The 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League is around the corner, promising nearly two months of thrilling matches.
This time, fans will notice one big absence and that is of Pardeep Narwal, who called time on his career after the 2024 season.
The new campaign kicks off on August 29 and will run until the grand finale on October 23.
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A total of 108 league matches are lined up, and for the first time, eight sides will battle it out in the play-ins under the tweaked playoff system.
The Sporting News takes a look at the predictions, top defender rankings and players to watch during the PKL season 12.
Top defender predictions for PKL Season 12
Mohammadreza Shadloui tops the betting odds at 3.00 (Dafabet) to become the top tackler, following his stellar 82 tackle points in 24 matches for Haryana Steelers in 2024.
Ankit Jaglan (9.00 odds) and Nitesh Kumar (10.00 odds) are close contenders, having posted 79 and 77 tackle points last season, respectively.
Dark horses like Rahul Sethpal (7.50) and Sumit Sangwan (9.00) could challenge with their growing defensive prowess.
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PKL 12: Top defenders betting odds and ranking
According to Dafabet, here are the latest odds for the top defender in the Pro Kabaddi League season 12.
| Defender | Dafa Odds [Bet here] |
|---|---|
| Mohammadreza Shadloui | 3.00 |
| Rahul Sethpal | 7.50 |
| Ankit Jaglan | 9.00 |
| Sumit Sangwan | 9.00 |
| Nitin Rawal | 10.00 |
| Nitesh Kumar (Tamil) | 10.00 |
| Ankush Rathee | 11.00 |
| Deepak Singh | 11.00 |
| Gaurav Khatri | 13.00 |
| Hitesh | 15.00 |
MORE: Top raiders in PKL season 12: Updated list of players with most raid points in Pro Kabaddi League
Key defenders to watch out for in PKL season 12
Mohammadreza Shadloui
The Gujarat Giants’ all-rounder was a defensive juggernaut in 2024, amassing 82 tackle points with four Super Tackles and five High 5s for Haryana Steelers. His ₹2.23 crore move makes him the player to beat in 2025.
Ankit Jaglan
Ankit Jaglan Led Patna Pirates in last season and secured 79 tackle points in 25 matches. He got eight Super Tackles and four High 5s. His captaincy and defensive grit helped Patna reach the PKL 11 final.
Nitesh Kumar
Tamil Thalaivas’ left-corner defender secured 77 tackle points in 22 matches in the last season in 2024, which included eight High 5s. Despite his team’s playoff miss, Nitesh’s tenacity makes him a top contender.
