Bengaluru, September 2026: The stage for the inaugural season of the Karnataka Pickleball Premier League (KPPL) is officially set following the completion of the KPPL Draft 2026, held on September 20 at E-Zone, Bengaluru. The high-stakes, two-hour event saw seven franchise teams finalize their playing rosters, officially kicking off the countdown to the league’s highly anticipated debut season.
Out of a talent pool featuring 89 competitors, 56 players were chosen to fill the slots across the seven rosters. The player pool brought together top-tier talent from across Karnataka and throughout the country, including established national competitors alongside a elite cohort of icon players boasting extensive national and international experience. Designed to foster balanced and inclusive competition, each squad blends male and female players to showcase the dynamic nature of competitive pickleball.
The seven founding franchises—representing Bengaluru, Mangalore, Tumkur, Coorg, Mysore, Belagavi, and Bellary—entered the draft room tasked with assembling complete eight-member squads, including their team captains. The draft spanned nine intense rounds, using a unique chit-based draw system to decide the selection order for each round. To keep momentum high and test the strategy of team management, dynamic selection windows ensured a fast-paced environment throughout the event.
Highlighting the draft was the distribution of seven star icon players, whose experience adds instant credibility and tactical depth to their respective squads:
- Mangalore: Sonu Kumar Vishwakarma
- Tumkur: Mayur Narayan Patil
- Coorg: Kuldip Ravindra Mahajan M
- Bengaluru: Anuja Pravin Maheshwari
- Mysore: Vanshik Ankur Kapadia
- Belagavi: Vrushali Shamkant Thakare
- Bellary: Tejas Ravindra Mahajan
By pairing these marquee athletes with a strong mix of local Karnataka talent and skilled players from across India, each franchise successfully constructed a versatile, highly competitive roster.
Reflecting on the milestone event, Arun Kumar of Entropy Sports and Events stated, “The KPPL Draft 2026 represents a crucial turning point as we transition from planning to live competition. With 56 elite players now distributed across seven well-balanced teams, we have laid a solid foundation for an exceptional inaugural season. The sheer talent and diversity across these rosters promise thrilling matches, and we cannot wait to see these teams battle it out on court.”
Ashish Swarnkar, also representing Entropy Sports and Events, highlighted the event’s high-energy structure: “The draft format challenged each franchise to execute their roster strategy under strict time limits. The randomized chit system kept every round unpredictable, while the fast selection windows ensured a brisk, engaging draft. Now that the rosters are locked in, our primary focus turns to building out team identities and generating momentum ahead of opening day.”
For the governing body, the completed draft represents a transformative step for regional sports development. Rajat Kankar of the Karnataka State Pickleball Association noted, “A structured league like the KPPL provides local athletes with a professional platform while elevating the visibility of pickleball across the state. Uniting top regional talent with players from across India creates a competitive ecosystem that will undoubtedly push the sport to new heights.”
With player selection concluded, all seven franchises now shift focus to intensive training camps and tactical preparation. KPPL Season 1 will take place from October 9 to 11, 2026, at GKVK, Bengaluru, marking the formal arrival of professional pickleball in the region.
