The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) unit, U Mumba are off to a solid start in Season 12, having scored eight points yet.
The 2015 PKL champions began with a tied match against Gujarat Giants, which they won in a tie-breaker, and then recovered from a 9-point deficit to defeat Tamil Thalaivas. Their success culminated in a strong 48-28 triumph over Bengaluru Bulls, propelling them to second place on the points standings with three victories from four matches. Key players such as Ajit Chouhan and Sunil Kumar, as well as defenders Lokesh, Parvesh, Rinku, and Ravi Bhati, have showed good results, particularly since the defence has strengthened in recent games.
U Mumba performed well in the PKL 2025 auctions, focussing on developing a balanced and youthful squad. The franchise chose sensible, value-driven purchases over high-profile splurges, demonstrating a clear plan to create a coherent unit with both experience and long-term promise.
Aside from their prowess on the mat, U Mumba have been as committed in building their brand off it. From auction strategy to long-term fan engagement and commercial success, the franchise takes a comprehensive approach. In an exclusive interview with SportsMint Media, CEO Suhail Chandhok shed light on the thinking behind these moves.
1. What is the one big business goal you’ve set for the season?
For the sport itself, I believe we still need to unlock its true value. Kabaddi has grown by leaps and bounds, but there’s so much more potential. With a new media rights cycle coming up, this will be the first season where the might of Jio and Star come together. That combination, along with digital platforms, will play a huge role in the sport’s visibility and commercial growth.
Of course, the recent Online Gaming Act has impacted several teams financially. But we’ve always said sport isn’t just a P&L account, it’s a long game. We’re here out of passion, and our goal is to unlock value for the sport, players, and fans in the long run. We’ve seen players go from INR 12 lakh contracts to INR 2.5 crore deals, that’s the power of commercialization, and we want to keep building on it. Ultimately, the dream is to see Kabaddi go international and hopefully even make it to the Olympics in the next decade.
2. In Mumbai, cricket dominates sporting conversations. Yet U Mumba has carved its own identity. What do you credit most for that?
I think it’s the culture we bring as a team, which resonates with the city. Mumbai is a melting pot of talent and ambition, and our squad reflects that diversity, this season, we have players from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Haryana, UP, Delhi, and even Iran. It mirrors the city’s spirit: talent and hard work matter more than big names. That’s also been our philosophy across sports. This year, our UTT (Ultimate Table Tennis) team won its first title in 10 years because we backed young debutants. At U Mumba, we focus on culture, values, and work ethic more than reputation.
3. Does being a Mumbai franchise give you leverage on the business front?
Yes, absolutely. Maharashtra is a Kabaddi hotspot, and Mumbai consistently leads national viewership charts. In fact, last season, the city and state outperformed pan-India numbers. That’s a huge confidence booster, not just for us, but for sponsors as well. For partners, Kabaddi offers immense value. Compared to IPL, you spend a fraction of the cost but reach a massive audience, sometimes one-third of IPL’s viewership. Add to that the loyalty and passion of Kabaddi fans, and it becomes a very attractive proposition.
We also go above and beyond for our sponsors. It’s not just about logos on jerseys, we build long-term partnerships. Our players, management, and owners engage directly with brands, ensuring they feel like true partners in this journey. That’s why many sponsors keep coming back to us.
4. Last season you had 11 sponsors, this time it’s 7. Was this a strategic move?
The reduction is largely due to the Online Gaming Bill, which forced several fantasy and gaming brands to step away very late in the process. This hasn’t just impacted us—it’s affected every team in the league. While the timing was tough, we respect the bill as the law of the land. Now the challenge is to bring in new brands that want to back India’s own sport. In fact, over the next few days, you’ll see new partnerships being announced.
5. How do you see the Online Gaming Bill affecting Indian sports in the long term?
It’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it was necessary from a social perspective, we don’t want lives negatively affected by gambling. On the other, the impact on sports sponsorship is undeniable.
Fantasy and gaming platforms invested heavily in emerging sports, athletes, and leagues. For example, in the Yuva Kabaddi Series, which I co-founded, Dream Sports Foundation and others provided crucial backing. That support helped us impact over 3,000 players. Without such sponsorship, many grassroots programs will struggle.
Going forward, I hope a middle ground is found where regulations are clear on what’s legal and illegal, but sports continue to receive the funding they need to grow. Traditional Indian companies also need to step up now and take responsibility to back domestic sports.
6. Finally, what’s the biggest thing you want fans and sponsors to take away this season?
That Kabaddi has only scratched the surface of its potential. The passion of U Mumba fans is unmatched, we see it in the highs when we win and the lows when we lose. That passion is what makes Kabaddi special, and that’s what we want brands and fans to be a part of. For us, it’s about building something long-term, something sustainable. Season 12 is just another step in Kabaddi’s incredible journey, and we’re excited to be leading it from the front.
