Pro Kabaddi League Sparked Indias Sports Boom While IPL Dominates in Valuation

GMR Sports CEO Satyam Trivedi stated that while the IPL remains unmatched globally in valuation and scale, the Pro Kabaddi League sparked India’s multi-sport boom. He noted that 14 active Indian leagues draw inspiration from PKL’s success, proving that indigenous sports can thrive alongside cricket.

When the Indian Premier League (IPL) revolutionised the nation’s sporting economy, it set an unmatched benchmark for valuations and commercial success. Yet, according to GMR Sports CEO Satyam Trivedi, it was the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) that truly ignited India’s multi-sport league boom. Trivedi highlighted that while IPL remains a global model for profitability and scale, PKL proved that indigenous sports could capture nationwide attention and inspire confidence in new ventures.

He noted that India now hosts around 14 active sports leagues, many of which trace their inspiration not to cricket’s dominance but to kabaddi’s grassroots connection and execution. The success of PKL demonstrated that audiences were ready to back non-cricket sports, paving the way for leagues in football, badminton, and wrestling. For GMR Sports, co-owner of IPL’s Delhi Capitals, the growth of Indian sports is about more than revenue, it represents a broader cultural and infrastructural shift.

Trivedi believes that PKL’s mass appeal has motivated federations and investors to think beyond cricket and build sustainable ecosystems for varied sports. While IPL remains peerless in value creation, PKL’s influence has been instrumental in transforming India’s sporting landscape.