Indian Pickleball League prepares for 2026 season and player draft

The Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) is preparing for its 2026 season following a successful inaugural year in 2025. The league utilizes a franchise-based format where teams compete in a round-robin stage to qualify for playoffs. Each tie consists of five matches: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and a 21-point ‘Grand Rally’.

To facilitate player recruitment, the IPBL is conducting a Grand Prix Tour across 13 Indian cities, including Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. This tour serves as a pathway for aspiring players to enter the IPBL draft, with winners of designated singles categories being considered for selection by the organizing committee.

Key figures from the previous season include Quang Duong, who led the Mumbai Smashers to the championship and earned MVP honors, and Roos van Reek, who was named Best Women's Singles Player for the Chennai Super Warriors. In domestic rankings, Mihika Yadav currently leads India's open women's singles standings with 3,000 points.