crore shared by the finalists.
How the Season 12 Winners Earned Their Prizes
| Player | Award | Season 12 Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Fazel Atrachali | MVP, Tackle of the Final | Anchored Delhi’s title-winning defence |
| Ayan Lohchab | Raider of the Season | 316 raid points, 16 Super 10s |
| Navdeep | Defender of the Season | 73 tackle points |
| Deepak Sankar | New Young Player of the Season | 64 tackle points in 19 matches |
| Sunil Kumar | Tackle of the Season | U Mumba captain, 52 tackle points |
| Shankar Gadai | Super Tackle of the Season | Telugu Titans all-rounder |
PKL Prize Money by Team in Season 12
Combining team and individual prizes shows which franchises collected the most.
| Team | Prizes Won | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | Champions, MVP, Tackle of the Final | INR 3.205 crore |
| Puneri Paltan | Runners-up | INR 1.8 crore |
| Patna Pirates | Raider and Defender of the Season | INR 30 lakh |
| Bengaluru Bulls | New Young Player of the Season | INR 8 lakh |
| U Mumba | Tackle of the Season | INR 5 lakh |
| Telugu Titans | Super Tackle of the Season | INR 5 lakh |
Individual award money is normally paid to the players rather than the franchise. The team totals above simply show which squads produced the prize winners.
How Prize Money Compares With Player Salaries
Prize money is only one part of the money in PKL. Auction salaries are often much larger. In Season 12, each franchise had a salary purse of INR 5 crore, and the most expensive player, Mohammadreza Shadloui, was bought for INR 2.23 crore. By comparison, the champions’ prize of INR 3 crore is more than half a team’s entire salary budget.
| Measure | Season 12 Figure |
|---|---|
| Champions’ prize money | INR 3 crore |
| Salary purse per team | INR 5 crore |
| Highest auction price | INR 2.23 crore |
| MVP prize | INR 20 lakh |
| Fazel Atrachali’s auction price | INR 30 lakh |
Fazel Atrachali’s story stands out. Bought for INR 30 lakh, he won INR 20.5 lakh in individual prizes and helped his team earn INR 3 crore. Our highest-paid PKL players list covers the biggest salaries.
Where PKL Prize Money Comes From
Prize money is funded by the league, which earns income from media rights, sponsorship and franchise fees. Reports in 2026 said the previous media rights deal was worth about INR 905 crore over five seasons. The size of the next deal, still being negotiated in September 2026, could influence how much money flows into the league in future seasons.
| League Income Source | Role |
|---|---|
| Media rights | Largest reported income stream |
| Sponsorship | Title and associate partners |
| Franchise fees | Paid by team owners |
Our PKL team owners guide explains who funds each franchise.
PKL Prize Money for Season 13
The Season 13 prize money has not been announced. It will usually be confirmed around the final. Until then, the Season 12 figures are the best guide. With media rights still being negotiated, it is not yet clear whether the prize pool will rise, stay the same or change.
| Prize | Season 12 | Season 13 |
|---|---|---|
| Champions | INR 3 crore | To be announced |
| Runners-up | INR 1.8 crore | To be announced |
| MVP | INR 20 lakh | To be announced |
| Raider of the Season | INR 15 lakh | To be announced |
| Defender of the Season | INR 15 lakh | To be announced |
Who Could Win the Season 13 Prize Money?
Based on Season 12, Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi K.C. start as early contenders for the champions’ prize, with Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls and Patna Pirates close behind. For individual prizes, Ayan Lohchab, Devank Dalal, Navdeep and Jaideep Dahiya are among the leading candidates. The auction will reshape every squad before the first match. Track all past winners on our PKL MVP list and PKL winners list.
PKL Prize Money: Season 12 Awards Explained
Most Valuable Player (INR 20 lakh)
The largest individual PKL prize money goes to the player with the biggest overall impact. Fazel Atrachali became the first specialist defender to win it.
Raider of the Season (INR 15 lakh)
Awarded to the season’s best raider. Ayan Lohchab won with 316 raid points.
Defender of the Season (INR 15 lakh)
Awarded to the season’s best defender. Navdeep won with 73 tackle points.
New Young Player of the Season (INR 8 lakh)
Awarded to the best young player. Deepak Sankar of Bengaluru Bulls won after recording 64 tackle points.
Tackle of the Season and Super Tackle of the Season (INR 5 lakh each)
These awards reward a single standout moment rather than season totals. Sunil Kumar won the tackle award and Shankar Gadai won the super tackle award.
Tackle of the Final (INR 50,000)
The best tackle in the final went to Fazel Atrachali, adding to his MVP prize.
PKL Prize Money: Earlier Award Winners
Earlier seasons also handed out individual awards. Prize amounts for those seasons are not listed here, but the winners show who would have collected the main PKL prize money for individuals.
| Season | MVP | Raider of the Season | Defender of the Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 8 | Naveen Kumar | Pawan Kumar Sehrawat | Mohammadreza Shadloui |
| Season 9 | Arjun Deshwal | Bharat Hooda | Ankush |
| Season 10 | Aslam Inamdar | Ashu Malik | Mohammadreza Shadloui |
| Season 11 | Mohammadreza Shadloui | Devank Dalal | Nitesh Kumar |
| Season 12 | Fazel Atrachali | Ayan Lohchab | Navdeep |
More detail is in our PKL best raider and best defender guide.
PKL Prize Money: Value Stories From Season 12
| Player | Auction Price | Prize Money Won |
|---|---|---|
| Fazel Atrachali | INR 30 lakh | INR 20.5 lakh |
| Deepak Sankar | Young-player contract | INR 8 lakh |
| Ayan Lohchab | Young-player contract | INR 15 lakh |
| Navdeep | Young-player contract | INR 15 lakh |
Several of Season 12’s prize winners were young players on modest contracts, which shows how PKL prize money can reward breakout seasons.
PKL Prize Money Checklist for Season 13
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Champions’ prize | To be announced |
| Runners-up prize | To be announced |
| Individual awards | To be announced |
| Final date and venue | To be announced |
PKL Prize Money in Context: Season 12 Season Summary
| Detail | Season 12 |
|---|---|
| Season dates | August 29 – October 31, 2025 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Matches | 117 (108 league, 9 playoff) |
| Champions | Dabang Delhi K.C. |
| Final score | 31-28 vs Puneri Paltan |
| Champions’ PKL prize money | INR 3 crore |
Across 117 matches, only two teams shared the big team prizes, which shows how much the PKL prize money rewards a deep playoff run.
PKL prize money: Final Word
PKL prize money rewards the champions handsomely and recognises the season’s best individuals. In Season 12, the title was worth INR 3 crore and the MVP award INR 20 lakh, and several of the winners were young players or bargain signings. Season 13 amounts will be added to this page as soon as the league announces them, most likely around the final.
How PKL Prize Money Rewards Each Stage of the Season
| Stage | Reward |
|---|---|
| League stage | Seeding and a path to the playoffs; no separate cash prize listed |
| Playoffs | A chance to reach the final |
| Final, losing team | INR 1.8 crore (Season 12) |
| Final, winning team | INR 3 crore and the trophy (Season 12) |
| Individual excellence | INR 50,000 to INR 20 lakh in awards (Season 12) |
Because the major PKL prize money is concentrated on the final, finishing in the top two of the league matters a great deal. In Season 12, both finalists had finished first and second in the table, giving them the shortest route to the final through Qualifier 1. Our PKL playoffs schedule guide explains the format.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much prize money did the PKL Season 12 winners get?
Dabang Delhi K.C. received INR 3 crore for winning Season 12.
How much did the runners-up get?
Puneri Paltan received INR 1.8 crore as Season 12 runners-up.
What is the PKL MVP prize money?
In Season 12, the Most Valuable Player award was worth INR 20 lakh. Fazel Atrachali won it.
How much do the best raider and best defender get?
In Season 12, Raider of the Season and Defender of the Season were each worth INR 15 lakh.
Has Season 13 prize money been announced?
No. Season 13 prize money has not been announced. It is usually confirmed around the final.
Which player won the most prize money in Season 12?
Fazel Atrachali won the most individual prize money, INR 20.5 lakh, from the MVP award and Tackle of the Final.
How much is the PKL New Young Player award worth?
In Season 12, the New Young Player of the Season award was worth INR 8 lakh. Deepak Sankar of Bengaluru Bulls won it.
What is the total PKL prize money for Season 12?
Adding the champions’ INR 3 crore, the runners-up’s INR 1.8 crore and INR 68.5 lakh in individual awards gives a total of about INR 5.485 crore.
Is PKL prize money bigger than player salaries?
No. The champions’ prize of INR 3 crore is less than a team’s INR 5 crore salary purse, but it is more than the highest single auction price of INR 2.23 crore.
Which team won the most PKL prize money in Season 12?
Dabang Delhi K.C. collected the most, with INR 3 crore for the title plus INR 20.5 lakh in individual awards won by Fazel Atrachali, a combined INR 3.205 crore.
Who won the Super Tackle of the Season prize?
Shankar Gadai of Telugu Titans won Super Tackle of the Season in Season 12, worth INR 5 lakh.
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