The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) season 12 is set to bring a month of high-octane action on the mat, with new rules and revamped rosters. Fans will miss Pardeep Narwal in action following his retirement after the 2024 season.
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The 2025 edition begins on August 29 and ends with the final on October 23. The tournament will be played across 108 league-stage fixtures, with eight teams qualifying for the play-ins, the new playoffs format.
The Sporting News takes a look at the predictions, top raider rankings and players to watch during the PKL season 12.
Top raider predictions for PKL Season 12
Devank Dalal entered elite company in PKL history last season, becoming just the fourth raider to cross 300 raid points in a single campaign, joining Naveen Kumar, Pawan Sehrawat and Pardeep Narwal. So it comes as no surprise that he is the favourite to finish as PKL 12's top raider.
While Narwal announced his retirement from the league after shockingly going unsold at the PKL 12 auction, the other two -- Sehrawat and Naveen are preparing for comeback campaigns in 2025.
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The duo have been struggling with injuries and have now been shipped to new franchises this year. While they are ranked low in the odds, there is a big opportunity and a clear upside to bet big on them early in the season.
Meanwhile, Arjun Deshwal and Ashu Malik continue as two of the most consistent raiders in the league. With legends either declining in form or dropping off, the duo appear to be best placed to mount the biggest challenge to Devank's top-raider crown.
MORE: Top raiders in PKL season 12: Updated list of players with most raid points in Pro Kabaddi League
PKL 12: Top raider betting odds and ranking
According to Dafabet, here are the latest odds for the top raider in the Pro Kabaddi League season 12.
| Raider | Dafa Odds [Bet here] |
|---|---|
| Devank | 3.50 |
| Ashu Malik | 4.50 |
| Arjun Deshwal | 7.00 |
| Ajit Chouhan | 11.00 |
| Guman Singh | 21.00 |
| Gagan Gowda | 23.00 |
| Vinay | 23.00 |
| Akash Shinde | 26.00 |
| Bhavani Rajput | 26.00 |
| Pawan Sehrawat | 26.00 |
| Shivam Patare | 26.00 |
| Vijay Malik | 26.00 |
Key raiders to watch out for in PKL season 12
Devank Dalal
After a stellar 2024 campaign with the Patna Pirates, where he scored 301 raid points in 24 matches -- crossing the rare 300-point mark -- he was picked up by the Bengal Warriorz for a record ₹2.205 crore at the PKL 12 auction.
With 18 Super 10s last year, he showcased his agility and sharp instincts on the mat, leading the Pirates to the final. He has been appointed the Warriorz captain for 2025 as the team looks to bounce back from a 10th-placed finish last year.
Arjun Deshwal
Despite another consistent season in 2024, where he finished among the top three players for most points (230), the Jaipur Pink Panthers released Deshwal. Nicknamed the "Raid Machine", he was picked up by the Tamil Thalalivas for ₹1.405 crore, joining hi-flyer Pawan Sehrawat at the new franchise.
Deshwal has 1174 raid points in 114 career matches -- the fourth-highest total of all time. He is regarded as one of the elite raiders in PKL history, with a reputation for clever moves and quick raids on the mat, troubling even the best defenses. It remains to be seen if he can replicate his Season 9 MVP season in a new jersey in 2025.
Pawan Sehrawat
The Thalaivas acquired Sehrawat for just ₹59.50 lakhs -- a steal at the PKL 12 auction. He was once a player who broke records at auctions, but what was supposed to be his prime years have been marred by injuries, hampering his performances in recent seasons.
However, he remains a marquee name with a blend of speed, strength and dominance on the mat.
While he piled up 271, 346, and 304 raid points in 6, 7, and 8, respectively, he scored over 200 points just once in the last three years. He is now part of arguably the best raiding unit of PKL 12 and Sehrawat will be eyeing a big comeback in 2025.
