A brand new edition of the Pro Kabaddi League is upon us as the 12th season of the PKL will commence on Friday, August 29. Twelve teams will compete for the title over an eight-week league phase followed by the playoffs.
Haryana Steelers will head into the new season as the defending champions, as they lifted their maiden title last time, beating Patna Pirates in the final.
As the excitement builds up for the all-new season, which starts on August 28, there are new rules that fans need to know for the competition.
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The new season has come with a new set of rules and regulations. The qualification for the play-offs and the final has seen a major upgrade. Let's find out the new rules for PKL season 12.
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What is the PKL 12 new playoffs format? Play-ins rules explained
Unlike the previous season, eight, instead of six, out of the 12 teams will get a shot at competing in the play-offs round and will have an opportunity to qualify for the final. This will provide extra motivation to all franchises that want a shot at the grand finale.
- Teams finishing between five to eight will compete in the play-ins and the winners will progress to the eliminators.
- Franchises finishing third and fourth will compete in a mini-qualifier game. The winner of the match will progress to the next round, while the loser will go back to the play-offs.
- The team ranked fifth will face the sixth-placed side, while the seventh and eighth-placed sides will lock horns in the play-ins. The winners of these two games will clash in an Eliminator and the team which triumphs in the Eliminator will face the lost of the clash between the third and fourth-placed teams in the play-offs.
- The top two-ranked teams during the league stage will compete in Qualifier 1 and the winner will go directly to the Final. The losing team will have another shot at the Final by competing in Qualifier 2.
- Overall, the play-offs campaign will feature three eliminators and two qualifiers, which will ensure that there is thorough excitement for the fans.
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When is the PKL season 12 starting?
The first match of the Pro Kabaddi League season 12 will be played on August 29. Telugu Titans will face Tamil Thalaivas at the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium in Vizag.