KCL has announced the second season of its franchise-based competition with Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights joining as its newest franchises. Now 10 teams are in the competition and it is another step towards the expansion of the league across the Kabaddi ecosystem.
The two new teams will join the eight teams from season 1 that are already in play in the league as a whole and the competition will be more organized and players will have more opportunities to compete at a high level. The expansion follows the KCL’s inaugural season and is based on the foundation which was laid at the start of the league.
With two more teams in the competition, Season 2 should bring in more players, fans and regional fans to the KCL. The Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights’ arrival also makes for new match-ups and rivalries as the league continues to evolve its franchise model.
Balwan Singh Backs KCL Expansion
Balwan Singh, chairman of KCL, welcomed the two franchises that are coming and is confident their expansion would help in developing the league and provide more opportunities for Kabaddi players.
Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights are a critical addition to the KCL ecosystem. It’s an important step for the league and for Kabaddi talent development. When we have more franchises in the league we will be able to provide the most opportunities for players to compete at a high level and show that they can do so, Singh said.
The chairman also noted the league's role in developing players and providing them with a pathway to higher levels of competition. Singh said nine of the 12 players in that mentioned group were products of the KCL system.
"The biggest validation of our ecosystem is the players who have progressed through it. Nine out of the 12 players were from this league, which shows the quality of talent being developed through the KCL franchise system."
His comments illustrate the KCL’s desire to develop talent alongside competition from the franchise sector. The league is trying to provide players with a platform where they can learn competitive and development experiences while also allowing franchises to discover and nurture young talent.
KCL Expands to 10 Teams
The addition of Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights brings the KCL to 10 teams for its second season. The bigger the field the better: more competition and more players are involved in the franchise structure.
For young Kabaddi players, additional franchises may give them more chances to be identified, selected and tested in competitive matches. By a broader league structure the players can also establish themselves and become known through organised franchise competition.
Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights are also important from a regional perspective. Those clubs can invite fans from all over the league to their teams and build a link between them and their local fan base.
Building a Sustainable Kabaddi Ecosystem
The expansion of the KCL follows many of the franchise competitions for Kabaddi players whose competition has not been limited to the match results but rather has been about developing a system to develop and expand the sport.
Season 2 is therefore another step in building the franchise model for the competition and building on the experience of the first season. With 10 teams in the league the organisers should still keep a high level of competition while providing the opportunity for established players and young talent to come along.
Both of the new franchises bring to KCL a new audience and the league and its teams can welcome new fans and provide new narratives for the competition as the season begins.
For the players there will now be a larger franchise ecosystem in place to play and show their skills. For the league that will help them to move towards a more competitive game structure and not just investing in the development of Kabaddi talent.
As the Kabaddi Champions League prepares for its second season, the focus will now be more on the players and the competitions between the teams in the 10 teams. Jind Jaguars and Kurukshetra Knights were added and the season 2 will begin with a bigger franchise base and will be structured competition and talent development.
