Times Network launches Pickleball Now Grand Prix 2026 with IPL pathway for players

MUMBAI: Game, set and match. Times Network is taking another swing at growing pickleball in India with the launch of the second edition of the Pickleball Now Grand Prix 2026, a nationwide tournament that gives aspiring players a chance to turn professional through the Indian Pickleball League.

The tournament, which begins in Mumbai on 23 July, will travel across 13 cities over the coming months, offering participants up to Rs 50 lakh worth of prizes along with valuable Pickleball World Rankings points.

Following the Mumbai opener, the circuit will head to Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Gurugram and Lucknow, with the Lucknow leg set to be played in Noida. Additional city stops are expected to be announced as the tour progresses.

A key highlight of this year’s edition is its partnership with the Indian Pickleball League, aimed at creating a stronger pathway from grassroots competition to the professional game. Tournament winners will earn the opportunity to enter the league’s player auction, giving them a chance to compete in India’s premier professional pickleball competition.

The tournament will also double as a talent scouting platform, with franchises expected to monitor emerging players throughout the 13-city circuit as they build squads for future editions of the league.

Adding to the excitement, defending league champions Mumbai Smashers will attend the Mumbai leg, allowing participants to showcase their skills in front of franchise representatives.

The Mumbai tournament will follow a round robin format and feature multiple categories across advanced and intermediate levels. These include men’s doubles, women’s doubles, mixed doubles, gender neutral doubles and men’s singles, all for players aged 19 years and above.

Registrations for the Mumbai edition are now open.

With bigger prize money, professional opportunities and a nationwide footprint, the Pickleball Now Grand Prix 2026 is positioning itself as one of India’s largest domestic pickleball competitions while strengthening the talent pipeline for the sport’s rapidly expanding professional ecosystem.