How kabaddi scoring works — a beginner's guide
Kabaddi is one of the most exciting sports to score because points can swing on a single breath. If you've opened a live match and seen 28–24 with talk of raids, tackles and all-outs, this guide explains it in plain English — how points are won, what a bonus point is, and how to read a live kabaddi scoreline on TkaTak Sports. No prior knowledge assumed.
The basics: raid, tackle, breathe
Kabaddi is played between two teams of seven on a rectangular court split into two halves by a midline. Teams take turns sending one raider into the opponent's half. The raider must tag one or more defenders and return to their own half — all in a single breath, traditionally shown by chanting "kabaddi, kabaddi." The defending team, the anti-raiders, tries to tackle and stop the raider from getting back. Every trip either wins points for the raider's team or the defenders' team, so somebody almost always scores.
How points are scored
- Raid (touch) points — a raider earns 1 point for each defender they touch and safely return across the midline. Touch three defenders and get back, that's 3 points.
- Bonus point — if enough defenders are on the mat, a raider who crosses the bonus line with balance earns 1 extra point, even without a touch.
- Tackle point — if the defenders stop the raider from returning (hold them until the breath/time is up), the defending team scores 1 point and the raider is out.
- All-out — if a whole team is put out, the other side gets 2 bonus points on top and the emptied team brings its players back in.
Getting out and revivals
A raider who is tackled, or a defender who is touched during a successful raid, is out and leaves the mat. But players return: every point your team scores revives one of your out players, bringing them back onto the court. This constant flow of players out and back in is what makes the seven-a-side battle swing back and forth.
The super raid, super tackle and empty raid
- Super raid — a single raid that earns 3 or more points; a momentum-changing moment.
- Super tackle — when a short-handed defence (three or fewer players) tackles the raider, worth an extra point.
- Empty raid — a raid with no touch and no bonus; scoreless, but it uses up the team's turn.
Match length
A standard match is two halves of 20 minutes with a short break, though local formats vary. The team with the most points at the end wins. If the score is tied, the game may go to extra time or a "golden raid" decider depending on the tournament rules.
Reading a live scoreline
Put it together and 28–24 simply means one team has 28 points to the other's 24. Around it you'll usually see:
- Half & clock — which half it is and time remaining.
- Raiding team — which side is sending the current raider.
- Players in / out — how many players each team has left on the mat, a strong hint of an all-out coming.
How kabaddi is scored on TkaTak Sports
Every match on TkaTak Sports is scored live by a person at the mat using our mobile app. Each raid is logged — touch points, bonus points, tackles and all-outs — updating the score and the players-in count in real time. That live data powers the scoreboards you see here on the web, along with synced video replays for completed matches.
Follow real matches
The best way to feel kabaddi's rhythm is to watch a raid unfold live. Head to the live and recent matches and open any kabaddi game to follow it raid by raid. Want more? Browse the other sport guides, check the FAQ, or get in touch.