At the SportzPower ProLeagues Forum 2025, held on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, at the Boundary Hall, MCA Recreation Centre, Bandra-Kurla Complex, Mumbai, industry leaders gathered to explore new investment opportunities and growth strategies for India’s ProLeagues. A highlight of the forum was the fireside chat moderated by Thomas Abraham, Co-founder & Editor, SportzPower, featuring Siddharth Shankar, the newly announced owner of the Jaipur Djinns in the World Pickleball League (WPL).
Siddharth, born and brought up in India but based in the UK, discussed what led him to invest in WPL, marking his first foray into Indian sports. “I come from the consumer brand space, so I understand consumers and products,” he said, sharing his journey. “India doesn’t scare me—it is home. While investing, I made sure Gaurav’s team presented all the facts accurately, which increased my trust in the concept. Pickleball has been growing as a sport, 500% year by year, and no entry barrier has made it approachable. The US has led the sport over the years, and India has caught up. Being named as World Pickleball positions it uniquely on the planet. So basically, I had a belief in the system, and this is what brought me in.”
Gaurav Natekar, co-founder of the league, reflected on Siddharth’s entry and its significance, “By God’s grace, we have interest from many potential owners, but many were not coming for the right reasons. Siddharth brings a balance of sanctity and dedication. Pickleball is a new sport, and if it is not presented properly, it creates issues. As long as people enter the sport for the right reasons, there is a lot of growth potential.”
Before investing in WPL, Siddharth had already been part of a football team in the US. On why he chose pickleball, he explained, “I don’t think football is fully developed in the US, and looking at our audience, it was a good deal with good value for money. USL is not just a brand or team; it comes with the asset. Similarly, with pickleball, the audience is quite diversified, from millennials to families and startup culture enthusiasts. The market potential is significant.”
Gaurav elaborated on the league’s strategic vision, “Our major focus is on what we need to do and what others are doing. Most of our team has played some sport, and there is a clear focus on making the league commercially viable for foreign investors, franchise owners, and brands. That’s why it is considered both a sports and entertainment property. Many of our team owners, including celebrities like Ritesh and Genelia, play pickleball regularly. Playing the sport brings communities together and drives higher engagement.”
Siddharth added insight into the team branding approach, “Most teams have names incorporating animals like falcon, cheetah, etc. We wanted to stand out and shift the meaning of power in sports. Post the two-week season, it’s the work you put in for the rest of the year that matters. Pickleball has a strong connection with Gen Z and millennials and potential in startup culture. Activations will revolve around concepts like Pitch and Play. Hyperlocal activations are critical.”
Gaurav highlighted the value Siddharth brought to the league, “This is a great opportunity to bring commerce and sports together. Siddharth brings immense value with his background in marketing teams and managing commercial aspects.”
The session underscored how emerging sports like pickleball are attracting serious investors who see both cultural and commercial potential. With experienced leadership, celebrity engagement, and grassroots activation, the World Pickleball League is positioning itself as a vibrant addition to India’s growing ProLeagues ecosystem.
