New Delhi, Oct 24 (NationPress) The excitement is palpable as the playoffs for Season 12 of the Pro Kabaddi League unfold at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi from October 25-31. Following an exhilarating 108 league-stage matches across four cities, the league now enters its decisive phase where eight teams vie for the coveted trophy.

The playoffs press conference held on Friday in the city gathered the captains of the top eight teams to set the stage for an electrifying conclusion to PKL's 12th season.

The competition kicks off with the play-ins on October 25, featuring the defending champions, Haryana Steelers, going head-to-head with the Jaipur Pink Panthers. Additionally, the Patna Pirates will take on U Mumba in the second play-in match. The victors from these encounters will progress to the playoffs.

On October 26, the playoffs commence with the winners of the play-ins clashing in Eliminator 1. That same day, the Bengaluru Bulls will face the Telugu Titans in the Mini Qualifier. The following day, October 27, will see Eliminator 2 featuring the winner of Eliminator 1 against the losing team from the Bulls-Titans matchup, alongside the top two teams competing in Qualifier 1 for a spot in the finals.

Eliminator 3 is scheduled for October 28, where the winner of Eliminator 2 will face the mini-qualifier victor. The winning team from this matchup will advance to Qualifier 2 on October 29, where they will meet the loser of Qualifier 1. The ultimate victor will secure a place in the finals, set for October 31.

This season saw the introduction of tiebreakers for the first time, significantly raising the stakes of the competition. The league stage culminated in a dramatic race for playoff positions, with the top two teams – Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi K.C. – both securing their playoff spots early with a total of 26 points each.

The competition was fierce among the teams ranked third to sixth, with Bengaluru Bulls in third place with 22 points, followed closely by Telugu Titans, Haryana Steelers, and U Mumba, all tied at 20 points.

PKL 12 also marked a remarkable comeback for last season’s runners-up, the Patna Pirates. After being at the bottom of the table until Day 44, they staged an impressive turnaround, winning five consecutive matches to finish seventh. Meanwhile, U Mumba narrowly missed a top-four finish on the last day, while the Jaipur Pink Panthers rounded out the standings in eighth place.

“Playoffs demand composure and clarity. I’ve learned from experienced leaders on how to guide a team under pressure—how to motivate and assess situations. These lessons are invaluable as a captain. We’ve put in the hard work to reach this stage, and our focus is on maintaining that discipline in the playoffs,” said Aslam Inamdar, captain of Puneri Paltan.

“In the playoffs, every raid and tackle can alter the game’s outcome. Staying calm is my greatest asset—aggression can lead to a loss of focus. When pressure mounts, I remind myself to play with a clear mind and trust our training. We’ve battled hard all season, and we’re ready to perform when it counts,” stated Ashu Malik, captain of Dabang Delhi K.C.

“Season 12 has truly elevated the competitive spirit in the Pro Kabaddi League—48 of our 108 league matches were decided by five points or fewer, with 27 matches concluding in the last 90 seconds. The enhanced playoffs will continue this intensity into the final week of the season. With young captains leading the way and raiders achieving super 10s almost every match night, we are poised for one of the most fiercely contested finales in PKL history,” remarked Anupam Goswami, Business Head, Mashal Sports and League Chairman, Pro Kabaddi League.

Under the guidance of the Amateur Kabaddi Federation of India (AKFI), Mashal Sports and JioStar have transformed PKL into one of India’s most successful sporting leagues. This competition features the highest number of matches among all sports leagues in India and has elevated the profile of Kabaddi both nationally and internationally.