Teen cricket prodigy Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who made waves with Rajasthan Royals in the IPL at just 14, returned to his kabaddi roots as he attended the grand opening of Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) Season 12 in Visakhapatnam. The young star, known for his explosive debut in the IPL, joined icons from various sports to kickstart an action-packed season of India’s premier kabaddi league.

The opening ceremony saw the presence of sporting legends like badminton ace Pullela Gopichand, former India hockey captain Dhanraj Pillay, kabaddi sensation Pardeep Narwal, and Suryavanshi himself. His appearance highlighted the growing cross-sport appeal of PKL, as he is not only a cricket prodigy but also a fan of kabaddi.

Vaibhav’s Kabaddi Roots

Speaking at the event, Suryavanshi shared that kabaddi has always been close to his heart. “I have been playing kabaddi since I was around five or six years old, so it felt really good returning to the mat and watching a match live for the first time,” he said. While cricket remains his first love, he revealed his support for Patna Pirates, his home team, and also expressed admiration for Pawan Sehrawat of the Bengaluru Bulls, calling him the “Hi-Flyer.”

Action-Packed Opening Night

The first night of PKL 12 delivered the excitement fans expected. The Southern Derby kicked off the season in style with Tamil Thalaivas edging out Telugu Titans 38-35 in a thrilling match. Arjun Deshwal delivered a Super 10, while Pawan Sehrawat contributed nine points, helping Thalaivas spoil the home team’s night despite a strong performance from Bharat Hooda.

The drama continued in the second match as Bengaluru Bulls and Puneri Paltan fought through a historic encounter. After a 32–32 draw in regulation time, the match moved to PKL’s first-ever tie-breaker in the group stages. Last season’s champions, Puneri Paltan, held their nerve in the decider, winning 6–4, and setting a new milestone in PKL history.

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