Cuttack, December 24, 2023: Ultimate Kho Kho is all set to enthral the fans as the second edition of India’s first-ever franchise-based Kho-Kho league will kickstart at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Cuttack later tonight.
Promoted by Amit Burman in collaboration with the Kho Kho Federation of India, Ultimate Kho Kho became a huge hit in the first season, emerging as India’s third largest non-cricket league in terms of television viewership. It also became the first Indian sports league to secure Series A funding, courtesy of the UK-based BNP Group.
As Ultimate Kho Kho once again gears up to bring edge of the seat action for the fans, here is a complete guide.
Dates: December 24, 2023 to January 13, 2024
Where to watch: Sony Sports Network’s channels and SonyLIV.
Matches per day: There will be two matches played each day with live coverage starting at 7:00 PM IST
Format at a Glance:
1. Match: Each match will be played with two innings.
2. Batch: Agroup of three defenders who enter the field is called a batch. There will be four batches comprising 12 players in a defending team.
3. Innings: Each match will consist of two innings where both the teams will attack and defend twice with three-minute break between two innings.
4. Turn: Each innings will consist of two turns where a team will attack and defend once with two minutes of break between each turn
5. Starting line-up: There will be 12 players, including Wazir, in the starting line-up with three additional players as part of the injury substitute.
6. Rest time: There will be a 30-second break after each batch is out i.e. all three defenders. This break will allow teams to make strategies and a new batch will enter. In a situation when all three defenders of a new batch fail to enter the play field before the 30-second break is over, the referee has the discretion to declare them out.
7. Batch playing format: If the attacking team fails to touch out all 12 defenders of 4 batches in the first innings then the batch/batches whose all 3 defenders remain not out will continue in the second innings during their defense in the same order. The sequence of rest of the batches may change. However, if an attacking team successfully touch out all 12 defenders of 4 batches in the first Innings then the defending team may change the sequence of order of batches in the second innings.
Points System:
1. 2 points: The attacking team will earn 2 points for every successful out. This is a change compared to last year in the point system.
2. Dream Run bonus point: If one batch defends for more than3 minutes,they will be given 1additionalpoint and then for each 30-second time period, they will keep getting 1 point until the entire batch gets out or the turn gets over. However, the additional 1 bonus point in attack has been removed in Season 2.
3. Match point: The winning team will get 3 points while both the teams will earn two points each in case of a tie. If the winning margin is 3 points or less, then the losing team will also get 1 point.
For the knock out matches, if the points are equal, one more innings (one turn for each side as attack and defense) will be played. If again the points are equal, an additional Inning will be played on a minimum chase basis.
4. Points table: The criteria for deciding league standings with multiple teams on the same points will be as per following options:
i) More number of wins
ii) The difference of total points gain and loss
iii) Head to head
iv) Minimum chase
Key Terms:
1. Wazir: A player taking part in the match as Wazir can move in any direction freely, unlike any other attackers, but only in his attacking half. Points will be awarded the same as a normal player if he captures any player. During the defense turn, only 2 Wazirs can play the game but during their Attack only 01 Wazir can play the game except in Powerplay.
2. Powerplay: The powerplay will allow teams in the attack to play with two Wazir on the field at the same time. However, two wazirs can be activated for one batch only. Once all three players of that batch are out, powerplay will be over. Each team will have only one powerplay in one inning.
3. Review: Teams will have one review per innings i.e. two reviews for the entire match.
Team Squads and Details:
1. Odisha Juggernauts
Owned by: Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company (OSDPC)
The Odisha Sports Development and Promotion Company (OSDPC)-owned team is collaborating with leading steel manufacturer ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Limited (AM/NS India) and will be working closely in Ultimate Kho Kho.
Squad: Dipesh More (captain), Dilip Khandvi, Gowtham MK, Vishal, Omkar Sonawane, Rohan Shingade, Akshay Masal, Mahesha P, Manoj Patil, Avinash Desai, Manoj Kumar, Visag S, Debendra Nath, Nikhil Kumar, Vishal Oram, Sanjay Kumar V, Deepak Kumar Sahoo, Nikhil B, MD Mirajul, Sushant Kaldhone, Sobhag V Sriganda, Niranjan Samal, Savir Ahmad, Suresh Kumar and Siddheswar Tudu.
2. Mumbai Khiladis
Owned by: Punit Balan Group
The Punit Balan Group (PBG) headquartered in Pune operates in various sectors, including real estate construction, film production, sports, philanthropy, automotive, and cybersecurity. With a strong business presence in India, Dubai and Spain, PBG has made significant contributions across these industries. Group Chairman Punit Balan, a sports enthusiast, is committed to promoting Indian representation in international sports events, including the Olympics and other World Championships. Punit Balan is the only Sportsprenuer who owns nine teams in various sports leagues across India and globally.
Squad: Aniket Pote (captain), Gajanan Shengal, Sreejesh S, Mahesh Shinde, Subhasis Santra, Hrushikesh Murchavade, Rokeson Singh, P Siva Reddy, Govind Yadav, Avik Singha, Milind Kurpe, Sunil Patra, Sudheer Kumar, MD Aiman Pasha, Sagar Potdar, Rohan Kore, Komal, Pawar Sachin, Dhiraj Bhave, Debasis, Shiva, Ajay Kashyap, Pritam Chougule, Sibin M, Abhishek Pathrode and Parmar Rahul.
3. Telugu Yoddhas
Owned by: GMR Sports
GMR Sports, part of Indian-based infrastructure powerhouse, GMR Group, has already created robust grassroots level sports development initiatives in the national capital and NCR region. GMR Sports has picked the Telangana team, to tap on the popularity of Kho-Kho in South India and promote it further. They won multiple teams in various cricket leagues in India and globally.
Squad: Pratik Waikar (captain), Arun Gunki, Avdhut Patil, Adhithya Ganpule, Rahul Mandal, Nikhil Waghe, Milind Chavrekar, Akash Togare, Kiran Vasave, Dhruv, Prasad Radye, Rudra Thopate, Prem Randive, Vaibhav Nippane, Sourabh Adavkar, Vijaybhai Vegad, Anukul Sarkar, M Phani Kumar, Mahamad Ujer Harun Momin, Matlum, Lipun Mukhi, Arjun Bishukarma, Prasad Patil, Bojjam Ranjith and Rajat Malik.
4. Gujarat Giants
Owned by: Adani Sportsline
Adani Sportsline, a part of the Adani Group, is associated with many sporting leagues in the country with an overarching philosophy to inculcate a culture of sports at the grassroots level and create globally competitive opportunities for future champions. They have sports teams in multiple sports leagues including Kabaddi, Cricket and Kho Kho.
Through this association it is determined to contribute in creating an ecosystem that props up future sports icons and inspires the youth of the country.
Squad: Akshay Bhangare (captain), Abhinandan Patil, Suyash Gargate, Nilesh Jadhav, P Narasayya, Faizankha Pathan, Rajvardhan Patil, V Subramani, Deepak Madhav, Shubham Thorat, Gavara Venkatesh, Sanket Kadam, Kondhalkar Rupesh, Bharat Kumar, Pabani Sabar, Vinayak Pokarde, Ram Mohan, V Kabilan, Arnav Patankar, Alfaj H Nadaf, Vasave Ravi, Abhijit Patil, Saleem Khan, Vijesh Kumar and Harish Mohmmad.
5. Chennai Quick Guns
Owned by: KLO Sports
KLO Sports, co-owned by sports enthusiasts Sanjay Jupudi and Srinath Chittoori, who own successful business giants in the construction, automobile, and IT sector in India as well as abroad. With deep technology roots, KLO Sports also plans to invest in bringing this indigenous sport to households.
Squad: Amit Patil (captain), Madan, Ramji Kashyap, Laxman Gawas, Adarsh Mohite, Sachin Bhargo, Zora Suraj, Suraj Lande, Aditya Kudale, Durvesh Salunke, Chandu Chavre, Akash Kadam, Narendra Katkate, Mustafa Bagwan, Arjun Singh, Vijay Shinde, Ashish Patel, M Mugilan, Akash Balyan, Sumon Barman, Pavan Kumar and Giri S.
6. Rajasthan Warriors
Owned by: Capri Global Group
Capri Global Group, a leading financial service conglomerate, has created a niche in the financial market, and amongst others, has Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC), Housing Finance Company (HFC). Its NBFC, Capri Global Capital Limited (CGCL) is listed on the BSE and NSE and is part of the NIFTY Smallcap 250 Index. Capri Global also possesses a franchise in multiple Cricket leagues. They are keen on giving the indigenous sport kho-kho a makeover and popularization.
Squad: Majahar Jamadar (captain), Akshay Ganpule, Dilrajsing Sengar, Vijay Hajare, Jaggannath Das, Rushab Wagh, Nilesh Patil, Prajwal K H, Brahmane Vivek, Ranjan Shetty, Rejeti Surinaidu, Sourabh Gadge, Nandan D, Ganesh Borkar, Bika Chetan, Buchannagari Raju, Dhanraj P, Jagannath Murmu, Aditya Shelke, Mukesh Prajapat, Vaibhav More and Aditya KN.
