The Pro Kabaddi League has changed the financial and sporting picture of kabaddi in India since its launch in 2014. What was once largely seen as a traditional Indian sport has developed into a major professional competition with strong television audiences, digital interest, sponsors, franchise investments and a growing player market. The league has built this growth around a carefully controlled auction system, a fixed salary purse and rules that allow teams to retain important players while also competing for fresh talent. The changing value of players and franchises has made the PKL auction one of the most important parts of the competition, and as 1xBet Analyst Vikram Singh has highlighted in discussions around sports markets, understanding how teams spend their money is often as important as understanding the players themselves.
The financial story of the PKL is especially interesting because teams cannot simply spend without limits to build the strongest possible squad. Every franchise has to work within a defined purse, forcing owners and team management to make difficult choices between expensive stars, reliable defenders, young players, and overseas talent. The auction therefore becomes more than a bidding event; it is also a test of planning, patience, and squad building. Over the years, rising player prices have shown how the value of kabaddi talent has increased alongside the league’s commercial growth.
The Growth of the PKL Salary Purse
The salary purse has grown significantly since the first season of the Pro Kabaddi League. During the early years, teams operated with much smaller budgets, and the overall player market was still developing. In Season 1 in 2014, the highest individual bid was ₹12.80 lakh when Rakesh Kumar joined Patna Pirates, while team spending remained modest compared with the figures seen in recent auctions. Between Seasons 2 and 4, the team purse ranged from around ₹60 lakh to ₹1.5 crore as the league continued to establish itself.
A major change came in Season 5 in 2017, when the league expanded from eight teams to 12. The purse for each team increased to ₹4 crore, giving franchises much more room to compete for established stars and emerging players. The purse later moved to ₹4.4 crore in Seasons 8 and 9 before reaching ₹5 crore from Season 10 onwards. This rise reflects the wider commercial growth of the competition and the increasing value placed on professional kabaddi players.
The increase in the purse has also changed the way teams think about auctions. A player who once cost a few lakh rupees can now attract bids worth several crores if his record, role and reputation make him valuable to multiple franchises. This has created a much stronger player market, but it has also made financial planning more important. A team that spends too much on one player can quickly find itself with limited money for the rest of its squad.
The Rise of the Crore Club
The growth of the PKL player market is clearly reflected in the rise of the crore club. Fazel Atrachali became the first player to cross the ₹1 crore mark in Season 6 in 2018 when U Mumba bought him for ₹1 crore. This was an important moment because it showed that kabaddi players could command salaries that were once considered extremely high for the sport.
The record continued to move upwards in later seasons. Pardeep Narwal was bought by UP Yoddhas for ₹1.65 crore in Season 8, while Pawan Sehrawat moved to Tamil Thalaivas for ₹2.26 crore in Season 9. Sehrawat then created another major record in Season 10 when Telugu Titans paid ₹2.605 crore for him. In the same auction, Mohammadreza Shadloui Chiyaneh became the most expensive overseas player after Puneri Paltan bought him for ₹2.35 crore.
The market remained strong in Season 11, when Sachin Tanwar was bought by Tamil Thalaivas for ₹2.15 crore. Shadloui was also bought again at a huge value, this time by Haryana Steelers for ₹2.07 crore. Season 12 showed just how far the market had developed, with 10 players crossing the ₹1 crore mark in one auction. These numbers demonstrate that franchises now see elite kabaddi players as major sporting assets who can influence results, brand value and fan interest.
How the PKL Auction Works
The PKL auction is designed to give all franchises an opportunity to build competitive squads while maintaining financial limits. Players are divided into four broad categories based on their experience, performance and standing in Indian or international kabaddi. Category A players have a base price of ₹30 lakh, while Category B players start at ₹20 lakh, Category C players at ₹13 lakh and Category D players at ₹9 lakh.
These categories help create a starting point for bidding and provide a basic structure to the player market. A team may identify a star player as a major target, but it still has to think about how that purchase affects the rest of the squad. Teams must build squads of at least 18 players and can have a maximum of 25 players. They must also have at least two overseas players and can have up to four overseas players.
The ₹5 crore salary purse is the central limit that shapes these decisions. The money spent on retained players and auction purchases together cannot cross the permitted purse. This means that every major purchase has an effect on future decisions. A franchise that spends heavily early in the auction may have to become more careful later, while a team that keeps a large amount of money available can take advantage when another franchise runs out of funds.
Why Retention Strategies Matter
Retention is one of the most important parts of PKL squad building because franchises do not have to rebuild their teams completely every season. Teams can retain important players and protect the core of a successful squad before entering the auction. This gives franchises more control over their spending and helps maintain continuity.
Teams can retain up to six players across different retention groups. Elite Retained Players are usually the biggest names and can include proven match winners. Retained Young Players provide teams with a way to keep promising players who have already gained experience. Existing New Young Players and New Young Players can also give franchises access to developing talent without placing a major burden on the purse.
A good retention strategy can save a team from spending heavily to replace its best players. It can also create a clear plan before the auction begins. However, retaining too many expensive players can reduce the money available for new purchases, which means franchises must decide whether loyalty to existing stars is worth the financial cost.
The Role of the Final Bid Match Card
The Final Bid Match card, commonly known as the FBM card, adds another important layer to the PKL auction. It allows a franchise to bring back a player it previously released by matching the winning bid made by another team. This gives franchises an additional opportunity to protect players who may have become more valuable after their initial contract.
The number of FBM cards available is linked to the number of Elite Retained Players. A team that retains three Elite Retained Players can have fewer FBM opportunities than a team that retains fewer elite players. This forces franchises to think carefully about how they use their retention choices before the auction even starts.
The FBM system can also help teams manage price changes in the player market. If another franchise makes a strong bid for a previously released player, the original franchise has the option to decide whether that price is acceptable. In some situations, this can help a team keep a player who already understands its system and coaching structure. It can also prevent franchises from losing valuable players without having another chance to compete for them.
The Raider Premium in PKL Auctions
Raiders generally attract the biggest bids in the PKL because they have a direct influence on scoring and the pace of a match. A successful raider can collect points quickly and put pressure on the opposition defence. Because of this, teams are often willing to spend a large part of their purse on an elite raider.
Pawan Sehrawat’s ₹2.605 crore price in Season 10 is the clearest example of this trend. His purchase by Telugu Titans represented more than half of the team’s ₹5 crore purse. Such a large investment can give a franchise an outstanding match winner, but it also creates a difficult challenge because less money remains for defenders, support raiders and squad depth.
Defenders are also extremely important, but their prices have traditionally been lower than those of the biggest raiders. There have been major exceptions, particularly among overseas players such as Mohammadreza Shadloui. His ability to contribute as a strong defender and all-rounder has made him one of the most valuable international players in the league.
The Risk of Spending Too Much on One Star
The Telugu Titans provide an important example of why a superstar purchase does not automatically create a successful team. The franchise spent ₹2.605 crore on Pawan Sehrawat in Season 10, which used more than half of its total ₹5 crore purse. Sehrawat remained a major individual talent, but the team had less financial room to build strong support around him.
A successful kabaddi team requires more than one outstanding player. A raider needs support from other raiders, defenders and all-rounders, while the bench must also be strong enough to handle injuries and changes during a long season. When a franchise spends too much on one player, it may have to depend heavily on lower-cost players to fill important positions.
This is where the difference between individual value and squad value becomes important. A player may be worth a huge amount in the auction because of his personal ability, but the same spending decision may create problems for the overall squad. As 1xBet Analyst Vikram Singh puts it, “The biggest auction name does not always create the strongest team because balance decides how well a squad can perform across a full season.” This is one of the central lessons of PKL auction economics.
The Puneri Paltan Model
Puneri Paltan provide a different example of financial planning. In their successful Season 10 campaign, the franchise built around young Indian players such as Aslam Inamdar and Mohit Goyat while also investing heavily in Mohammadreza Shadloui. This approach allowed the team to spend big on a major player without filling every expensive slot with high-priced stars.
The young player system played an important role in this model. Young players can deliver quality performances while leaving more money available for key auction purchases. Instead of trying to buy the most famous player in every position, a franchise can develop its own talent and use its main purse for specific areas of need.
Puneri Paltan’s success showed that financial strength does not simply mean spending more money. It means spending money in the right places. A balanced team can sometimes outperform a squad that has one or two extremely expensive players but lacks quality around them.
Market Distribution Across Player Roles
PKL auction spending shows a clear difference between player roles. A marquee raider can take around 35 percent to 52 percent of a team’s total purse when the bidding becomes intense. A top defender or overseas specialist can take around 20 percent to 35 percent, while secondary raiders and core support players may account for another 15 percent to 20 percent.
The remaining amount is generally used for squad depth, younger players and substitutes. These numbers are not fixed rules, but they show how teams can divide their available money. A franchise with a star raider may choose to spend less on other positions, while a team with a balanced group may spread its purse more evenly.
The difference between Indian and overseas players is also important. Iranian players have become particularly valuable in the international section of the PKL market. Players such as Fazel Atrachali, Mohammadreza Shadloui, and Esmaeil Nabibakhsh have earned strong reputations for their physical strength, defensive ability, and versatility.
Franchise Valuation and Revenue Growth
The financial growth of PKL teams extends beyond player salaries. When the league began in 2014, franchise entry fees were estimated at around ₹1.5 crore to ₹2.5 crore annually. The value of franchises has grown considerably as television audiences, digital viewers, sponsorship opportunities and commercial partnerships have increased.
The league operates through a central revenue model as well as local franchise income. A large share of league revenue comes from media rights and central sponsorship deals. This revenue is shared among the franchises after league-related deductions, giving teams a more stable financial base.
Local income is also important for individual franchises. Teams can earn money through jersey sponsors, ticket sales, merchandise and other local partnerships. Home matches provide opportunities for teams to connect with their local fan base and develop stronger commercial relationships. The combination of central and local revenue gives PKL franchises multiple ways to support their long-term financial position.
The Link Between Auction Spending and Franchise Value
Player auctions and franchise valuations are closely connected because successful teams can increase fan interest and commercial value. A popular player can bring attention to a franchise, increase jersey sales and create stronger connections with supporters. At the same time, poor financial decisions can make it harder for a team to remain competitive and maintain a strong public image.
The growth of the PKL player market has therefore become part of the wider growth of the league itself. Higher player salaries indicate that franchises are willing to invest more money in sporting talent. Better players can improve the quality of competition, which can attract more viewers and sponsors.
However, high spending must still be managed carefully. A franchise cannot assume that every expensive player will deliver success. The best teams generally combine experienced stars with young players, strong defenders, reliable raiders and useful substitutes. This balance is becoming increasingly important as the financial value of the league continues to rise.
The Future of PKL Auction Economics
The PKL auction is likely to become even more competitive as the league grows. The rise from a relatively small player market in 2014 to a system where multiple players can cross ₹1 crore in one auction shows how quickly the economics of kabaddi have changed. More commercial interest can lead to stronger player salaries, better facilities and greater opportunities for young athletes.
At the same time, franchises will need to spend more wisely. A bigger purse does not automatically mean better results because other teams also gain access to additional financial resources. The real advantage will come from identifying players before their market value becomes extremely high, retaining important talent and using auction opportunities carefully.
Developing young players may become particularly important in the future. Teams that can find quality talent through grassroots programmes and then develop those players can create stronger squads without spending their entire purse on established stars. This can help create a healthier market where both experienced players and emerging athletes receive opportunities.
Conclusion
The Pro Kabaddi League auction has become one of the strongest indicators of how far professional kabaddi has developed. From a top bid of ₹12.80 lakh in the first season to Pawan Sehrawat’s record ₹2.605 crore price, the player market has expanded at a remarkable pace. The increase in the team purse, the growth of retention rules, the use of the FBM card and the rise of overseas stars have all added new layers to franchise planning. The PKL salary purse is no longer simply a spending limit; it is a central part of how teams build their identity and competitive strategy.
The most successful franchises understand that auction economics is about balance rather than simply chasing the biggest names. Puneri Paltan’s Season 10 success showed the value of combining young talent with carefully selected expensive players, while the Telugu Titans example demonstrated the risks of putting too much money into one superstar. As 1xBet Analyst Vikram Singh has noted in the wider discussion around sports strategy, smart spending can be just as important as having the biggest budget.
The future of PKL franchise valuation will depend on how well teams turn their financial resources into sporting success and commercial growth. As the league attracts more viewers, sponsors and investment, player prices are likely to remain an important part of its economic story. Franchises that understand retention, market value, player roles and squad depth will have a better chance of building sustainable teams. The auction will therefore remain much more than a bidding event, because it represents the financial foundation on which the future of professional kabaddi is being built.
