The International Premier Kabaddi League 2026 delivered an exciting season of fast-paced kabaddi at Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague, Netherlands. Organised in collaboration with the Netherlands Kabaddi Federation, the tournament brought together six men’s franchise teams and four women’s teams from Europe and India.
The competition featured aggressive raiding, strong defensive units and several memorable performances. Among the men’s teams, Delhi Diamond and Oslo Nordic Wolves emerged as the strongest sides during the league stage before meeting in the Grand Final.
The Road to The Final
The best performances of the International Premier Kabaddi League 2026 season included several impressive displays from both raiders and defenders.
- Delhi Diamonds 86 — 27 Copenhagen Thunder: The highest scoring margin of the tournament, showing absolute dominance by Delhi on August 15.
- Amsterdam Flying Dutchmen 80 — 32 Berlin Black Eagles: A masterclass in raiding during the tournament’s opening match.
- Oslo Nordic Wolves 71 — 49 Delhi Diamonds: A Day 1 statement win by Oslo that set the tone for their undefeated championship run.
- Oslo Nordic Wolves 67 — 39 Delhi Diamonds: A flawless Grand Final performance by Oslo to capture the trophy.
Delhi Diamond established themselves as one of the leading teams through their ability to combine attacking pressure with disciplined defence. Their raiders regularly produced quick bonus points and multi-point raids, while their defensive unit relied on coordinated tackles to stop opposition attacks.
Oslo Nordic Wolves were another standout team. Their defensive structure featured well-timed ankle holds, back holds and chain tackles, making them difficult to break down.
London Royal Lions, Copenhagen Thunder Vikings, Berlin Black Eagle and Amsterdam Flying Dutchmen also produced competitive performances, helping create an exciting group stage.
However, the key performance of the tournament came in the final between Delhi Diamond and Oslo Nordic Wolves. It allowed Oslo Nordic Wolves to lift the IPKL 2026 trophy after dominating the biggest match of the season.
The Top International Kabaddi Players
While the IPKL featured several talented players, international kabaddi has produced a long list of legendary performers.
So, who are the top 10 international kabaddi players? Based on career achievements, influence and signature skills, the list includes:
- Pardeep Narwal, India – One of the greatest raiders in kabaddi history and the all time leading raid point scorer in PKL history.
- Fazel Atrachali, Iran – One of the most successful foreign defenders, known for powerful dashes and ankle holds.
- Anup Kumar, India – The legendary Captain Cool and a master of tactical raiding.
- Pawan Sehrawat, India – Known as the Hi Flyer, he is famous for explosive raids and his frog jump.
- Mohammadreza Shadloui, Iran – A modern all rounder recognised for aggressive tackling and attacking ability.
- Manjeet Chhillar, India – One of the most respected defenders and all rounders in the sport.
- Naveen Kumar, India – Known as Naveen Express for his extraordinary consistency as a raider.
- Ajay Thakur, India – A legendary raider and hero of India’s 2016 Kabaddi World Cup triumph.
- Meraj Sheykh, Iran – One of Iran’s pioneering international kabaddi stars.
- Jang Kun Lee, South Korea – A trailblazer for East Asian kabaddi, known for speed and running hand touches.
A Major Step for Global Kabaddi
The IPKL 2026 demonstrated the growing international appeal of kabaddi. The combination of European franchises, Indian talent and strong defensive and attacking performances created an exciting tournament.
Delhi Diamond’s dominant final performance ultimately became the defining moment of the season, but the competition as a whole showed that kabaddi continues to develop beyond its traditional strongholds.
With more international leagues and structured competitions emerging, the IPKL could play an important role in giving players from different countries greater exposure and helping take kabaddi to a wider global audience.
