Kabaddi second most popular sport in India after Cricket?

Pro Kabaddi, which also has the Indian Super League (football) and Premier Badminton League among others, is the most watched sports league in India after the IPL. The 37-day event's first season in 2014 attracted 435 million viewers, while the IPL attracted 552 million. Additionally, Pro Kabaddi features 12 participants, the most of any sport.

In India, kabaddi has grown to be a major sport. Its growth has been extraordinary. The sport is unquestionably distinctive because it has overtaken cricket as the second most watched athletic event in India. Additionally, it is not too far from the IPL's peak. The kabaddi bouts are continuously broadcast on television, the game is regularly covered in the press, and playgrounds are frequently crowded with young lads.

Image Source: India Today

The popularity of the sport is evident by the fact that Pro Kabaddi League was the non-cricketing event with the highest viewership. India has also won every Kabaddi World Cup. Yes, both men and women have successfully completed the task on both circular and conventional courts. India has so produced a number of elite athletes over the years, demonstrating how passionate Indians are about this sport. Anup Kumar, Ajay Thakur, Pardeep Narwal and current Indian Captain Pawan Sehrawat are some big names of this sport.

A synopsis of Kabaddi’s history

Jallikattu is the basis of the sport known as Kabaddi. It was widespread among the Ayar tribal people who lived in the Mullai region of historic Tamil Nadu. There are rumors that Gautam Buddha enjoyed playing the game. Another account of the history of this sport is that it was created more than 4,000 years ago in Tamil Nadu. The Yadava people were claimed to have enjoyed playing the game. According to an Abhang by Tukaram, Lord Krishna participated in the game as a child.

Image Source: The Quint

The league's worth appears to have increased as well. For instance, the highest bid in the player auction increased from Rs. 12.8 lakh in 2014 (made by the Patna franchise for Rakesh Kumar) to Rs. 2.26 crore in 2022 (made by the Tamil Thalaivas for Pawan Kumar Sehrawat). To put that into perspective, consider that Pawan received less this year than the total prize money from Season 2 crore. The value of the league's media rights is another sign of how rapidly it has expanded. For 905 crore, Star India paid for the rights to use them through 2025 last year.