The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has grown into one of India’s most exciting and successful sports leagues. While the players get the spotlight on the mat, a lot of credit goes to the team owners who invest money, strategy, and vision into building winning teams. From billionaires to Bollywood stars, these owners come from different backgrounds but share one common goal, to make their team champions.
1. Gautam Adani – Gujarat Giants
- Team: Gujarat Giants
- Owner: Adani Wilmar Ltd (Adani Sportsline)
- Estimated Net Worth: Higher than $66.5 billion
- Profession: Businessperson, Industrialist, Chairman of the Adani Group
Gautam Adani, among the wealthiest businessmen in India, owns the Gujarat Giants through his sports venture, Adani Sportsline. His group is known for its massive presence in infrastructure, energy, logistics, and now sports. Under his leadership, Gujarat Giants have become a strong and consistent team in PKL, reaching the finals in their first two seasons (2017 and 2018).
2. Sajjan Jindal & Parth Jindal – Haryana Steelers
- Team: Haryana Steelers
- Owner: JSW Sports (part of JSW Group)
- Estimated Net Worth: approximately $7.68 billion
- Profession: Industrialists and Sports Investors
The Haryana Steelers are owned by the father-son duo Sajjan and Parth Jindal through their sports division, JSW Sports. They are part of the JSW Group, a major Indian company involved in steel, energy, and cement. JSW Sports also owns teams in other sports like football (Bengaluru FC) and cricket (Delhi Capitals, co-owned in IPL). Their commitment to sports development has helped Haryana Steelers grow steadily since joining PKL in 2017.
3. Radha Kapoor Khanna – Dabang Delhi K.C.
- Team: Dabang Delhi K.C.
- Owner: Do It Sports Management India Pvt Ltd
- Estimated Net Worth: Approximately $6.6 billion
- Profession: Entrepreneur and Investor
Radha Kapoor Khanna is the only female team owner in the Pro Kabaddi League. She comes from a business background (daughter of Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor) and has made a name for herself as an entrepreneur and sports investor. Dabang Delhi won their maiden PKL title in 2022, showing her team-building efforts paid off. She also supports other sports like table tennis and hockey.
4. Ronnie Screwvala – U Mumba (Honourable Mention)
- Team: U Mumba
- Owner: U Sports (Co-founded by Ronnie Screwvala and Supratik Sen)
- Estimated Net Worth: $1.5 billion
- Profession: Media Entrepreneur, Film Producer, Investor
Ronnie Screwvala is a pioneer in Indian media, having founded UTV and later sold it to Disney. He co-founded U Sports, which owns U Mumba, one of the strongest teams in early PKL seasons. Screwvala also runs upGrad (ed-tech) and invests in startups through Unilazer Ventures. His vision helped kabaddi transition from a rural game to a prime-time sport.
5. Kishore Biyani & Akshay Kumar – Bengal Warriors
- Team: Bengal Warriors
- Owner: Future Group (later Capri Sports); Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is a co-owner
- Estimated Net Worth: $1-3 billion (Biyani), $325 million (Akshay Kumar)
- Profession: Retail Tycoon, Businessman & Actor
Kishore Biyani, founder of Future Group (Big Bazaar, Pantaloons), was an early investor in Bengal Warriors. The team was later taken over by Capri Sports. Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar also became a co-owner. The combination of business leadership and celebrity appeal helped Bengal Warriors grow into a championship-winning team, they won their first title in 2019.
Conclusion
The Pro Kabaddi League has grown into a major sporting success in India, thanks to the vision and investment of its team owners. Whether it’s industrial giants like Adani and JSW,
entertainment icons like Akshay Kumar or sports entrepreneurs like Ronnie Screwvala or Radha Kapoor, each has played a unique role in taking kabaddi from local fields to national primetime. Their commitment continues to drive the sport’s rise, both on and off the mat.
As the sport continues to grow in India and internationally, the involvement of such high-profile figures ensures kabaddi gets the attention, structure, and resources it truly deserves.
Disclaimer: The net worth figures and ownership details mentioned in this article are based on publicly available information from credible online sources and media reports. Actual figures may vary, and estimates should not be considered as official or current valuations.
Written by Kinjal Walantra
