How Many Players are in a Kho Kho Team?

In an official game of Kho Kho, the player count is split between the total squad and the players actually playing on the ground.

• Total Squad: A complete Kho Kho team consists of 12 players.
• On the Field: However, only 9 players from a team take the field during a match. The remaining 3 players sit on the bench as substitutes.

The game is played between two teams: the Chasing team and the Defending team.

1. Chasing Team: Out of the 9 players on the field, 8 players sit on the center line, evenly spaced, facing opposite directions. The 9th player is the 'Active Chaser' who runs around trying to tag the defenders. The chaser passes the turn by tapping a sitting teammate on the back and shouting 'Kho!'.
2. Defending Team: The 9 defenders do not enter the field all at once. They enter the field in groups (batches) of 3 players at a time. They run around trying to avoid being tagged by the chaser.