Puneri Paltan Leads PKL Season 12 as Playoffs Loom – Oct 2025 Update

When Pro Kabaddi League Season 12Vishakhapatnam rolled out on August 29, 2025, the league’s 12‑team showdown has already sparked fierce competition. As of Oct 17, 2025, Puneri Paltan sits atop the points table with 13 wins, while Dabang Delhi K.C. trails by a single victory. The action now unfolds at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi, where every raid could tilt the balance. Raid maestro Arjun Deshwal has emerged as the season’s top scorer with 24 raid points, and auction headline‑grabber Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh fetched a record Rs 2.23 crore for Gujarat Giants. The stakes couldn’t be higher; a single raid or tackle now feels like a season‑defining moment.

Season Overview: From Vizag to Delhi

The 2025 edition marks the 12th anniversary of the franchise‑based competition that Mashal Sports has steered since 2014. Twelve squads criss‑crossed the country, covering 108 league‑stage matches that started in the coastal city of Vishakhapatnam, moved through Jaipur, Chennai, and finally converged on Delhi for the decisive leg.

Defending champions Haryana Steelers, owned by JSW Sports, entered with a target on their backs. Meanwhile, Bengaluru Bulls were hungry for redemption after a disastrous finish in Season 11.

Current Standings and the Points Table

Mid‑October’s leaderboard reads like a thriller novel. Puneri Paltan leads with 24 points from 15 matches (13 wins), followed closely by Dabang Delhi K.C., also on 24 points but with one game fewer. Telugu Titans cling to third with 16 points from 14 matches, while Bengaluru Bulls and Haryana Steelers sit shoulder‑to‑shoulder at fourth and fifth, each with 16 points.

Further down, Gujarat Giants occupies seventh after 15 matches, Tamil Thalaivas sits eighth, Jaipur Pink Panthers ninth, and UP Yoddhas rounds out the top ten.

Key Matches That Shaped the Table

Match 30 on September 12 saw Tamil Thalaivas blast Bengal Warriorz 46‑36. Arjun Deshwal’s 17 raid points stole the spotlight, while Bengal’s Ronak contributed four tackle points.

The Delhi leg (Oct 11‑16) turned into a roller‑coaster. On Oct 11, Bengaluru Bulls pummeled Jaipur Pink Panthers 47‑26, and Puneri Paltan edged Tamil Thalaivas 36‑23. The following day, Puneri and Dabang Delhi locked at 38‑38, but Paltan clinched the tie‑breaker 6‑5.

Oct 15 delivered a drama‑filled 45‑45 draw between Telugu Titans and Bengal Warriorz, with the Warriors snatching the tie‑breaker 7‑5. The same night, Puneri Paltan demolished Jaipur 57‑33, cementing their qualifier spot.

U Mumba’s 48‑29 demolition of Bengal Warriorz on Oct 10 remains one of the season’s most dominant displays, underscoring the squad’s resurgence after a quiet first half of the campaign.

Auction Highlights: Money Talks

The pre‑season auction turned heads when Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh was snapped up by Gujarat Giants for a record‑breaking Rs 2.23 crore. Close behind, Bengal Warriorz splashed out Rs 2.205 crore for Devank Dalal. Intriguingly, big‑name veterans like Pardeep Narwal and Sahil Gulia went unsold, leaving fans to wonder about the evolving scouting priorities.

Overall, 100 players remained on the auction bench, a testament to the growing depth of the Kabaddi talent pool. Teams appear to be betting more on youthful exuberance and versatile all‑rounders than on marquee names.

Playoff Roadmap: Countdown to the Final

The knockout phase kicks off with Eliminator 3 on Oct 28 at 20:00 IST, followed by Qualifier 2 on Oct 29 and the grand Final on Oct 31. All three matches will be staged at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium, turning Delhi into the final battlefield.

Because the top two qualifiers—Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi—already hold a safety net, the real drama will unfold among the teams fighting for the third and fourth spots. The winner of Eliminator 3 will face the loser of Qualifier 1, while the victor of Qualifier 2 earns a direct shot at the championship.

In a league where a single tackle can swing momentum, squad depth, injury management, and strategic bench‑use become the silent protagonists.

What This Means for Fans and Stakeholders

For the average viewer, the stakes are simple: more edge‑of‑the‑seat action, tighter contests, and a chance to see rising stars like Arjun Deshwal cement their legacy. For sponsors, the surge in viewership—especially from tier‑2 cities where Kabaddi enjoys a cult following—translates to higher brand exposure.

From a broader perspective, the league’s sustained growth underscores Kabaddi’s transition from a regional pastime to a commercial sport with international appeal. The upcoming playoffs could well define the next chapter of that evolution.