PKL Team Owners List 2026: Who Owns All 12 Pro Kabaddi Franchises?
Behind every one of the 12 franchises stands an owner, and the list of PKL team owners includes some of India’s best-known business groups and entertainment names. Conglomerates such as JSW, GMR and Adani Wilmar sit alongside Bollywood star Abhishek Bachchan and entrepreneur Ronnie Screwvala’s investment firm. This guide lists the owner of each Pro Kabaddi team, explains who runs the league itself, and looks at how ownership links to wider sports investments.
PKL Team Owners List
| Team | Owner (as publicly reported) | Type of Owner |
|---|---|---|
| Bengal Warriorz | Capri Sports | Sports company |
| Bengaluru Bulls | WL League Pvt. Ltd | Company |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | DoIT Sports Management (India) Pvt Ltd, founded by Radha Kapoor | Sports management company |
| Gujarat Giants | Adani Wilmar Ltd | Conglomerate company |
| Haryana Steelers | JSW Group | Conglomerate |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Abhishek Bachchan | Individual (actor) |
| Patna Pirates | Rajesh V Shah | Individual (business leader) |
| Puneri Paltan | Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd | Sports company |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Magnum Sports Pvt. Ltd | Sports company |
| Telugu Titans | Veera Sports | Sports company |
| U Mumba | Unilazer Ventures Pvt. Ltd (Ronnie Screwvala) | Investment firm |
| UP Yoddhas | GMR Group | Conglomerate |
Key Takeaways
- Large business groups own several franchises, including JSW (Haryana), GMR (UP) and Adani Wilmar (Gujarat).
- Abhishek Bachchan owns Jaipur Pink Panthers, the league’s first champions.
- Several owners also invest in other sports, from cricket to football.
- The league itself is run by Mashal Sports under the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India.
Who Runs the Pro Kabaddi League?
The franchises are owned separately, but the league is organised by Mashal Sports, which launched PKL in 2014. Mashal Sports was founded by businessman Anand Mahindra and sports broadcaster Charu Sharma. The league runs under the sanction of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI).
| Role | Organisation or Person |
|---|---|
| League organiser | Mashal Sports |
| Founders | Anand Mahindra and Charu Sharma |
| Governing body | Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI) |
| League launched | 2014 |
| Number of franchises | 12 |
PKL Team Owners: Franchise-by-Franchise Guide
Bengal Warriorz: Capri Sports
Bengal Warriorz, the Season 7 champions, are reported to be owned by Capri Sports. The franchise made the most expensive Indian signing of the Season 12 auction when it bought Devank Dalal for INR 2.205 crore.
Bengaluru Bulls: WL League Pvt. Ltd
The Season 6 champions are reported to be owned by WL League Pvt. Ltd. The Bulls rebuilt their squad before Season 12 and finished third.
Dabang Delhi K.C.: DoIT Sports Management
Dabang Delhi K.C. are reported to be owned through DoIT Sports Management (India) Pvt Ltd, founded by Radha Kapoor. The franchise is part of a wider “Dabang” sports portfolio that has included teams in other sports. Delhi won their second PKL title in Season 12.
Gujarat Giants: Adani Wilmar Ltd
Gujarat Giants are reported to be owned by Adani Wilmar Ltd, part of the business network founded by Gautam Adani. The franchise reached the finals of Seasons 5 and 6 and made the biggest signing of the Season 12 auction, Mohammadreza Shadloui at INR 2.23 crore.
Haryana Steelers: JSW Group
The JSW Group, a major Indian conglomerate, owns Haryana Steelers. JSW is also widely known for its other sports investments, including in football and cricket. Haryana won their first PKL title in Season 11.
Jaipur Pink Panthers: Abhishek Bachchan
Actor Abhishek Bachchan owns Jaipur Pink Panthers, one of the most recognisable franchises in Indian sport. Jaipur won the first PKL title in 2014 and a second in Season 9.
Patna Pirates: Rajesh V Shah
Patna Pirates are reported to be owned by business leader Rajesh V Shah. Patna are the most successful franchise in PKL history, with three titles in a row in Seasons 3, 4 and 5.
Puneri Paltan: Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd
Puneri Paltan are reported to be owned by Pune-based Insurekot Sports Pvt. Ltd. Pune won the Season 10 title and reached the Season 12 final.
Tamil Thalaivas: Magnum Sports Pvt. Ltd
Tamil Thalaivas are reported to be owned by Magnum Sports Pvt. Ltd, which is also linked to football through its involvement in the Indian Super League. The Thalaivas joined PKL in Season 5.
Telugu Titans: Veera Sports
Telugu Titans are reported to be owned by Veera Sports, with business leaders from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana among its backers. The Titans are one of the original eight franchises.
U Mumba: Unilazer Ventures
U Mumba are owned through Unilazer Ventures Pvt. Ltd, the investment firm founded by entrepreneur and film producer Ronnie Screwvala. U Mumba won the Season 2 title.
UP Yoddhas: GMR Group
The GMR Group, an Indian conglomerate with interests in infrastructure, energy and airports, owns UP Yoddhas. The group is also known for its investments in other sports.
PKL Team Owners by Ownership Type
| Ownership Type | Teams |
|---|---|
| Large business groups | Haryana Steelers (JSW), UP Yoddhas (GMR), Gujarat Giants (Adani Wilmar) |
| Individuals | Jaipur Pink Panthers (Abhishek Bachchan), Patna Pirates (Rajesh V Shah) |
| Investment firm | U Mumba (Unilazer Ventures) |
| Sports companies | Bengal Warriorz, Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi K.C., Puneri Paltan, Tamil Thalaivas, Telugu Titans |
PKL Team Owners and Titles
| Team | Owner | PKL Titles |
|---|---|---|
| Patna Pirates | Rajesh V Shah | 3 |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | DoIT Sports Management | 2 |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Abhishek Bachchan | 2 |
| U Mumba | Unilazer Ventures | 1 |
| Bengaluru Bulls | WL League Pvt. Ltd | 1 |
| Bengal Warriorz | Capri Sports | 1 |
| Puneri Paltan | Insurekot Sports | 1 |
| Haryana Steelers | JSW Group | 1 |
| Gujarat Giants | Adani Wilmar | 0 |
| Telugu Titans | Veera Sports | 0 |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Magnum Sports | 0 |
| UP Yoddhas | GMR Group | 0 |
Full title history is on our PKL winners list.
How PKL Owners Earn and Spend
Owners invest in player salaries, coaching staff, training camps and marketing. Each franchise works within a salary purse at the auction, which was INR 5 crore per team in Season 12. Reports in 2026 also said franchises receive a share of the league’s media revenue, with some discussing a larger share in future deals. Prize money adds to the rewards for success: the Season 12 champions received INR 3 crore and the runners-up INR 1.8 crore.
| Area | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player purse (Season 12) | INR 5 crore per team |
| Champions’ prize (Season 12) | INR 3 crore |
| Runners-up prize (Season 12) | INR 1.8 crore |
| Media revenue | Shared with franchises, according to reports |
Our PKL prize money guide and PKL auction hub cover the financial side in more detail.
Why Big Brands Invest in PKL
- National reach: reports cite a combined TV and digital audience of around 230 million.
- Regional identity: each team represents a city or state, building strong local loyalty.
- Multi-language coverage: broadcasts in several Indian languages reach diverse audiences.
- Affordable compared with cricket: PKL franchises offer major sports exposure at a lower cost than many cricket properties.
- Portfolio building: several owners also own teams in other sports, creating cross-promotion opportunities.
PKL Team Owners: Original vs Expansion Franchises
Eight franchises played in the first season in 2014, and four joined in Season 5 in 2017. The expansion brought in several large corporate owners.
| Group | Teams | Owners |
|---|---|---|
| Original teams (2014) | Bengal Warriorz, Bengaluru Bulls, Dabang Delhi K.C., Jaipur Pink Panthers, Patna Pirates, Puneri Paltan, Telugu Titans, U Mumba | Capri Sports, WL League, DoIT Sports Management, Abhishek Bachchan, Rajesh V Shah, Insurekot Sports, Veera Sports, Unilazer Ventures |
| Expansion teams (2017) | Gujarat Giants, Haryana Steelers, Tamil Thalaivas, UP Yoddhas | Adani Wilmar, JSW Group, Magnum Sports, GMR Group |
Among the expansion teams, only JSW-owned Haryana Steelers have won the title so far.
PKL Team Owners: Season 12 Results by Owner
| Team | Owner | Season 12 Finish |
|---|---|---|
| Dabang Delhi K.C. | DoIT Sports Management | Champions |
| Puneri Paltan | Insurekot Sports | Runners-up |
| Bengaluru Bulls | WL League Pvt. Ltd | 3rd |
| Telugu Titans | Veera Sports | 4th |
| Haryana Steelers | JSW Group | 5th |
| U Mumba | Unilazer Ventures | 6th |
| Patna Pirates | Rajesh V Shah | 7th |
| Jaipur Pink Panthers | Abhishek Bachchan | 8th |
| UP Yoddhas | GMR Group | 9th |
| Tamil Thalaivas | Magnum Sports | 10th |
| Gujarat Giants | Adani Wilmar | 11th |
| Bengal Warriorz | Capri Sports | 12th |
The full standings are on our PKL teams page.
PKL Team Owners and Season 12 Auction Spending
Owners back their franchises at the auction. These were the biggest signings of Season 12 by team.
| Team (Owner) | Biggest Signing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Gujarat Giants (Adani Wilmar) | Mohammadreza Shadloui | INR 2.23 crore |
| Bengal Warriorz (Capri Sports) | Devank Dalal | INR 2.205 crore |
| Dabang Delhi K.C. (DoIT Sports) | Ashu Malik (FBM) | INR 1.90 crore |
| Patna Pirates (Rajesh V Shah) | Ankit Jaglan (FBM) | INR 1.573 crore |
| Tamil Thalaivas (Magnum Sports) | Arjun Deshwal | INR 1.405 crore |
| Haryana Steelers (JSW Group) | Naveen Kumar | INR 1.20 crore |
PKL Team Owners and Media Rights
The next media rights deal is a major issue for PKL team owners. Reports in September 2026 said the previous deal was worth about INR 905 crore over five seasons, that the media revenue split reportedly favoured the league organiser, and that franchises wanted to protect the deal’s value. Some proposals reportedly included lower franchise fees and a larger share of media revenue for teams. The outcome will affect owners’ finances for years. Our PKL live streaming guide covers the media rights story.
How to Verify PKL Team Owners
- Check each franchise’s official website and social media accounts.
- Look for official league announcements about any change of ownership.
- Remember that holding companies may differ from the well-known group names behind them.
PKL Team Owners: Owners With Other Sports Interests
| Owner | PKL Team | Wider Sports Interests (as reported) |
|---|---|---|
| JSW Group | Haryana Steelers | Football and cricket investments |
| GMR Group | UP Yoddhas | Investments in other sports |
| Magnum Sports | Tamil Thalaivas | Indian Super League football |
| DoIT Sports Management | Dabang Delhi K.C. | “Dabang” teams in other sports |
These cross-sport portfolios help PKL team owners share expertise in marketing, fan engagement and player development across leagues.
PKL team owners: Final Word
The PKL team owners list shows how kabaddi has attracted serious investment since 2014. Corporate giants, entertainment personalities and specialist sports companies all have a stake in the league’s future, and the outcome of the next media rights deal will matter to every one of them. As ownership news emerges, this page will be updated so fans can always see who stands behind their team.
PKL Team Owners: Celebrity and Business Faces of the League
Ownership has helped give PKL a high profile. Abhishek Bachchan’s long association with Jaipur Pink Panthers has made the franchise one of the most recognisable in Indian sport, and he has been a familiar presence at Jaipur matches. Ronnie Screwvala’s backing of U Mumba links the league to one of India’s best-known entrepreneurs. Corporate owners such as JSW, GMR and the Adani group bring business expertise and wider sports experience to their franchises.
For fans, the PKL team owners matter because they decide how much to invest in players, coaches and facilities. Teams with ambitious owners often spend aggressively at the auction, while others focus on developing young talent through the New Young Player route.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who owns Jaipur Pink Panthers?
Actor Abhishek Bachchan owns Jaipur Pink Panthers, the league’s first champions.
Who owns Haryana Steelers?
The JSW Group owns Haryana Steelers, the Season 11 champions.
Who owns U Mumba?
U Mumba are owned through Unilazer Ventures, the investment firm founded by Ronnie Screwvala.
Who owns UP Yoddhas?
The GMR Group owns UP Yoddhas.
Who runs the Pro Kabaddi League?
The league is organised by Mashal Sports, founded by Anand Mahindra and Charu Sharma, under the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India.
Who owns Gujarat Giants?
Gujarat Giants are reported to be owned by Adani Wilmar Ltd.
Can PKL ownership change?
Yes. Franchise ownership can change through sales or corporate restructuring, so check official team channels for the latest details.
Who owns Patna Pirates?
Patna Pirates are reported to be owned by business leader Rajesh V Shah.
Who owns Dabang Delhi K.C.?
Dabang Delhi K.C. are reported to be owned through DoIT Sports Management (India) Pvt Ltd, founded by Radha Kapoor.
Who owns Tamil Thalaivas?
Tamil Thalaivas are reported to be owned by Magnum Sports Pvt. Ltd.
Do PKL team owners share media revenue?
Reports say franchises receive a share of the league’s media revenue, and some proposals discussed in 2026 included increasing the teams’ share.
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