A good racket: How India is courting Pickleball, ‘game of the people’

Pickleball India: From Backyard Game to Breakout Sport

“Pickleball is my 3F formula—Fitness, Friends, and Fun!” – Says Rihanna Anand, a 35-year-old Delhi based homemaker – “I’m no athlete, but even I can smash it on court. Every morning at 8 sharp, you’ll find me and my Vasant Vihar gang swinging paddles and laughing our way through doubles. Who needs a gym when you’ve got this?”

It all began with a paddle and a plastic ball. Today, pickleball—the quirky lovechild of tennis, badminton, and table tennis—is the fastest-growing sport in India. From luxury townships and corporate campuses to schools and weekend turf courts, the game is sweeping the country with a racket.

What is Pickleball—and Why is Everyone Obsessed?

Invented in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, Washington, pickleball was designed as a backyard game for families. Played on a court similar to badminton with a 34-inch net, it involves smacking a perforated plastic ball with a paddle. The rules are easy to learn, the rallies are fast, and the injuries? Minimal. That’s part of its genius.

As Gaurav Khanna, India’s Head Coach for Para Badminton, puts it: “It’s the perfect mix of fitness, fun, and inclusivity. Pickleball isn’t just for the young or the athletic—it’s for everyone.” He adds that he is also planning to include Pickleball courts in his upcoming high-performance center, since the court dimensions match and it offers great leisure activity and fitness benefits. Says Khanna- “Pickleball’s compact court—similar in size to badminton—makes it incredibly easy to set up almost anywhere. It’s simple to learn, gentle on the joints, and appeals across age groups, which is why it’s catching on so quickly. The sport sharpens reflexes, boosts coordination, and enhances overall fitness—without overwhelming the body. I’m planning to include dedicated pickleball courts in my upcoming h center in Omaxe city, Bijnour Road, Lucknow.”

The India Surge: From Niche to Nationwide

India’s love affair with pickleball is both sudden and staggering. Over 500,000 active players, 1,000+ courts, and weekly tournaments in multiple cities speak to the sport’s growing clout. Cities like Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Bengaluru have become hotspots, with housing societies repurposing badminton courts and startups offering “pay-and-play” models.

Sunil Valavalkar, who brought the sport to India in 2008 and founded the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA), believes its time has come. “Pickleball is a democratic sport. No elitism, no high barriers. It’s a game of the people—and it’s catching fire.”

He adds that Pickleball can change India’s narrative dramatically from a sports loving nation to a sports playing one. Says Valavalkar, “Despite being a sports-loving nation, our playing population is alarmingly low. A survey revealed that only 10 out of 100 Indians actively engage in sports or physical activities, compared to 60 per 100 citizens in the US and Europe. The gender disparity is concerning, with only 1 woman participating out of those 10 active individuals. Pickleball can change this narrative. Unlike traditional sports that are costly, space-intensive, and injury-prone, Pickleball is adaptable, non-tech, and gentle on the body. It’s a social sport that welcomes everyone, fostering community bonds and providing comprehensive fitness.”

Enter the Disruptors: Picklebay and WPBL

Kolkata based Siddhant Jatia, founder of Picklebay, transitioned from curious player to startup founder after seeing potential in the chaos. “There was interest but no infrastructure, passion but no process,” he says. Picklebay now works with hospitality chains, real estate developers, and schools to create smart courts, training programs, and even corporate masterclasses. Think: team-building via paddle rallies.

Coming from a legacy of entrepreneurship that spans six generations—and industries like hospitality, healthcare, and construction—Jatia says he recognised that this was a rare convergence: a sport with mass appeal, low entry barriers, and the power to build community. But it needed structure, design thinking, and a clear growth path. That’s how Picklebay was born. “We’re laying the foundation for India’s pickleball movement—not just with tournaments, but with a tech-first, ecosystem-driven approach that brings together infrastructure, training, and community in one platform,” says Jatia. Currently in 12 cities including Jaipur, Surat, Ahmedabad, Pune, Goa, Chennai, and Kolkata, the brand is aiming to accelerate the adoption of pickleball nationwide and lead the charge in transforming pickleball into India’s fastest-growing sport.

Picklebay is in talks with residential developers, hospitality brands, schools to design smart, scalable courts that can activate entire neighbourhoods. An interesting layer over this is our Picklebay Corporate Masterclasses, which are designed as immersive, team-building experiences that blend sport with leadership and collaboration. These are already seeing strong interest from HR heads looking for fresh ways to engage teams post-pandemic. Says Jatia- “Our ambition is to help India move from “having a few courts” to “being a pickleball-ready nation”—where the sport becomes a meaningful part of how people live, connect, and stay active.”

Meanwhile, the launch of the World Pickleball League (WPBL) has added celebrity sheen to the sport. Backed by Bollywood’s Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh, WPBL debuts in 2025 with city franchises like Pune United and media deals in place. Gaurav Natekar, former India No. 1 in tennis and now WPBL founder, calls it “a cultural moment in Indian sport.”

More Than Just a Game

Pickleball is being touted not just as a sport, but a social movement. Its appeal lies in:

• Low impact, high reward fitness – ideal for older adults, beginners, or those recovering from injury
• Community building – doubles format makes it inherently social
• Corporate wellness – startups and HR teams are using it for employee engagement
• Mental agility – fast rallies enhance reflexes and cognitive function

Even India’s gender disparity in sports could see a shift. As Valavalkar puts it, “Pickleball allows women and men to play together as equals—something we need more of.”

A Billion-Dollar Bounce?

With startup funding, brand partnerships, and grassroots training, the commercial potential is great. According to insiders, India could see 1 million players and 3,000 courts by 2028. ITC’s Bingo!, Selkirk paddles, and Franklin balls are jumping into the fray. Says Kavita Chaturvedi, Chief Operating Officer, Snacks Business at ITC Foods – “At Bingo!, we’ve always believed that sports and innovation go hand in hand, and Pickleball, with its rising popularity and inclusive appeal, reflects the kind of progressive movement we want to champion. Our association with the All India Pickleball Association (AIPA) stems from a shared vision to nurture emerging sports and empower young talent across India. Through this partnership, we aim to build a strong foundation for Pickleball by investing in grassroots programs, organizing college tournaments across 23 states, and driving national-level engagement. As a brand that thrives on excitement and youth energy, this collaboration allows us to play an active role in shaping the growth story of one of India’s fastest-growing sports.”

Yet challenges remain. Confusion over governing bodies, over-commercialization risks, and infrastructural lag could mirror the fate of Racquetball in the US—a cautionary tale of too much, too soon.

The Road Ahead

From apartment turfs to global leagues, pickleball in India is having its moment. If the 2036 Olympics sees it added as a sport—and India plays host—the growth will only accelerate.

As Jatia sums it up: “We’re not just building courts. We’re building culture.”

To get started with pickleball in India, players typically invest in a few essentials. Paddles range from Rs 1,000 for beginner models to over Rs 35,000 for premium brands like JOOLA and Selkirk. Balls cost Rs 200– Rs 1,500 per set, depending on indoor or outdoor use. Portable nets are priced between Rs 5,000– Rs 25,000, and good court shoes from brands like Asics or Yonex fall in the Rs 3,000–Rs 10,000 range. Accessories such as bags, grips, and training aids can add Rs 200 to Rs 50,000+ to your gear kit. All in, expect to spend anywhere from Rs 9,000 to Rs 75,000 depending on the level of play and equipment quality.