India’s teenage cricket sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi returned to his kabaddi roots as he attended the opening night of the 12th season of the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) in Visakhapatnam. The young Rajasthan Royals star, who created headlines in this year’s IPL at just 14, joined a host of sporting legends to mark the beginning of another high-octane season.
The opening ceremony was graced by iconic names across Indian sport like the badminton great Pullela Gopichand, former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay, kabaddi superstar Pardeep Narwal, alongside Suryavanshi himself. The presence of the cricket prodigy, who stunned seasoned bowlers in his IPL debut campaign, highlighted the cross-sport appeal of PKL.
Speaking at the event, Suryavanshi revealed that kabaddi has always had a place in his sporting journey. “I have been playing kabaddi since I was around five or six years old, so it felt really good returning to the mat and to watch a match live for the first time,” he said. “While I have enjoyed kabaddi and table tennis, cricket has always been my first love. In PKL, I support Patna Pirates because it’s my home team, and I also admire the Bengaluru Bulls for Pawan Sehrawat, the Hi-Flyer.”
Action-packed opening night
On the mat, the southern derby set the tone for Season 12. Tamil Thalaivas edged Telugu Titans 38–35 in a thriller. Arjun Deshwal produced a Super 10 while Pawan Sehrawat added nine points, ensuring the visitors spoiled the home team’s night despite Bharat Hooda’s fighting nine points for the Titans.
The drama continued in the second fixture as Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan battled through to PKL history. The game ended 32–32 in regulation time, prompting the league’s first-ever tie-breaker in the group stages. Last season’s champions, Puneri Paltan, held their nerve to prevail 6–4 in the decider, etching a new milestone in PKL folklore.
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