Pro Kabaddi 2019 Team Owners : Taking a look at all the owners of the 12 participating franchisees in the 2019 edition of Pro Kabaddi League
Touted to garner in excess of $1.5 billion in 2020 when the broadcasting rights go up for auction, the rampant growth of the Pro Kabaddi League has made for compelling viewing. Ever since its onset, PKL has become the fastest growing sporting league in the country, clocking the most growth in terms of viewership and leaving massive imprints over a country which gave birth to the game.
And it’s not just the Indian audience which the league has successfully catered to with the numbers recorded outside the country reaching colossal figures. And with an ever bigger jump expected in the ensuing 10 years, people and organisations have jumped on the opportunity to get associated with the league and benefit from the massive windfall expected to come their way.
It’s this unparalled immense growth which the league has been able to successfully imbed across the six seasons of its existence that have seen a slew of parties come in and invest in the tournament. Initially limited to 8 teams, the ever growing stature of the league saw it open its arms and welcome in 4 additional teams, taking the total number of partaking sides to 12.
The expansive nature of the marquee league has only saw the competition and feisty nature of PKL grow, with sides roping in star performers from India and the global stage to put their best bid forward for the title. Ahead of the impending 7th season of the league, we take a look at the owners of each of the 12 teams.
Pro Kabaddi League 7 Team Owners
Dabang Delhi Team Owner
Owners: DoIT Sports Management India Pvt. Ltd.
Owned by DoIT Sports Management India Pvt. Ltd., the capital city based franchisee is the only team which sees a woman owner in charge of a team in the prestigious PKL. The company is owned by Radha Kapoor with the company also venturing into other sports, having in its artillery the Dabang Mumbai team which is a part of the Hockey India league.
Jaipur Pink Panthers Team Owner
Owner: Abhishek Bachchan
Owned by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, the team based out of Rajasthan is managed GS Worldwide Entertainment. Owned by Bunty Walia and Juspreet Singh Walia, GS Worldwide Entertainment in association with Abhishek Bachchan have taken the side forward to a fruitful time in the frontier event.
“The PKL has been a very satisfying experience all around. The growth of the league and the viewership of the sport has been immense and continues to grow,” Abhishek Bachchan, said when talking about the league. “With the media rights up for fresh bidding next year, I think we will see a big jump in the kind of figures we associate with the PKL.”
Gujarat FortuneGiants Team Owner
Owner: Gautam Adani, Adani Wilmar Ltd
One of the newest entrants into the bedlam of Pro Kabaddi League and two time finalists, the side based in Gujarat are owned by Gautam Adani and his company, Adani Wilmar Ltd. Ever since making an advent into the league, the side have gone onto reach two finals, losing both, the most recent one a defeat in PKL 6 to Bengaluru Bulls.
Bengal Warriors Team Owner
Owner: Kishore Biyani , Future Group
The side is owned by Kishore Biyani, owner of Future Group. In all the six editions of the league, the side have fared immensely poorly, having been crumbled in every season.
Bengaluru Bulls Team Owner
Owner: Kosmik Global Media Private Limited
Having won their first ever league title last season after thwarting the Gujarat Fortunegiants in the summit clash courtesy of their daunting raiding department, the side is owned by Kosmik Global Media Private Limited. The production company is owned by Uday Sinh Wala and the side would be looking to build on their success of last season.
Telugu Titans Team Owner
Owner: Veera Sports
Slated to host the first leg of the upcoming season of Pro Kabaddi League, Telegu Titans is owned by Veera Sports, a company which is jointly held by Core Green Group’s Saini Sreeramaneni, Greek Group’s Mahesh Kolli and NED Group’s Gautham Nedurumalli.
Haryana Steelers Team Owner
Owner: JSW Sports, Sajjan Jindal
Coming into the fray in the second part of the exhibition league when four new sides were added to the league, Haryana Steelers are owned by JSW Sports which is owned by Sajjan Jindal. Despite representing Haryana, one of the most revered states when it comes to kabaddi, the side have yet to impress in their relatively short time in the league.
UP Yoddha Team Owner
Owner: GMR Group
Joint owners of the Delhi Capitals side in the Indian Premier League, the GMR Group, also made an advent into the kabaddi fraternity after acquiring the franchisee based in Uttar Pradesh. Representing the largest state in Indian, the UP Yoddha outfit has impressed ever since its advent into the league, reaching the qualifiers on both occasions.
The side’s determination in pushing for the coveted title also reaffirms the outfit’s ambitions with the side having acquired Nitin Tomar for Rs.93 lakh in the previous edition and Monu Goyat for Rs. 90 lakh plus in the imminent season of the league.
Tamil Thalaivas Team Owner
Owner: Sachin Tendulkar Nimmagadda Prasad, Allu Arjun, Ram Charan and Allu Aravind, Iquest Enterprises Private Limited
Owned by the maximum number of parties, the Tamil Thalaivas side finds itself held by Iquest Enterprises Private Limited. Opened in 2001, the company has a slew of names holding ownership in the company with Sachin Tendulkar and Prasad holding majority of the say when it comes to the kabaddi outfit.
U Mumba Team Owner
Owners: Ronnie Screwvala, Insurekot Sports
Insurekot Sports opened by Ronnie Screwala is the owner of the U Mumba. The side have been ever committed to their goal of increasing the reach of kabaddi across India, reinstating their arduous dedicating to the game with their U Mumbai Future Stars program. The side have also charted up and conceptualised ideas for building up the U Mumba Arena, a stadium solely dedicated to the team along with requisite practice facilities to help upbring players from the grassroots levels.
Puneri Paltan Team Owner
Owner: Unilazer Ventures Pvt. Ltd. group
Owned by Mumbai based outfit Unilazer Ventures Pvt. Ltd., the side became the only team in 2019 to release all their players ahead of the auctions and rope in a completely new look side. One of the most committed sides to helping increase the immense growth of kabaddi in India, the team have been unnerving in their efforts to take the game forward with their unique and innovative programs and initiatives.
Patna Pirates Team Owner
Owner: Rajesh V Shah, KVS Energy and Sports Limited
The Patna Pirates side, one of the strongest side in the revered league is owned by KVS Energy and Sports limited which is owned by Rajesh V Shah, owner of Mukand which is a stalwart producer of steel and heavy machinery equipments in the country. This is the first time the company has bought into a sporting side, seeing its first venture into the arena turn out to be a good one.
