Transformation of Pickleball in India: In the past six months, pickleball has experienced explosive growth in India, engaging a diverse group of enthusiasts. A WhatsApp group composed of four dentists, a couple of journalists, an architect, and several product managers shows this trend. Every Monday and Thursday, a group member runs a poll to gauge interest in playing pickleball. As long as five members respond positively—a near certainty—the group books a court at Ice Water Arena pickleball court in Chennai or another local pickleball facility.
Fun Over Tradition
Recently, the group agreed to a two-hour session starting at 10 PM, which led to the booking of all three courts at Express Avenue. Described as “one part table tennis, one part tennis, and many parts fun,” pickleball has become an attractive draw for many. The sport has been adopted for the joy it brings, and participants continue to return week after week after picking up a wiffle ball just a few months ago.
“You play on a weekday night.”
“and it gives you a sort of high. It’s the best kind of high because you wake up the next morning without a hangover.”-(Ashray Jain)
Vimalraj Jayachandran, a former tennis player who represented Madras University and secured gold at the Khelo India University Games in 2020, is now finding his footing in the world of pickleball.
“It (the tennis career) wasn’t going anywhere.”
“There was a lack of sponsors, and I was looking around.”-(Jayachandran)
This shift led him to pickleball, where he has found new passion and purpose.
“I won Khelo India and all that, I still do commentary for most of the Slams, I did commentary for the Paris Olympics… having said all that, pickleball is slowly transforming into my first love. I’m now playing it professionally.”
“and there are an awful lot — claim that the sport has literally placed its tanks in front of tennis’ lawns (you can safely add badminton and table tennis as well) and if the authorities don’t do much about it, they will lose more and more players.-(Novak Djokovic)
Rising Concerns and Growing Popularity
Despite the sport’s growing popularity, critics remain doubtful, pickleball threatens to overshadow tennis, badminton, and table tennis. Even Novak Djokovic has expressed concerns about the sport’s rapid ascent.
However, these worries may be unfounded, as pickleball is balanced to continue its growth. Some guess it could even make a bid for Olympic involvement in 2032, further solidifying its status as one of the fastest-growing sports in Australia and beyond.
“It’s been six months since I touched my tennis racquet. I’m now investing all my time in pickleball. The one thing I will tell you is it’s very easy to pick up; the age doesn’t matter. Compared to tennis and other sports, anybody can pick up a paddle and play. It’s easy to play but tough to master.”-(Jayachandran)
The WhatsApp group is still learning the lines; none of them have a DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating), the sport’s global ranking system. However, Jayachandran currently holds the title of South India’s best player.
Expanding Reach
Tamil Nadu alone boasts over 1,000 pickleball players, representing a fivefold increase in less than a year. “The sport has enjoyed exponential growth over the last six months or so,” says U Mohit Kumar, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Pickleball Association (TNPA).
“My initiation into the sport was through my father, who was playing it in his friend’s garage in 2019. I was excited about it because you feel good when a 60-year-old can play some kind of sport.”-(Mohit Kumar)
Kumar shows the community-building aspect of pickleball, stating:
“That was the initial focus when we came together to create the Association. We wanted players, including women’s players and elders, to build a happy, healthy community. It’s an all-age sport, and it doesn’t discriminate based on gender.”-(Mohit Kumar)
The Personal Touch
Currently, there are about 12-15 pickleball venues in Chennai, with Kumar estimating around 40 courts in total across the city. Among those regularly playing is Anuj Vignesh, who juggles his day job as a cricket watcher with his newfound love for pickleball. Vignesh initially approached the sport out of curiosity.
“Everybody wanted to try it and I was no different,”
“It’s very easy on the body, unlike, say, tennis or badminton.”
“Whenever I play badminton, I’m done for the whole week after two games. With pickleball, I can keep going for the whole day.”-(Vignesh)
He argues that both sports can coexist, drawing a parallel to the entertainment industry. “Both can co-exist,” he says:
“As a movie buff, the closest parallel I can draw is streaming. Everyone used streaming to say that it was a threat to the big-screen experience. But people who like that will go watch movies in the theatre. It’s not going to be a case of either or.”-(Vignesh)
Facing Criticism Head-On
While pickleball has attracted attention through public relations efforts and word of mouth, criticism has also surfaced. Social media has seen a rise in memes and reels poking fun at the sport. Hita Rangarajan and Chayanka Marlecha have encountered these reels but refuse to be discouraged by detractors.
“People have told me that this is a dummy sport; people have sent me reels.”
“But it’s better than sitting at home and sending me reels and memes saying this is a sport for retired people.”-(Chayanka Marlecha)
Pickleball’s appeal lies in its inclusivity—it’s gender-agnostic, age-friendly, and offers equipment readily available on-site. Jain appreciates the shared enthusiasm for the sport with his partner Marlecha.
“Otherwise, I would have a tough time justifying my absence from home every night.”
“It’s 100% a couples activity, and both of us are very competitive.”(Chayanka Marlecha)
Rangarajan said this sentiment. “We rarely do any activity together,” she says. “It’s nice that we can do this together; it’s mentally also very relaxing.”
The Future of Pickleball
On a Wednesday night during Navaratri, Marlecha and Jain find themselves sweating it out on the court at 11:30 PM, supporting their earlier claims. “This is much better than going out clubbing or drinking with friends. It’s also super fun.” Anusha Srinivasaraghavan, while still loyal to badminton, finds pickleball enjoyable as well.
“It’s fun enough to go with friends and muck about and relax while socializing, but serious enough to make you think about why you can’t play a good enough cross-court shot.”-(Anusha Srinivasaraghavan)
Jayachandran believes there is significant potential for pickleball’s financial growth. “There are already multiple Indian and international leagues worth ATP Challenger-level prize money. One of the Indian-based leagues, set to start soon, is going to be promoted by Andre Agassi.” He mentions that appearance fees could reach up to Rs 12.5 lakh.
Facilities are adapting to the sport’s growing popularity. Ice Water Arena, originally designed for indoor football, plans to convert its using astroturf area into more pickleball courts.
As the sport navigates its next phase, the pressing question remains: Will it sustain its momentum or fade like past trends?
While the future is uncertain, one thing is clear: pickleball is here to stay. Soon, it will be Monday again, and a group member will initiate another poll. The cycle of growth and excitement continues.
News in Brief: Transformation of Pickleball in India
In the past six months, pickleball has surged in popularity across India, with Chennai emerging as a hub for enthusiasts. A WhatsApp group of diverse players regularly gathers to enjoy the sport, showing its age-friendly and gender-agnostic appeal.
Former tennis player Vimalraj Jayachandran is changing to pickleball, reflecting the sport’s potential for growth and professional opportunities. As venues multiply, the Tamil Nadu Pickleball Association shows pickleball community-building. Despite criticism and doubt, pickleball is gaining traction and is poised for a bright future in the Indian sports view.
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