THE INDIAN PICKLEBALL LEAGUE (IPBL), launched by The Times Group, has unveiled the first five franchises for its inaugural season.
The reveal was made in Chennai, attended by Tiru Udhayanidhi Stalin, deputy chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The spectacle drew star presence from renowned actors Sreeleela and Kayadu Lohar, alongside India’s leading pickleball talents Mihika Yadav and Aman Patel, a media release said.
Headlined by M3M Gurugram and Nazara Mumbai, the lineup also includes teams from Bengaluru, Chennai, and Hyderabad, backed by some of the country’s most dynamic corporate groups. Each city now enters the league with a fresh competitive identity: Gurgaon Capital Warriors, Mumbai Smashers, Bengaluru Blasters, Chennai Super Warriors, and Hyderabad Royals. The debut season will be held at New Delhi’s KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Stadium, from December 1–7, 2025, with the sixth team announcement to follow.
Welcoming the franchises, Vineet Jain, Managing Director, The Times Group, said: “These teams represent the scale, ambition, and reach that define the Indian Pickleball League. Together, they bring a fresh competitive spirit that will help make pickleball a modern fixture in India’s sporting landscape.”
Among the metros, Mumbai enters with considerable influence through Absolute Sports, a subsidiary of Nazara Technologies, signalling a powerful convergence of media, digital reach, and competitive sport. Nitish Mittersain, CEO, Nazara Technologies, said, “Mumbai thrives on speed, skill, and competition. Pickleball fits right in, and we’re excited to champion the city in a league built for the future.”
