Kabaddi Rules, History, Pro Kabaddi League & How to Play

What Is Kabaddi?

Kabaddi is a contact sport played between two teams of seven on a rectangular court. One raider crosses into the opposition half, tries to tag defenders and return to their side, all on a single breath. No timeouts, no substitutions mid-play. Just speed, strength, and lungpower. It’s the second most watched sports league in India after the IPL, and the 2024 Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 just brought in a new generation of fans.

Kabaddi Rules for Beginners

Each team fields seven players. The raider crosses the centre line into the opposition half, chants “kabaddi kabaddi” continuously to prove they’re holding their breath, tags one or more defenders, and tries to return safely to their own half. Each successful tag scores a point for the raiding team.

Defenders try to tackle the raider and stop them returning. If they succeed, the raider is out and the defending team scores a point. Both teams alternate raiding every 30 seconds.

Key Rules to Know

• Do-or-die raid: If a team produces two empty raids in a row (no tag, no point), the third raider must score or they’re declared out. No more passive raiding.
• Super 10: When a raider scores 10 or more raid points in a single match, the team earns a bonus point. It’s kabaddi’s version of a hat-trick.
• Bonus line: If the raider crosses a bonus line marked on the opposition half and escapes, they earn an extra point, even without touching a defender.
• All out: If an entire team is eliminated, all seven players return to the court and the opposing team earns two bonus points.

Kabaddi Court Dimensions and Equipment

The kabaddi court measures 13 metres x 10 metres for men and 12 metres x 8 metres for women. A centre line divides the court into two halves. The bonus line is 3.75 metres from the centre line. The baulk line, which the raider must cross to make a valid raid, sits between the centre line and the bonus line.

Equipment is minimal: a court, boundary lines, and players in team kits. No ball, no racket, no goalpost. The sport’s greatest asset is its simplicity, it can be played on any flat outdoor surface and requires nothing but a measuring tape to set up.

History of Kabaddi

Kabaddi is one of the oldest team sports in Asia. The game’s roots trace to ancient India, with references in Buddhist and Hindu literature to games involving breath-holding and wrestling. The first organised all-India kabaddi tournament was held in 1923. The All India Kabaddi Federation was formed in 1950, and the first Senior Men’s Nationals followed in 1952.

Kabaddi was demonstrated at the 1936 Berlin Olympics alongside other Indian traditional sports. It joined the Asian Games programme in 1990 at Beijing, having been demonstrated at Delhi 1982. India has won the men’s kabaddi gold at every Asian Games since 1990, a streak that ran to eight consecutive titles before South Korea ended it in 2018.

Pro Kabaddi League: India’s Professional Revolution

The Pro Kabaddi League launched in 2014 and immediately changed everything. Modelled on the IPL, the league uses a franchise system with 12 city-based teams. Within its first season it became the second most watched sports league in India. Each team paid fees of up to $250,000 to join. Star Sports broadcast the league to over 435 million viewers in its debut year.

The PKL introduced rule changes that made the game faster and more broadcast-friendly. The 30-second raid time limit replaced the old system where raids lasted as long as the raider’s breath held out. The do-or-die raid rule eliminated passive raiding. The super 10 bonus reward made individual brilliance count on the scoreboard.

PKL Season 12 (2025): Dabang Delhi Champions

The 2025 Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 launched on August 29, 2025, with a reformed playoff format. The league stage featured 108 matches, each team playing 18 games. For the first time, tied matches were eliminated: every game now has a winner. The top eight teams qualified for a knockout playoff.

Dabang Delhi K.C. won the Season 12 title, claiming their second PKL championship. Season 12 matches were held across Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai, and Delhi.

Kabaddi at the Olympics

Kabaddi is not currently an Olympic sport. It has been demonstrated twice at the Olympics (1936 Berlin) and is a medal event at the Asian Games since 1990. The sport’s governing body, the International Kabaddi Federation (IKF), has been working toward Olympic inclusion, but it has not been added to the LA 2028 programme. India, as the dominant nation and host of the world’s most popular kabaddi league, continues to push for Olympic recognition.

Kabaddi vs Kho Kho: Key Differences

Both are traditional Indian contact sports with ancient roots, but they play very differently. Kabaddi is a raiding game: one player against seven defenders in a wrestling-based contest. Kho Kho is a tag-and-chase game: one active chaser against three runners, with teammates handing off the chase via a touch and a shout of “Kho!”

Kabaddi requires breath control and physical strength. Kho Kho rewards spatial awareness and tactical positioning. Both now have professional leagues (Pro Kabaddi League and Ultimate Kho Kho) and both were demonstrated at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Neither is yet on the Olympic programme.

Famous Kabaddi Players

Pardeep Narwal is the PKL’s all-time leading raid points scorer, nicknamed “Dubki King” for his signature low dip to escape tackles. Maninder Singh was the PKL’s original superstar, breaking records in the league’s early seasons. Rahul Chaudhari earned the nickname “The Showman” for his flamboyant raiding style. On the women’s side, India’s national team is dominant internationally, with players like Mamta Dhami becoming household names in kabaddi-watching states.

Frequently Asked Questions About Kabaddi

How many players are on a kabaddi team?

A kabaddi team has 12 players in the squad but only 7 take the court at a time. When a player is tagged out during a raid, they leave the court and wait to be revived. An entire team being eliminated (an “all out”) sends all 7 players back to the court, but the opposing team earns 2 bonus points.

What are the basic rules of kabaddi for beginners?

One player (the raider) crosses into the opposition half, chanting “kabaddi kabaddi” on a single breath, tries to tag defenders, and returns safely. A successful tag scores a point. If defenders tackle the raider and stop them returning, the raider is out and the defending team scores. Teams alternate raiding every 30 seconds.

Is kabaddi in the Olympics?

No. Kabaddi is a medal sport at the Asian Games since 1990, but it is not on the Olympic programme. It was demonstrated at the 1936 Berlin Olympics. India has pushed for Olympic inclusion but kabaddi was not added to the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Who won Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 in 2025?

Dabang Delhi K.C. won the Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 in 2025, claiming their second PKL title. The reformed season featured 108 league matches, eliminated tied results for the first time, and ran playoff matches across Vizag, Jaipur, Chennai, and Delhi.

What is a “super 10” in kabaddi?

A super 10 is when a single raider scores 10 or more raid points in one match. When this happens, the raider’s team earns a bonus point on top of the raid points already scored. It’s the equivalent of a hat-trick in football or a century in cricket, celebrated by commentators and fans alike.

How is kabaddi different from kho kho?

Kabaddi is a raiding and wrestling game: one player attacks seven defenders on a single breath. Kho Kho is a tag-and-chase game using a relay system of chasers and runners. Kabaddi scores through successful raids and tackles. Kho Kho scores through tagging runners within a timed inning. Both are traditional Indian sports with professional leagues, but they require completely different skills.