The Pro Kabaddi League has successfully created its niche in the highly competitive sports scene of India. Since its inception in 2014, the viewership has grown rapidly with a fan base that includes the young and old across geographies in India and abroad. The PKL saw the introduction of four new teams for the 2017 season, and this helped boost the viewership on traditional mediums as well as digital consumption.

Fans have been rewarded with six seasons of PKL and 2019 brings us the seventh edition of the sport. The PKL 2019 schedule for season seven begins in July with 12 teams who will battle on the mats across the nation to win the coveted trophy. These matches will be played at various metros all over India before heading to the playoffs. This would be followed by the semis and the finale. So, follow PKL season 7 with Dream11 and hone your sports strategy skills. Check out the PKL fixtures and make your picks before every PKL live match.

The contenders for 2019 Pro Kabbadi League are:

• Bengal Warriors

  - A veteran in PKL, the Bengal Warriors have been playing in the tournament since 2014. The team has shown constant improvement and have moved up the leaderboard with every season. The 2019 squad will be lead by Maninder Singh. With a healthy mix of all-rounders and raiders such as Mohammad Esmaeil Nabibakhsh and Baldev Singh, the team is set for a strong finish in the seventh season of the PKL.

• U Mumba

  - Representing the bustling metro of Mumbai, team U Mumba has made an appearance in all seasons of the PKL, finishing as champions once and as runner-up on two occasions. With such an impressive track record, they are heading into PKL season 7 as the top favourites for the title. Fazel Atrachali continues as captain for U Mumba with a stint with the Gujarat Fortunegiants and champions Patna Pirates. Team U Mumba continue to be one of the toughest teams in the Pro Kabaddi League 2019 to play against due to their tactful gameplay and brilliant teamwork.

• Puneri Paltan

  - The legendary Maratha valour is on proud display with the Puneri Paltan team. The underdog team has consistently displayed tremendous potential and boasts a line up of phenomenal athletes like Nitin Tomar, Pawan Kumar Kadian, Girish Ernak and captain PO Surjeet Singh. Every point against this side is an uphill battle, and they almost never let their opponents have it easy.

• Dabang Delhi K.C.

  - Representing the north since season one of the PKL, team Dabang Delhi K.C. ranked at an impressive third place in PKL season seven standings. The team would look to improve on the performance to hit the top two spots. Joginder Singh Narwal takes the reigns as captain, and his impressive numbers on the PKL points table are sure to be a major plus for the team. Other prominent members of the team are Iranian Meraj Sheykh, Chandran Ranjit and Naveen Kumar.

• Haryana Steelers

  - As one of the recent entrants to the PKL, the Haryana Steelers team’s journey has been a roller coaster ride. They are back in the game for season seven with an interesting lineup for the team. This new Haryana squad has got their eyes on the prize. Under the leadership of the seasoned defender Dharmaraj Cheralathan, Prashanth Kumar Rai and Vikash Khandola will have plenty to do if the team has to win the coveted title.

• Gujarat Fortunegiants

  - After a fantastic debut appearance, the super successful Gujarat Fortunegiants squad has refreshed its team to take another shot at the title. Leading the team this season as captain will be Sunil Kumar with other star players such as Sachin Tanwar, Parvesh Bhainswal and Abolfazl Maghsodloumahali being a part of the team. The team is built around a strong raiding strategy and a selection of quick-footed defenders, a lethal combination that makes them a title favourite.

• Jaipur Pink Panthers

  - After winning the inaugural season of the PKL, the team has continued to remain in the PKL records for putting in stellar performances. Captain Deepak Hooda along with raider Nilesh Salunke, Deepak Narwal and Amit Hooda are the ones to look out for. Their valuable experience and exceptional skills will earn the Jaipur Pink Panthers a comfortable spot among the top teams in the PKL standings.

• Telugu Titans

  - With multiple finishes at the playoff stage, the feisty Telugu Titans have always fallen short of clearing the tough stages. The PKL auction of 2019 saw some talented additions made to the squad to give the team a much-needed push to pursue the title. This is an impressive mix of defenders and raiders with Vishal Bhardwaj and Siddharth Desai being the key players.

• U.P. Yoddha

  - Making their PKL debut in 2017, Team UP Yoddha’s PKL matches are a masterful display of strength and clever strategy. Captain Nitesh Kumar takes charge as the captain for their season with Monu Goyat and Rishank Devadiga making for a formidable raiding combination. Together, this squad has a mix of seasoned veterans and gifted youngsters to give them a worthy shot at the title.

• Tamil Thalaivas

  - Making an entry into the tournament in 2017, the Tamil Thalaivas bring their unique, flamboyant style to the PKL. Ajay Thakur continues as the captain for the team for PKL season seven. His dexterous raiding skills will be an asset to the team. The Tamil Thalaivas have also strengthened their defence with Manjeet Chhillar. Veterans Rahul Chaudhari and Shabeer Bappu.

• Bengaluru Bulls

  - Representing the tech capital of India, the Bengaluru Bulls have had a roller coaster journey through the PKL franchise. Winning the tournament in 2018, the team has worked hard to bring in improvements to their team. The team is known to majorly focus on offence and will look to improve their defence in this season. Team captain Rohit Kumar will be looking to lead his team to the ultimate victory again. Other players to follow are defender Mahender Singh, all-rounder Ashish Kumar and raider Pawan Kumar Sehrawat.

• Patna Pirates

  - Arguably the best team of the PKL, the Patna Pirates have set the standard in almost every point-scoring category of the PKL. As three-time champions of the PKL, this is the team to beat. Captain Pardeep Narwal has been associated with the team since season three and has been voted as MVP (Most Valuable Player) twice. Foreign players like Jang Kun Lee and Hadi Oshtorak will be key highlights for the team this season. The team will be fiercely defending their title and will most certainly leave it all out on the mat this season.

So if you are a Pro Kabaddi enthusiast, follow the PKL matches on Dream11 and be part of the action. Get a share of your own PKL points table when you match up against the best sports enthusiasts on Dream11. Make your selections before the PKL live match and enjoy a truly immersive sports strategy experience. Download the mobile app or check out the Dream11 website right away!