Nazara Technologies’ entry into the fast-rising world of pickleball through its subsidiary Absolute Sports has proved to be a masterstroke. The acquisition of the Mumbai franchise in the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL 2025)—India’s first and only national franchise-based pickleball league launched by The Times Group and sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA)—on November 12, 2025, has now transformed into a major success story.
The team, the Mumbai Smashers, not only stormed into the IPBL final but also clinched a nail-biting 5–1 win against the Hyderabad Royals on Sunday, December 7, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. In their debut season, the Mumbai team has emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic and closely watched sides, elevating Nazara’s presence in an emerging sport that is growing at a meteoric pace globally.
Projections indicate that pickleball, the fastest-growing sport in India and globally, will grow from $1.5 billion in 2023 to $4.4 billion worldwide by 2033. And India is clearly mirroring this surge.
With a 159% spike in participation between 2019 and 2022 and increased adoption across sports complexes, fitness centres, and corporate recreation spaces, pickleball courts are fast becoming an essential amenity.
The Indian Pickleball League, launched by The Times Group and sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA) under the Ministry of Sports, has been instrumental in accelerating the sport’s inclusion into the mainstream. With its top-tier production, structured team formats, and the association of Femina Miss India ambassadors for each franchise, it has created an aspirational sporting property that appeals not only to all age groups but also to brands, with significant profit potential in sight.
For corporates, the IPBL has become a smart gateway into a fast-growing sports ecosystem where online fandom, live match experiences, merchandise sales, and community participation all come together. Absolute Sports’ early move into the league has likely placed it in a strong position at the forefront of this expanding market, especially as the Asia-Pacific region is expected to drive global pickleball growth through 2029.
IPBL 2025 is the first pickleball league globally to be telecast on broadcast television. Times Network has expanded its dedicated pickleball channel—Pickleball Now—to audiences across India and international markets. Major tournaments such as NPL Australia (Sydney and Brisbane), PWR DUPR India Masters, and the Pickleball World Cup have already attracted a global viewer base. This year’s league was available on Mirror NOW, Zoom TV, DD Sports and more, along with live streaming on Times Play, JioTV, Airtel Xstream, DailyHunt, and OTT Play. International access spans BOTIM, Distro, YuppTV, and Rumble, with further rollouts planned across the US, MENA, ANZ, and UK.
The Pickleball Now channel is also expanding its programming lineup with live coverage of major tournaments around the world, the upcoming PWR World Tour 2026, skill-building segments, easy-to-follow explainer videos, insights on sporting equipment, and success stories from local communities, all of which are giving the fastest-growing sport an even stronger push forward.
The Times Group Managing Director Vineet Jain, expressing confidence in the league’s success, reiterated his resolve that we are fully committed to our mission of making pickleball the second most popular sport after cricket in India.
Nitish Mittersain, CEO of Nazara Technologies, said that pickleball “fits right” with the spirit of Mumbai. “Mumbai thrives on speed, skill, and competition. Pickleball fits right in, and we’re excited to champion the city in a league built for the future,” he said, while celebrating the Smashers’ smashing performance.
With exclusive rights to the Mumbai franchise, Nazara’s Absolute Sports is overseeing everything from the team’s brand and digital presence to athlete marketing and fan engagement. As noted in the BSE filing, the franchise agreement is between Absolute Sports and PWR Indian League and Tour Private Ltd.
