Kabaddi Champions League expands to 10 teams and Rs 5 crore auction purse
Season 2 adds Jhajjar Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights and raises the player purse by 25 per cent.
The Kabaddi Champions League will grow from eight to ten franchises for its second season and raise the auction purse to Rs 5 crore. The expansion comes as the Pro Kabaddi League's 13th season faces a possible move to June-July 2027.
Key takeaways
- KCL Season 2 expands from eight teams to ten.
- The player auction purse rises from Rs 4 crore to Rs 5 crore.
- Jhajjar Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights are the new franchises.
- The Season 2 auction took place on October 17, 2026.
- Ayan Lochab was the highest-priced player at Rs 17.4 lakh.
The Kabaddi Champions League will expand to ten franchises for its second season, up from eight in the inaugural edition, while raising its player auction purse to Rs 5 crore from Rs 4 crore as uncertainty surrounds the scheduling of the Pro Kabaddi League’s next season.
Explainer
The Kabaddi Champions League is a franchise-based kabaddi competition in India. Its inaugural edition took place at the Sports University of Haryana in Rai, Sonipat, from January 25 to February 7, 2026, featuring eight franchises and a total player purse of Rs 4 crore. Rohtak Royals won the inaugural championship by defeating Bhiwani Bulls 32-30 in the final.
When and where is it?
The Season 2 player auction was held on October 17, 2026, and featured more than 300 players. The league’s second season will feature ten teams, though specific match dates and venues beyond the auction have not been detailed in the sources.
Who is taking part?
The ten franchises are Jhajjar Jaguars, Kurukshetra Knights, Bhiwani Bulls, Rohtak Royals, Karnal Kings, Gurugram Gurus, Sonipat Stars, Panipat Panthers, Faridabad Fighters and Hisar Heroes. Jhajjar Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights are the two new entrants for Season 2.
How does it work?
Franchises build their squads through a player auction with a total purse of Rs 5 crore, a 25 per cent increase from the inaugural season’s Rs 4 crore. 4 lakh, joining Jhajjar Jaguars. 2 lakh from Kurukshetra Knights.
Rakesh Singroha and Sunil Malik were signed by Faridabad Fighters for Rs 11 lakh and Rs 10 lakh respectively; Malik is India’s Asian Games captain.
Why it matters
The expansion comes amid uncertainty over the scheduling of the Pro Kabaddi League’s 13th season, which is expected to be pushed to June-July 2027 following the end of its previous broadcast rights arrangement and delays in securing a new media partner.
The Pro Kabaddi League, which premiered in 2014 and airs on Star Sports, is the most popular kabaddi league in the world and the second most watched sports league in India after the Indian Premier League.
KCL’s central trials in Sonipat received 6,400 registrations, while another 650 players participated in trials in Rohtak, with more than 300 players eventually featuring in the auction pool.
What happens next
The league will proceed with its second season featuring ten franchises and the expanded Rs 5 crore purse, seeking to strengthen its presence in Indian kabaddi while the Pro Kabaddi League’s next edition remains delayed.
Season 2 auction top prices
Player | Price | Team |
|---|---|---|
Ayan Lochab | Rs 17.4 lakh | Jhajjar Jaguars |
Bharat Hooda | Rs 16.6 lakh | Karnal Kings |
Naveen Goyat | Rs 15.2 lakh | Kurukshetra Knights |
Rakesh Singroha | Rs 11 lakh | Faridabad Fighters |
Sunil Malik | Rs 10 lakh | Faridabad Fighters |
Related on Apex Sports News
International Kabaddi Federation plans World Cup and women’s league
Kabaddi World Cup winners list: every men's and women's champion
Sources
Topics
- Kabaddi Champions League
- Pro Kabaddi League
- Kurukshetra Knights
- Jhajjar Jaguars
- Bhiwani Bulls
- Rohtak Royals
- Karnal Kings
- Gurugram Gurus
- Sonipat Stars
- Panipat Panthers
- Faridabad Fighters
- Hisar Heroes
- Bharat Hooda
- Ayan Lochab
- Naveen Goyat
- Rakesh Singroha
- Sunil Malik
- Kabaddi Champions League
- Kurukshetra Knights
- Ayan Lochab
- Pro Kabaddi League
- Jhajjar Jaguars
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