What’s the Score?
The World Pickleball League (WPBL) is aggressively expanding its footprint in India, moving into the historic state of Rajasthan with a new franchise, the “Jaipur Djinns”. The team has been acquired by billionaire Siddharth Shankar, Chairman of UK-based Tails Trading, marking a major injection of capital into the league. This addition brings the total number of WPBL teams to seven for Season 2, necessitating a schedule expansion from 90 to 120 matches.
Hit it deeper!
The Jaipur Djinns are not just a vanity project; they are being built with a serious competitive structure. The team has already hired Lee Whitwell as head coach and finalised a roster that includes international and Indian talent such as Amanda Hendry, Giang Trinh, and Naveen Beasley. The action kicks off on January 24, 2026, at the Jio World Garden in Mumbai, but the franchise aims to build a lasting ecosystem in Jaipur.
Shankar, whose investment portfolio includes stakes in US soccer leagues (United Soccer League), was drawn to the WPBL’s “ecosystem” approach. “Success comes from scale, participation and consistency,” Shankar noted, praising the league’s year-round engagement initiatives like the ‘WPBL On Tour’. He views the franchise as a vehicle to tap into Jaipur’s rich sports legacy while creating a commercially viable business.
The World Pickleball Verdict
The entry of a billionaire investor with experience in US sports franchises validates the WPBL’s business model. It signals that Indian pickleball is transitioning from a niche pastime to a serious investment vehicle, mirroring the trajectory of cricket’s IPL.
By expanding into Rajasthan, the league is moving beyond the metropolitan bubbles of Mumbai and Delhi, attempting to become a truly pan-Indian phenomenon. If the Jaipur Djinns succeed in building a local fanbase, it will prove that pickleball has the cultural transferability to thrive in India’s diverse regional markets.
Chris Beaumont is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of World Pickleball Magazine. Chris follows the global game closely, reporting on the latest news, developments, stories and tournaments from all five continents. He also hosts the World Pickleball Podcast, interviewing people at all levels of pickleball. Chris is also an avid player, currently struggling to make the breakthrough from 4.0 to 4.5.