Racquet sport Padel looks to up the game in cricket-crazy India

Mumbai: Padel is fast gaining popularity in India and early backers of the sport that blends elements of tennis and squash expect franchise-based leagues, corporate support, creation of infrastructure and expansion beyond metros to further boost adoption.

While it is still a niche sport in a country known for its cricket mania, the padel ecosystem has expanded rapidly in recent years, gaining traction in cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh and Bengaluru. According to Hudle's India Padel Report 2026, the number of courts in India has increased to around 500 courts now from 100 in 2023, while the number of players has expanded to 100,000 from just about 1,000.

PadelPark India, backed by JSW Sports founder Parth Jindal and former India cricket captain MS Dhoni, is planning an eight-city franchise-based league that is expected to launch next year.


Jindal invested in PadelPark in 2024 and, earlier this year, Dhoni's 7Padel merged with PadelPark India to create a unified national platform for the sport. The merger comes as India's padel ecosystem, currently estimated at $25-30 million, is projected to expand ten-fold by 2036.

"We are looking to launch a city-based franchise league. We believe the league will do for padel what the Pro Kabaddi League did for kabaddi," Jindal told ET. "Once the padel league is launched, it will bring new audiences through television and digital platforms, which will go a long way in popularising the sport."

PadelPark cofounder Nikhil Sachdev expects the number of courts in India to rise to 5,000 over the next five years. Each court costs Rs 15-20 lakh.

Mahesh Bhupathi, the former world number one doubles tennis player who cofounded the World Padel League (WPL), said padel's growth is being fuelled by sustained participation rather than novelty.

"I've been in sport long enough to tell the difference between a moment and a movement. What gives me confidence with padel is that the people playing it keep coming back," he said. "The hype gets you attention, but consistent participation is what actually builds a sport."

The WPL, a franchise-based padel competition, brings together six teams and 36 international players. The fourth season will be held in Mumbai from August 12 to 16.

Corporate participation is also emerging as a key growth driver.

The Vedanta Group owns teams in the World Padel League and Padel360. Padel's growing popularity presented an opportunity to build sustainable sports intellectual property and engage younger urban audiences, a Vedanta spokesperson said.

Industry executives believe corporate investment, sponsorships and league development will be critical to attracting media attention and creating sustainable business models. They also emphasise the need for expansion into Tier-II and Tier-III cities, greater court density and affordable equipment.

Governance remains another challenge. India currently does not have a national sports federation recognised by the International Padel Federation (FIP), limiting access to institutional support. Jindal said multiple bodies have approached the FIP seeking recognition and a decision on an official governing federation is awaited.