New Delhi : Mashal Sports, the organizer of the Vivo Pro Kabaddi League, has announced the schedule for the first half of Season 8, starting from December 22, 2021. The entire season will take place at the Sheraton Grand Bangalore Whitefield Hotel and Convention Center, but without spectators.
As a special format for the current season of PKL, there is a schedule for ‘triple headers’ in the first four days of the event. Organizers hope that this way fans can watch each team play at the start of the league.
The season will begin with U Mumba taking on Bengaluru Bulls in the first match of the tournament. The ‘Southern Derby’ of the league will then take centre-stage as Telugu Titans lock horns with Tamil Thalaivas in the second match and UP Yoddha take on defending champions Bengal Warriors in the last match of the first day.
This season will also include triple headers on all Saturdays during the tournament. The release of the schedule for the second half of the season by mid-January is also expected to help PKL teams assess and rebuild their competition strategies for the second half of the tournament, the company said.
Anupam Goswami, CEO and League Commissioner, Mashal Sports, said, “Our goal is to continue to recreate the game. The release of the schedule in two parts will help the teams to strategize better and keep the fans engaged. The Triple Header and “Triple Panga” will provide more fans with more opportunities to see their favorite players and teams in action as they battle for the coveted title.”
Mashal Sports had said that it would work to convert the entire venue into an integrated and secure bio-bubble. With this, all 12 teams will stop and play at the same venue.
Season 8 of Vivo Pro Kabaddi League will be telecast live on Star Sports Network and Disney+ Hotstar.
59 players were retained in the PKL player auction held in Mumbai in August this year. More than 450 players got hit by the hammer. 190 of these players were sold for 48.22 crores. Notable player auctions included Pradeep Narwal who was bought by UP Yoddha 1.65 crores, becoming one of the most expensive players to be auctioned in a league outside cricket. Siddharth Desai retained by Telugu Titans 1.30 crores.
The format of the game is influenced by the Cricket Indian Premier League and consists of a total of 12 teams. The current champion is Bengal Warriors.
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