Pickleball League Set to Make a Splash in India: A Look at the Teams and Format
Pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in the world, is all set to make a splash in India with the commencement of the World Pickleball League. Held under the aegis of the All India Pickleball Federation, the franchise-based tournament kicked off on Friday in Mumbai.
The inaugural edition of the league features six teams vying for glory at the CCI in Mumbai. The teams include Mumbai Pickle Power, Chennai Super Champs, Dilli Dilwale, Pune United, Bengaluru Jawans, and Hyderabad Super Stars. Players from 14 countries across the globe are set to showcase their skills in this exciting competition.
With a total of 48 players selected in the draft, each team consists of eight players, with at least one Indian player in each set-up. The draft saw 75 players from 20 countries up for grabs, making for a diverse and competitive lineup.
The Mumbai Pickle Power, led by India’s Mayur Patil, will kick off the tournament against Pune United. Other notable players in the team include the husband-wife duo of Brandon Lane and Glauka Lane, as well as international talents from South Korea, Poland, England, and Spain.
In the second match of the opening day, the Chennai Super Champs will face off against the Bengaluru Jawans. The teams boast a mix of experienced players and rising stars from around the world, promising thrilling matches ahead.
The World Pickleball League will follow a round-robin format, with each team playing each other once. The top four teams will then advance to the semi-finals, with each tie consisting of five matches – men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles.
Fans can catch all the live action on Sony Sports Ten 2 and FanCode, or experience the excitement in person by purchasing tickets through Swiggy Genie, the official ticketing partner. With PNG Jewellers as the associate sponsor, the event promises to be a spectacular celebration of pickleball. Don’t miss out on the thrilling matches and intense competition as the World Pickleball League unfolds in India.
