The Indian men’s professional Kabaddi league, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) unveiled a new commemorative logo for the league’s landmark tenth season, prior to the player auction in Mumbai.
The Illuminati Dance Crew, one of India’s most creative dance groups, put on an electrifying performance at the PKL Season 10 Player Auction Hall that revealed the league’s new logo. The Illuminati Dance Crew uses dance and technology to create an alternative reality in front of viewers’ eyes.
Before presenting the unique emblem on the big screen, the dance crew quickly visually represented some of the significant occasions in PKL’s nine-year journey. The number 10 appears in the new logo to represent the Pro Kabaddi League’s ten-year anniversary.
The PKL season 10 player auction took place in Mumbai on October 9 and 10, 2023.
During the auction, we witnessed more than INR 50 crore spent collectively by all 12 franchises. While Jaipur Pink Panthers, U Mumba, and Telugu Titans spent INR 4.99 crore each, Bengal Warriors and Puneri Paltan disbursed INR 4.97 crore from their purse, respectively. Dabang Delhi K.C. spent INR 4.95 crore alongside the above-mentioned teams. UP Yoddhas (INR 4.76 crore), Tamil Thalaivas (INR 4.02 crore), Patna Pirates (INR 4.39 crore), Haryana Steelers (INR 4.69 crore), Bengaluru Bulls (INR 4.75 crore) and Gujarat Giants (INR 4.92 crore) also spent accordingly.
The teams went all out to sign the Indian Kabaddi captain, Pawan Sehrawat, who became the PKL season 10’s most expensive player for INR 2.6 crore. Mohammadreza Shadloui and Maninder Singh are second and third on this list with INR 2.35 crore and INR 2.12 crore, respectively.
Things have been quite contrasting for PKL, as teams spent a fortune during the season 10 player auction but the competition is yet to sign a title sponsor. In 2017, Vivo was named the PKL title sponsor. The partnership was initially signed for five years and it will be intriguing to witness how and which brand PKL onboards as a title sponsor ahead of the landmark season.
At the auction, SportsMint Media had the privilege of speaking to the U Mumba CEO, Suhail Chandok, who stated that he isn’t concerned about the PKL lacking a title sponsor as the league is too big to not have one and will undoubtedly secure one before season 10 begins on December 2, 2023.
He said, “I think I can’t speak on behalf of the league but I’m certain that they will have a league sponsor soon enough. It’s too strong a league to not have a central sponsor. I think we are seeing very encouraging signs. Even with post Asian Games 2022, the buzz around Kabaddi has increased again. Let’s not forget that there’s a World Cup, there’s a PKL auction, and you can’t help but think the World Cup is going to garner a lot of eyeballs initially, but I think by November, things will start to change towards what’s next, what’s next? And what’s next is nothing but Kabaddi. I’m not worried about that aspect because, with a home-and-away format after COVID-19 for the first time in the last few years, this is going to be an unbelievable season. It’s going to be a carnival where we go to every city and I can’t wait for it.”