How Pro Kabaddi League changed lives of Mumbai players

It's easy to get lost in the narrow bylanes of Lalbaug, a neighbourhood known for its Ganpati mandal. One has to wade through an army of cyclists and pedestrians who seldom follow lane discipline. With customers haggling with grocery owners on either side of the street, the only pleasing sound is that of a Marathi number.

The idea is to get to 4/460, Ramdut, MP Marg. That's where Vishal Mane lives. Thankfully, his exploits in the just-concluded Pro Kabaddi League mean he is famous. In fact, his popularity in the area can be gauged the moment you walk out of Currey Road station. "Vishal bhau ka poster follow karte karte aap wahaan pahunch jayenge. Har paanch minute mein uska ek poster hai. Mandir jaana ho toh poster se left lena. Waha se aage chalo aur bhau ka ghar aayega (Follow Vishal's posters and you will eventually get there. You will spot one every five minutes. Turn left from the poster if you want to go to the temple. Go straight and you will get to his house)," says Kamlesh, a grocery shop owner.

Mr Popular

Mane is a celebrity in this locality, dotted with MHADA buildings. Children riding bicycles come rushing to the well-built 30-year-old for selfies. After obliging the bacchas, Mane suggests we sit in the society office.
"It's quiet here. I've lived my entire life in Lalbaug. That's why they know me. However, a lot of things changed last Sunday," says Mane, who has two rakhis tied on the wrist of his right hand. "Yes, I had to buy expensive gifts for my elder sisters," he laughs out loud. "They deserve it," he says. So what did he gift them? "They have one kid each. So I bought them an insurance policy," he reveals. Just then, the smartphone rings. No prizes for guessing the ringtone, the Pro Kabaddi League anthem that goes "...Yeh India ka khel hain".

No sooner does Mane step out of the society office than word of his presence spreads. "You saw the celebrations in the local train from Andheri to Churchgate on Monday," he says. "We then had an open-jeep parade the same day. Two years ago, I was just a player representing Bharat Petroleum in club tournaments. It was on Tuesday that I returned home after nearly 50 days. The area was as packed as it always is during the Ganpati festival. They gave me a hero's welcome and took turns to lift me on their shoulder. The procession started in front of my house and we went all the way to Currey Road station before making our way back. All along, they played the dhol. Everybody was singing and dancing. In fact, they watched the final on a giant screen put up at the parking lot. They requested everyone to park their vehicles elsewhere last Sunday," adds the defender who wants to build a kabaddi ground for the people in the locality.

Vakola's VIP

Money and fame comes to all those who win. Ask Vakola resident Rishank Devadiga, who is a raider for U Mumba. The 21-year-old also enjoyed a weclome-home party. "The procession started from my house and went all the way to the Western Express Highway and back," he says. "Vishal and I are Mumbai boys. Our story is no less (dramatic) than a Bollywood movie. I used to stay in a nearby chawl and now I've rented a one BHK flat nearby. So many people — MLAs, ministers, VIPs want to meet me and talk to me," adds Devadiga, who looks dapper in a pair of black sunglasses. His salary for six weeks of U Mumba duty is a cool Rs 5.20 lakh.

Money talks

With franchises churning Rs 4 crore on an average, owners have every reason to feel confident. League winners U Mumba stole a march over their opponents outside the mat as well, raking in Rs 12 crore only through sponsorships. Supratik Sen, CEO of U Sports, the company that owns U Mumba, boasts about the one thing kabaddi has and other leagues don't. "Season I was something no one expected. If you wanted to know how good Season II has done, we're going to come out with the third season in January and February along with the fourth one this time next year. We're talking about a sport in India that will have two editions every year. You don't see that in the IPL and ISL, do you?," says Sen, who adds that the league may look to add more teams.

The amount of money spent and earned by the franchises doesn't seem to surprise Tuhin Mishra, managing director, Baseline, a sports marketing company based in New Delhi. "Telugu Titans spent Rs 42 lakh on two players. It's not that much when you see how much the league made through advertising and television deals. Looking at the numbers, the signs look very promising. We are talking about a league that's going to be held twice a year. That means these franchises are earning good money. They wouldn't do it otherwise, would they? Advertisers have realised the potential of this league." 

As far as player salaries are concerned, Sen says paycheques will get fatter. "You have players earning Rs 20 lakh a season. They'll be earning Rs 40 lakh from next season. Budding kabaddi players can dream of taking up the sport professionally."

NUMBERS DON'T LIE
* Ratings increased by 56 per cent in the second season. Season II had a TVR (television viewer rating) of 1.23 as against 0.79 in Season I. This is what data from TAM tells us
* The estimated revenue is Season II was Rs 55 crore
* Average TVTs (television viewership in thousands) increased by 57 per cent

FRANCHISES BREAK THE BANK
Season II saw Telegu Titans splash Rs 42.20 lakh on the Iranian duo of Hadi Oshtorak (Rs 21.10 lakh) and Meraj Sheykh (Rs 20.10 lakh), making them the highest earners. The costliest Indian was Rakesh Kumar of Patna Pirates, who raked in Rs. 12.80 lakh per season. However, he did not feature in the league. Deepak Hudda of Telugu Titans pocketed Rs 12.60 lakh

BIG PLAYERS, BIG MONEY
Player Team Salary
Hadi Oshtorak (IRI) Telugu Titans Rs 21.10 lakh
Meraj Sheykh (IRI) Telugu Titans Rs 20.10 lakh
Rakesh Kumar Patna Pirates Rs 12.80 lakh
Deepak Hudda Telugu Titans Rs 12.60 lakh
Ajay Thakur Bengaluru Bulls Rs 12.20 lakh
Surjeet Narwal Dabang Delhi Rs 12.20 lakh
Surjeet Singh Bengal Warriors Rs 12 lakh
Gurpreet Singh Bengaluru Bulls Rs 11.80 lakh
Navneet Gautam Jaipur Pink Panthers Rs 11.20 lakh
Wazir Singh Puneri Paltan Rs 10.60 lakh
Shabeer Bapu U Mumba Rs 10.60 lakh
Anup Kumar U Mumba Rs 10.20 lakh

IRI: Iranian