Padel in India — A Booming Racket Sport Revolution (2026 Guide)

India is one of the most exciting emerging markets for padel in the world. With a population of over 1.4 billion, a deep love of racket sports, and a booming urban middle class, the conditions for padel’s growth in India are extraordinary. Since 2022, the sport has exploded from near-zero awareness to a rapidly expanding network of courts, clubs, and competitions.

India may be late to padel, but it is catching up fast.

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How Padel Arrived in India

Padel first appeared in India around 2016–2017, when a handful of courts were built in Mumbai and Bangalore, primarily catering to the Spanish and Latin American expat communities. For several years, the sport remained largely unknown outside these circles.

The turning point came in 2022–2023, when dedicated padel entrepreneurs and sports investors began building purpose-built facilities in major cities. The founding of the Indian Padel Federation (IPF) and its recognition by the International Padel Federation (FIP) gave the sport an institutional foundation. For the full history of the sport, see our history of padel.

By 2024, padel had moved from curiosity to genuine momentum, with corporate events, celebrity endorsements, and media coverage driving awareness among India’s urban population.

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Player Base and Participation

As of 2026, India has an estimated 50,000+ active padel players, a number that is growing rapidly. The sport has found its audience primarily among urban professionals aged 25–50 who are looking for a social, accessible sport that can be played after work.

Several factors drive padel’s appeal in India:

• Easy to learn — Beginners can rally within their first session, unlike tennis which has a steeper learning curve.
• Social format — Doubles play fits India’s group-oriented social culture perfectly.
• Time-efficient — A padel match takes about an hour, fitting into busy urban schedules.
• Cross-sport appeal — Former tennis, squash, and badminton players are finding padel an exciting new challenge.

The corporate wellness trend has also boosted padel, with companies organising team-building events and inter-company tournaments on padel courts.

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Courts and Infrastructure

India has over 150 padel courts as of 2026, with the number growing month by month. Most are purpose-built facilities, though some tennis and sports clubs have converted or added padel courts to their offerings.

Key Cities for Padel

• Mumbai — India’s padel hub, with the highest concentration of courts. Facilities in Andheri, BKC, and Navi Mumbai cater to both recreational and competitive players.
• Bangalore — The tech capital has embraced padel enthusiastically, with multiple facilities in Whitefield, Indiranagar, and Sarjapur Road.
• Delhi NCR — Gurgaon and Noida have seen rapid court construction, driven by demand from the corporate and expat communities.
• Chennai — A growing padel scene, boosted by the city’s existing racket sport culture (Chennai has a strong tennis tradition).
• Hyderabad and Pune — Both cities have added padel facilities in 2025–2026, expanding the sport’s geographic reach.

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Top Indian Padel Players

Indian padel is still in its development phase at the professional level, but a competitive domestic scene is emerging:

• National team players — India has fielded national teams at FIP international events, gaining experience against established padel nations.
• Tennis crossovers — Several former professional and semi-professional tennis players have transitioned to padel, bringing technical skills and competitive experience.
• Junior development — The IPF has launched junior programmes in multiple cities, building a pipeline of young Indian padel talent.

As the sport matures, India’s sheer population and sporting infrastructure suggest it will produce internationally competitive players within the next decade.

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The Indian Padel Federation (IPF)

The Indian Padel Federation (IPF) is the national governing body for padel in India. Recognised by the International Padel Federation (FIP), the IPF oversees:

• National championships and ranking tournaments
• Selection and preparation of national teams for international competition
• Player registration and rankings
• Coaching certification programmes
• Grassroots development initiatives to introduce padel in schools and universities

The IPF has been instrumental in lobbying for padel’s inclusion in multi-sport events in India and working with state sports authorities to allocate land and funding for padel facilities.

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Growth and Future Outlook

Padel in India is at an inflection point. Key trends for 2026 and beyond include:

• Massive investment — Indian sports investors and venture capital firms have identified padel as a high-growth opportunity, funding new facility chains across tier-1 and tier-2 cities.
• Franchise leagues — Discussions are underway for a national padel league modelled on India’s successful franchise sports format (similar to the IPL for cricket).
• Celebrity and corporate backing — Bollywood celebrities and tech entrepreneurs have begun investing in padel clubs and promoting the sport.
• Tier-2 city expansion — After saturating metro markets, padel is expanding to cities like Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Jaipur, and Kochi.
• Government support — Several state governments have included padel in their sports infrastructure development plans.

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What Makes Padel in India Unique

India’s padel story is unique because of the sheer scale of the opportunity. No country with India’s population has been at such an early stage of padel adoption while having such strong fundamentals: a love of racket sports, a massive young urban population, rising disposable incomes, and a culture that values social sporting activities.

The Indian padel community is also notable for its diversity — players come from tennis, squash, badminton, and even cricket backgrounds, bringing different skills and perspectives to the court. For visitors and expats, India’s padel clubs offer a welcoming environment and the chance to be part of a sport that is growing in real time.