Bhojpuri Superstar Ravi Kishan to headline commentary; Referee Cam and Dugout Views debut for the first time in Pro Kabaddi League
Mumbai, August 28, 2025: JioStar, the exclusive broadcast and digital partner of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL), has announced a refreshed and innovation-led Season 12 that promises to redefine the fan experience. Starting August 29, viewers can catch every raid and tackle live on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar, with the season featuring new language feeds, immersive camera angles, and a restructured competition format.
For the first time, PKL will be broadcast in eight languages—English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, and new additions Bhojpuri and Haryanvi. Bhojpuri, a language feed that has already found massive success with cricket, will now bring kabaddi closer to fans in one of India’s fastest-growing regional markets. Haryanvi will directly engage kabaddi’s northern heartland.
The commentary lineup blends popular voices with former kabaddi stars. Bhojpuri will be headlined by actor Ravi Kishan, while Srinivas Reddy will lend his expertise to the Telugu feed. Champions K. Prapanjan (Tamil), Mohit Chhillar (Haryanvi), Vishal Mane (Marathi), Mamatha Poojary (Kannada), and Rishank Devadiga will bring insights from their playing careers. Established voices including Sunil Taneja, Vrajesh Hirjee, Padamjeet Sehrawat, NC Kaushik, and Chaitanya Sant will further enrich the storytelling.
Season 12 will also debut immersive broadcast innovations. A Referee Cam will give viewers a first-person perspective from the mat, while dual dugout views will capture the intensity on the sidelines. Split-screen features will allow fans to follow both live action and revival sequences simultaneously.
“Season 12 of PKL is about making the game more accessible and more engaging than ever. By presenting the league in eight languages, including Bhojpuri and Haryanvi for the first time, we are taking kabaddi deeper into its heartlands and closer to its fans. Combined with innovations like referee cam and dugout views, this season will deliver a richer and more immersive storytelling experience across platforms,” said Siddharth Sharma, Head – Audience Engagement, Viewership and Monetization Initiative, JioStar.
On the mat, Season 12 will introduce competitive reforms. Matches ending in ties during the league phase will now move into tie-breakers, ensuring every match delivers a result. A new play-in phase between the league and playoffs will also debut—where the top two teams qualify directly, while teams ranked 3rd to 8th battle for the remaining playoff spots.
The season begins August 29 with a Southern Derby showdown between Telugu Titans and Tamil Thalaivas, setting the stage for a high-octane season of action.
About JioStar
JioStar is India’s premier broadcast and digital platform, driving innovation in live sports and entertainment viewing experiences. As the exclusive partner of Pro Kabaddi League, JioStar continues to pioneer language inclusivity and immersive technologies to make sports more engaging for audiences across the country.
