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PKL 12 Playoffs: New 8-Team Format Shakes Up Race; Paltan & Delhi Lock Top Spots

Shivansh Rana | 4 min read | 1 month ago | Oct 23, 2025 04:02 pm IST
PKL 12 Playoffs: New 8-Team Format Shakes Up Race; Paltan & Delhi Lock Top Spots

The Pro Kabaddi League Season 12 is hitting a fever pitch. With a brand-new playoff format, the race to the final is more unpredictable than ever, and it’s all going down at the Thyagaraj Indoor Stadium in Delhi. Two teams are already sitting pretty, but for six others, the real fight is just beginning.

Key Takeaways

  • New Playoff Rules: Top 8 teams now qualify, with teams 5-8 battling in a new ‘play-in’ round.
  • Top 2 Confirmed: Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi have secured direct semi-final spots.
  • Play-In Contenders: Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls, U Mumba, Haryana Steelers, and Jaipur Pink Panthers are in the top 8.
  • Patna’s Late Surge: Patna Pirates, powered by Ayan’s heroics, have virtually locked their playoff berth.
  • Finals Date: The PKL 12 Grand Finale is set for October 31, 2025.

A Whole New Ball Game: The PKL 12 Playoff Shake-up

Look, things are different this year. PKL Season 12 has thrown out the old playbook and introduced a new playoff structure that’s keeping everyone on their toes. Now, the top eight teams from the league stage get a ticket to the knockout rounds. Simple, right?

Not exactly. The top four teams get a direct pass to the playoffs. But the teams ranked fifth to eighth? They have to fight it out in a brand new ‘play-in’ round for the last two playoff spots. It means for a team finishing in the bottom half of the top 8, they’d have to win six straight knockout games to lift the trophy. Talk about a tough road.

The Kings at the Top: Paltan and Delhi Dominate

So who’s relaxing right now? Two teams: Puneri Paltan and Dabang Delhi. They’ve absolutely dominated the league stage and have officially locked in the top two positions. This isn’t just a small win; it’s a direct ticket to the semi-finals (Qualifier 1).

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Puneri Paltan, led by the incredible Aslam Inamdar, finished their league run with 13 wins from 18 matches. Dabang Delhi, captained by the explosive Ashu Malik, matched that with 13 victories in just 17 games. They get to watch the early chaos from the sidelines.

The Play-In Battle Heats Up

And that’s where the real drama is. With the top two decided, a whole bunch of teams are now scrambling for position in the play-in tournament. We’re talking about heavyweights like the Telugu Titans, Bengaluru Bulls, U Mumba, Haryana Steelers, and Jaipur Pink Panthers. They’ve all secured their spot in the top eight.

But you can’t ignore the Patna Pirates. They’ve come alive at the perfect time, winning four straight matches to virtually guarantee their qualification. A lot of that is thanks to their star, Ayan, who just dropped a 35-point bomb on Dabang Delhi and has 12 Super 10s this season. Other players are hitting form too. Nitin Dhankar from Jaipur has three consecutive Super 10s, while Haryana’s Shivam Patare and Vinay just secured their team’s spot with Super 10s of their own.

What’s Next on the Mat?

Get your calendars out, because you won’t want to miss this. The action starts with the crucial Play-In round on October 25, 2025. The winners move on to the main Playoff matches, which kick off the very next day on October 26.

It all leads to one massive night. The Grand Finale of PKL Season 12 is slated for October 31, 2025. With this new format, who knows what will happen? Will one of the top dogs cruise to victory, or can a team from the play-ins pull off a historic upset? Let us know who you’re backing!