NOIDA: The Uttar Pradesh Kabaddi League (UPKL) has announced that the player auction for its second season will take place on November 3 in Noida. The event will be conducted in partnership with CricBattle, which has been appointed as UPKL’s official auction partner.
Season 2 will see the league expand from eight to ten teams, with the addition of Aligarh Tigers and Kanpur Warriors. Returning franchises include Lucknow Lions, Yamuna Yoddha, Noida Ninja, Kashi Kings, Avadh Ramdoot, Bridge Stars, Sangam Challengers, and Ganga Kings of Mirzapur.
Each team will have a budget of ₹12 lakh to build its squad from a pool of 500 shortlisted players, bringing the total player purse to ₹1.2 crore. Players will be divided into four categories — A, B, C, and D — with base prices ranging from ₹1,00,000 to ₹25,000. Teams must select a minimum of 3 players from Category A, 4 each from Categories B and C, and 3 from Category D.
Sambhav Jain, Founder and Director of SJ Uplift Kabaddi, said the expanded structure reflects the league’s growing competitiveness. “With ten teams and a larger talent base this season, the event promises a deeper, more competitive structure,” Jain said. “Our partnership with CricBattle ensures a transparent and technology-driven process.”
Rakesh Desai, Founder of CricBattle, said the collaboration marks a milestone in expanding the platform beyond cricket. “Our live auction platform is built to ensure precision, fairness, and efficiency,” he said.
UPKL Season 2 is scheduled to begin on December 25, 2025, in Noida, featuring around 64 matches. The league also unveiled its new tagline, “Apna Bharat, Apna Khel – Khel Raha Hai Mera Pradesh,” emphasizing its focus on promoting kabaddi as a sport rooted in Indian culture and regional pride.
