PKL: Why Pro Kabaddi League is India’s Second Best League behind IPL?

The Pro Kabaddi League is touted as second biggest league in India trailing Behind IPL(Indian Premier League) and credit should be given to all stakeholders who have worked hard behind the scenes to make this entity extremely popular.

Here in this article, we will dive deep and explore all the reasons behind Pro Kabaddi League. becoming India’s second most popular league and the interesting fact about this marquee event it started a year later ISL(Indian Super League) which is India’s Top Tier Football league.

PKL surpassed popularity in various means be it marketing, adapting the fast pace of the game, emulating sport on Mat.

Let’s explore all those reasons one by one:

5. Massive Digital and TV Penetration:

Any league or sport will get popularity once concerned stakeholders, certainly have an art of showcasing this tournament across TV and OTT platforms gaging the interest of diversified audience belonging to distinct age groups where they consume content based on their preference.

With Star Sports coming on board along with Mashal during initial days, game reached at the bits and corner of all over India across TV and OTT Platforms.

The best thing about OTT Platform, you can watch games live and also we can witness highlights of all those matches.

The packaging where Bollywood is deeply involved with distinct franchise, and marketing on how 40 minutes game is showcased is brilliant.

The Technical advancements in the game which was showcased on live matches made it one of the most popular factor which made PKL famous.

4. Franchise Based City Centric Model and Smart Marketing:

The Pro Kabaddi League, have adapted similar concept like IPL, where every franchise is associated with distinct cities similarly we can see 12 franchises representing 12 different cities.

The Pro Kabaddi League franchise based model and home-away concept is another factor which helped stakeholders in packaging this tournament brilliantly.

The Pro Kabaddi League across all seasons due to fast paced nature of the game, makes it extremely popular and smart marketing tactics applied to these franchise makes it another popular marquee event after IPL.

The only thing stakeholders can do at least fix month where PKL will be held, so that various sponsors can invest in Pro Kabaddi League.

The Smart Marketing strategy employed along with Franchise Based model combined have added weightage in this tournament.

3. Talent Development and Grassroot Program Concept:

If we talk about Talent Development programs initiated by PKL franchise owners, they have invested heavily in youth academies where they individually scout some of the talented players where they can learn nuances of the game in order to reach at the highest level.

The grassroot program is extremely important considering identifying right kind of talent where they can show glimpses and subsequently play for their respective franchise in PKL.

2. Transforming Social Fabric and Perception Image in Kabaddi:

Kabaddi as Sport has been running through ages where in many parts of India, circle Kabaddi is played later when Star Sports and Mashal came on board, they brought this game on board and convert the entire match into 40 minutes where high anticipation action is expected considering the nature of the game.

The rules and regulations including- Super 10 , High 5 and All out and many more makes it look more appealing and interesting.

Kabaddi as sport on mat added another revolution in the dimension, changed Social Fabric and Perception Image in Kabaddi where many fans are glued either on stadium or at TV or ott where they are cheering for their favorite side.

1. Commerce Viability and International Diversity:

The stakeholders associated with this popular league where they have engaged variety of Sponsors be it- Title sponsor, Associate sponsors or any other sponsors deserve credit for supporting this league.

The marketability have been developed in order to make sure, all the players gets mileage, and the game is so fast paced that it attracted attention of concerned authorities outside India where the recent PKL all star tournament was organized in Victoria Australia where PKL old stars and Victoria current team faced each other which was telecasted live on Star Sports and several fans came into stadium to witness this match.

The sustainable Commerce Viability and International Diversity establish this league as one of its kind with auction already taken place every franchise will soon gear up for main event preparation.

The PKL main event will begun, later this year where the best in the business will compete against each other for prestigious title.

Overall Pro Kabaddi League stakeholders have added all the ingredients due to which they became 2nd most successful league in Indian after IPL.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q-1: What are some of the biggest reasons why PKL stars are getting more money in distinct auction?

Answer: In Pro Kabaddi League Season 1, Rakesh Kumar Bagged 12.5 Lakhs and eventually the prize money kept on increasing for those players who showcased all grit, determination where the last auction concluded had most expensive player in the form of Mohammadreza Shadloui who bagged 2.23 crore which speaks a volume about how much PKL and player’s popularity have grown over the years.

The financial aspect have exponentially changed life of those players who have made name for themselves.

Q-2: Why there is a fix calendar needed for PKL to attain different stardom level unlike IPL?

Answer: Fix Calendar will bring more stability in this ongoing marquee event where sponsors would invest in Pro Kabaddi League with subsequent Return on Investment they can derive from it.

Fix Calendar unlike IPL where sponsors knows clear timeline where they can invest their money and expect subsequent return on Investment.

Q-3: Why Pro Kabaddi League format and rules and regulations contributed big time in Marquee event?

Answer: The Pro Kabaddi League format which includes two fast paced 20 minutes half where strategic time out is showcased, substitution come in play, raiders trying to score points on the consistent approach in the game.

The defensive unit is quite lethal and deserve credit for pulling up scintillating move, and deserve credit for bringing this amazing quality on the mat.

The All rounder ability to overcome, the PKL nuances in the crunch phase of the game, makes it even more interesting.

The marquee event have been extra interesting, and makes it even more popular in times to come.