Kabaddi Champions League expands to 10 teams with Rs 5 crore auction purse

The Kabaddi Champions League (KCL) will grow from eight to 10 franchises for its second season and has raised its player auction purse to Rs 5 crore, the league announced in a media statement on Tuesday, 3 November. Jhajjar Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights are the two new entrants.

The move is a clear bid to fill space in the kabaddi calendar. The expansion comes amid uncertainty over the Pro Kabaddi League, whose 13th season is expected to be pushed to June-July 2027 after its previous broadcast rights arrangement ended and the search for a new media partner was delayed.

Two new franchises join an eight-team core

Jhajjar Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights join the eight sides from the inaugural edition: Bhiwani Bulls, Rohtak Royals, Karnal Kings, Gurugram Gurus, Sonipat Stars, Panipat Panthers, Faridabad Fighters and Hisar Heroes.

The league was explicit about the opening it sees with the PKL on hold. “KCL aims to contribute towards filling this gap by providing structured competition, franchise-based opportunities, player recognition and commercial visibility,” the league’s release stated.

The larger purse of Rs 5 crore, according to the statement, gave franchises greater scope to assemble their squads for Season 2.

Ayan Lochab tops the auction at Rs 17.4 lakh

The second-season player auction was held on 17 October and featured more than 300 players. Both new franchises spent big at the top end of the market.

• Ayan Lochab was the highest-priced player at Rs 17.4 lakh, joining Jhajjar Jaguars.
• Bharat Hooda went to Karnal Kings for Rs 16.6 lakh.
• Naveen Goyat fetched Rs 15.2 lakh from Kurukshetra Knights.
• Rakesh Singroha was signed by Faridabad Fighters for Rs 11 lakh.
• Sunil Malik, India’s Asian Games captain, also joined Faridabad Fighters, for Rs 10 lakh.

Faridabad Fighters were the only franchise among the reported top signings to land two of the five biggest names, pairing Singroha with the national captain for a combined Rs 21 lakh.

The figures underline the scale of the league compared with the PKL: the most expensive KCL player went for under Rs 20 lakh, with the whole purse set at Rs 5 crore across 10 teams. For players waiting on a delayed PKL season, though, it offers paid, franchise-based competition in the meantime.

Thousands registered for trials

The league also reported strong interest in its talent identification programme. Its central trials in Sonipat received 6,400 registrations, while another 650 players took part in trials in Rohtak. More than 300 players eventually made it into the auction pool.

That pathway has been a central part of the KCL’s pitch. The league has positioned itself as a route for players to gain recognition and match time in a structured franchise setting, a role that becomes more prominent with the PKL’s next season not expected before mid-2027.

What comes next

With the squads assembled through the 17 October auction and the two new franchises confirmed, the KCL heads into its second season as a 10-team competition. The league’s statement did not give a start date or venue schedule for Season 2.

The PKL, meanwhile, remains without a confirmed slot for Season 13 until a new broadcast partner is secured.