Pro Kabaddi winners: A look at the league’s history

The league’s first season, which took place in 2014, had eight teams. By Season 5, the number of participating teams had increased to 12.

Dabang Delhi KC: PKL Season 8 champions.

Dabang Delhi K.C. won their first PKL title in Season 8 when they defeated Patna Pirates 37-36 to become the league’s sixth champion. Naveen Kumar, the two-time MVP, and brilliant all-rounder Vijay both scored Super 10s in the final against the Patna Pirates’ defence lead by Mohammadreza Chiyaneh.

Naveen Kumar earned 207 raid points in 17 games to win Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the second year in a row. Manjeet Chhillar, the veteran all-rounder, finished the season as the team’s most successful defender, with 52 tackle points.

The Season 8 final witnessed the smallest margin of victory in a PKL final, with Dabang Delhi K.C. defeating the three-time champions by by one point.

Bengal Warriors: PKL Season 7 champions.

The Bengal Warriors won the PKL for the first time in Season 7 thanks to a team effort.

The PKL Season 7 final was played between two of the season’s best clubs, Dabang Delhi K.C. and Bengal Warriors. Maninder Singh, the captain and leading raider (205 points), was ruled out of the final due to injury.

Despite facing Naveen Kumar, the season’s MVP, the Bengal Warriors never looked out of it. Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh took on the team’s responsibility and produced a game-winning Super 10 in the finals, as Bengal Warriors defeated Dabang Delhi K.C. 39-34.

Bengaluru Bulls: PKL Season 6 champions.

Bengaluru Bulls won the PKL title in Season 6 under captain Rohit Kumar, with Pawan Sehrawat, awarded MVP, emerging as the tournament’s find with 282 points.

In the final, Bengaluru Bulls and Gujarat Fortunegiants battled it out. In the end, it was Pawan Sehrawat’s outstanding effort that decided the game. Pawan scored 22 points as the Bengaluru Bulls won their first PKL title, 38-33 over the Gujarat Giants.

Patna Pirates: PKL Season 5 champions.

In Season 5, four new teams were added to Pro Kabaddi, although Patna Pirates went on to win a hat-trick of titles. Patna Pirates skipper Pardeep Narwal set many records throughout the season, including the legendary 8-point raid against Haryana Steelers.

Patna Pirates went on to score 1,050 points in PKL Season 5, the most ever scored by a club in a single season.

The Pro Kabaddi Season 5 final was a one-sided affair, with Patna Pirates defeating Gujarat Giants 55-38. Pardeep Narwal was named the season’s MVP thanks to some remarkable numbers: most raid points (369), most super raids (18), and most super 10s (19).

Patna Pirates: PKL Season 4 champions.

Despite the departure of Rohit Kumar to Bengaluru Bulls, Pardeep Narwal guided Patna Pirates to another PKL Season 4 victory.

Patna Pirates finished first in the league with ten wins in 14 games. Pardeep Narwal led the raids with 133 points, while Patna’s defence was headed by Iranian ace Fazel Atrachali, who had 45 tackle points.

In the final, Patna Pirates faced Jaipur Pink Panthers. Patna Pirates won their second PKL title in a row with a 37-29 victory with to Pardeep Narwal’s 16 points. Patna Pirates became the first team in PKL history to win the championship twice.

Patna Pirates: PKL Season 3 champions.

Patna Pirates earned their first Pro Kabaddi title in Season 3 of the PKL. Pardeep Narwal of the Patna Pirates rose to the occasion with the highest raid points (116) in Season 3 after a brief stint with the Bengaluru Bulls in Season 2.

Rohit Kumar of the Patna Pirates was voted MVP, while Sandeep Narwal had the second-most tackle points (53) this season.

Patna Pirates won their first PKL championship after defeating the previous champions U Mumba 31-28 in the final, with Rohit Kumar scoring 7 points.

U Mumba: PKL Season 2 champions.

U Mumba, the runners-up in the first PKL season, dominated the league in the second season thanks to a superior defensive unit.

In 14 league matches, U Mumba won 12 of them. They had the most tackle points (196) and the greatest average tackle points per match at the end of the season (12.25).

In the Season 2 finals, U Mumba faced the Bengaluru Bulls. The game was on the verge of a competitive finish in the second half until Shabeer Bappu’s Super Raid clinched the deal for U Mumba in the final minutes, winning 36-30.

Jaipur Pink Panthers: PKL Season 1 champions.

The Jaipur Pink Panthers won the first Pro Kabaddi title in 2014. Despite losing the first PKL match, Jaipur Pink Panthers won 10 of their 14 league games to finish as the most consistent team in Season 1.

Maninder Singh, their leading raider, had a stellar season, collecting 137 points and finished third overall, trailing only U Mumba’s Anup Kumar (169) and Telugu Titans’ Rahul Chaudhari (161).

Maninder also scored a Super 10 in the final against U Mumba, helping Jaipur Pink Panthers win their maiden PKL title, 35-24.