Top 3 most successful teams in Pro Kabaddi League history
The 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League is just around the corner. The excitement is palpable as the best players are set to clash once again in India's top-tier Kabaddi tournament. Haryana Steelers etched their names in the history books in season 11, clinching their first-ever Pro Kabaddi League title.
They secured a 32-23 win over Patna Pirates in the PKL 11 final. They had also reached the PKL season 10 final, but it was Puneri Paltan who emerged victorious. The last two seasons saw two new winners in the competition, and it will be interesting to see if a different team win their first-ever title for the third time in a row.
As many as 12 teams participate in the Pro Kabaddi League. Winning the PKL title is no small feat, but a couple of teams have still managed to clinch the title on multiple occasions.
Let’s take a look at the 3 most successful teams in the Pro Kabaddi League:
1. Patna Pirates - 3 titles
Patna Pirates have been the most dominant team in the Pro Kabaddi League. They have showcased noteworthy performances right from the inaugural season itself. They qualified for the semi-finals in the first two seasons but couldn't progress further.
Three consecutive titles in seasons 3,4, and 5
However, the Pirates exerted their dominance in season three, winning 10 out of 12 matches in the league stage and finishing second on the table. In the semi-final encounter, the Pirates crushed Puneri Paltan 40-21 and this was followed with a 31-28 win over U Mumba in the final.
Pardeep Narwal stole the show with 116 raid points.
Patna Pirates continued their fine run in season four. They topped the group table with 10 wins in 14 games. The Pirates secured a 37-29 win over Jaipur Pink Panthers in the final to clinch their second consecutive Pro Kabaddi League title. Pardeep Narwal, once again, was the star performer for the franchise with 131 raid points.
Patna Pirates left the fans in awe with their breathtaking performances for the third consecutive season. Season five saw them become the first-ever team to clinch three back-to-back titles in the Pro Kabaddi League. After beating Puneri Paltan and Bengal Warriors in the Eliminator and Qualifier 2, Patna Pirates demolished Gujarat Fortunegiants 55-38 in the final of PKL season five.
Pardeep Narwal’s fan base grew exponentially as he produced an unbelievable performance, accumulating 369 rating points. Patna Pirates couldn’t secure a title win in their next five attempts. Although they reached the finals in seasons 8 and 10.
2. Jaipur Pink Panthers - 2 titles
Owned by Bollywood superstar Abhishek Bachchan, Jaipur Pink Panthers is one of the most popular teams in the Pro Kabaddi League. The franchise made a name for themselves in the first season itself after they won the inaugural PKL season in 2014.
The Panthers beat U Mumba 35–24 in the PKL 1 final.
They made a group exit in the next two seasons but secured a place in the final in season four. Jaipur had the chance to clinch their second PKL title but lost to Patna Pirates 37-29 in the summit clash.
The next four seasons saw group stage exits for the Jaipur-based franchise. The ninth season, however, saw a complete performance from the Pink Army. Jaipur topped the group stage tally with 15 wins from 22 games.
In what turned out to be a thrilling final, Jaipur Pink Panthers beat Puneri Paltan 33-29 to secure their second PKL title.
3. U Mumba- 1 title
U Mumba have one Pro Kabaddi League title to their name. They could have won a few more, but succumbed under pressure in the big finals. U Mumba were sensational in the maiden PKL season, making their way into the final. Unfortunately, in the summit clash, they lost to Jaipur Pink Panthers.
U Mumba secured their second consecutive final in the next season, but didn’t let the opportunity slip away this time around. An outstanding performance against Bengaluru Bulls helped them clinch their first-ever Pro Kabaddi League title. U Mumba continued their fine run in the competition, securing a place in the final for the third consecutive occasion. However, they fell short of just three points against Patna in the season 3 final.
U Mumba qualified for the playoffs in seasons four, six, and seven but couldn’t progress too far ahead. In the last few seasons, U Mumba have disappointed their fans with lacklustre performances on the mat. Heading into a new season, U Mumba should look to bring the glory days back.
