The twelfth season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) stormed onto screens with a roaring start, as Opening Day ratings on JioStar Network outperformed last year’s debut. On the digital front, the league witnessed a threefold rise in reach, while overall watch-time across JioStar’s platforms climbed by 22 percent, driven by innovations aimed at enhancing the fan experience.

According to a Deccan Chronicle report, the season’s opening night was nothing short of dramatic. Tamil Thalaivas edged out Telugu Titans in the much-anticipated ‘Southern Derby’, while Puneri Paltan clinched a nerve-wracking victory against Bengaluru Bulls. The night also marked the league’s first-ever tie-breaker under a newly introduced rule this season, setting the stage for an unpredictable and high-octane competition.

Adding to the spectacle was the presence of star power both on and off the mat. Bhojpuri film icon Ravi Kishan brought his trademark flair to the inaugural Bhojpuri commentary feed, while the celebrations of National Sports Day in Vizag saw the attendance of sporting legends and icons. Among them were Rajasthan Royals’ Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Paralympics medalist Yogesh Kathuniya, track-and-field star Jyothi Yarraji, hockey legend Dhanraj Pillay, and badminton great Pullela Gopichand.

Siddharth Sharma, Head of Audience Engagement, Viewership, and Monetization Initiatives – Sports at JioStar, expressed delight at the response. “The Opening Day growth across TV and digital is a testament to the league’s popularity and the deep connection fans have with the sport. The dialled-up aggression and intensity this season have been another big draw for viewers, with the new tie-breaker rule already adding to the drama. Altogether, these factors clearly signal that kabaddi has cemented its place as a premier sporting property in India,” he said.

This season, JioStar has introduced several new features to give fans a more immersive viewing experience. The addition of two dugout views captures the adrenaline on the sidelines, while a split-screen feed allows audiences to track live action alongside revival sequences. A newly launched ‘Referee Cam’ has been another big attraction, switching between live play and bodycam angles to offer a first-person glimpse of the intensity on the mat.

Early numbers already suggest that Season 12 is living up to its billing, with over 70 percent of matches so far ending with a margin of five points or less and four games going down to tie-breakers. With its heightened aggression, fresh innovations, and growing star appeal, PKL-12 has firmly underlined kabaddi’s rising stature as a marquee sporting event in India’s calendar.