PKL 2025 Chennai Leg Sees Raiders Dominate as Competition Heats Up

PKL Chairman Anupam Goswami praised the competitiveness of the first two legs, noting 27 of 52 matches were decided by five points or less and seven went to tiebreakers. He highlighted the rebirth of raiders, citing Patna Pirates’ Ayan Lohchab and Bengal Warriorz’s Devank Dalal. Chennai’s return underscores Tamil Nadu’s strong kabaddi culture, while expansion plans remain cautious.

As the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) returns to Chennai for the first time since adopting the caravan format, League Chairman Anupam Goswami highlighted the competitive intensity of PKL 2025 and the resurgence of raiders in the tournament. After two legs, 52 matches have been played, with 27 decided by five points or fewer, seven requiring tiebreakers, and 11 ending on the final raid, underscoring how closely contested the league has been.

Goswami praised the performances of raiders like Patna Pirates’ Ayan Lohchab, who has recorded two 20-point matches, and Bengal Warriorz’s Devank Dalal, the fastest raider to reach 400 points in PKL history. The League Commissioner emphasized Tamil Nadu’s strong kabaddi culture and community connection, making the Chennai leg particularly special for Tamil Thalaivas and their home crowd.

While expansion to new teams is not on the immediate agenda due to business and sustainability challenges, PKL plans to consolidate and enhance competition quality through initiatives like play-ins, playoffs, and the Melbourne Raid. Goswami also outlined long-term goals for the sport, including featuring kabaddi in the 2030 Commonwealth Games, positioning it as a stepping stone toward an Olympic presence. Overall, PKL 2025 reflects a thrilling return to raider-led action, blending heritage, data-driven performance, and global ambitions.