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India Basketball League Reveals 8 Foundation Cities, 2027 Tipping Off

The India Basketball League (IBL) has announced eight foundation cities for India's first professional basketball league, with six competing in the inaugural season tipping off in early 2027. The cities—Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Pune—were chosen for their strong basketball culture. Fans will help decide which six cities start the league, with two joining later. The IBL aims to create a talent pathway to the FIBA Asia Cup, Asian Games, and Olympics.

Key Points: IBL Foundation Cities Announced for India's First Pro League

  • IBL reveals 8 foundation cities for India's first professional basketball league
  • 6 cities will compete in the inaugural 2027 season; 2 join later
  • Fans will vote to decide which 6 cities tip off first
  • League aims to create pathway to Olympics, FIBA Asia Cup
3 min read

IBL reveals foundation cities for India's first professional basketball league

IBL reveals 8 foundation cities for India's first professional basketball league, with 6 competing in the inaugural 2027 season. Fans will help decide which cities tip off first.

"The announcement of our foundation cities represents the next step towards bringing to life the stage on which they are going to entertain Indian basketball fans for many years to come. - Karan Singh, ACG MD"

New Delhi, May 9

The India Basketball League on Saturday revealed the eight foundation cities for India's first professional basketball league, with six cities to compete in the inaugural season tipping off in early 2027.

The announcement was made at the BUDx NBA House in New Delhi, where IBL players took to the stage to reveal the foundation cities alongside NBA legends DeMarcus Cousins, Isiah Thomas, and Vlade Divac, according to a press release.

The eight cities, Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, and Pune, were selected for their strong ties to basketball culture through participation, fandom and well-established basketball communities. Six will compete in the inaugural season; two will join in subsequent seasons as the league expands.

Fans will have the opportunity to play an active role in shaping the league from the outset, initially by influencing the decision as to which six of the eight foundation cities will compete in the IBL's inaugural season in 2027.

"The India Basketball League will be the next step of what has already been a decade-long commitment by ACG to the sport of basketball in India. Within five months of the announcement of the IBL, we opened our High-Performance Centre in Bengaluru, which is now home to the best basketball coaching framework and the best talent pipeline anywhere in the country. And the players who are training there are going to form the foundation of the talent that you are all going to see on court when we tip off in 2027. The announcement of our foundation cities represents the next step towards bringing to life the stage on which they are going to entertain Indian basketball fans for many years to come," said Karan Singh, Managing Director of ACG.

Basketball is one of the most-watched sports at the Olympic Games, and India's dream of being part of the global spectacle starts with the IBL.

With a clear talent pathway from state-level scouting through the High-Performance Centre to professional competition, the IBL is designed to be India's route to the FIBA Asia Cup, the Asian Games, and ultimately the Olympics.

"The success of any professional sporting league is dependent on its fans, which is why we want the voices of India's basketball fans to be heard right from the outset. They will be our barometer for all decision-making, and so we intend to engage with them every step of the way," said Jeremy Loeliger, Commissioner, IBL.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Great initiative but I'm a bit skeptical about the timeline - 2027 is too far away. Also, why only 6 teams initially? They should have started with all 8 cities from day one. Also hope ticket prices are affordable for common people, not like some other leagues.
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Michael C
As someone who grew up playing basketball in Delhi's parks, this is huge. The high-performance centre in Bengaluru sounds promising. I just hope they don't make it too corporate and forget the real love for the game. Let's see if they can match the energy of the NBA or even the local streetball scene.
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Ananya R
Really happy to see Chennai and Kolkata included - South and East India have so much basketball talent. My cousin played in state-level tournaments and there's always been a lack of proper platforms. This could change everything for aspiring players. Let's go! 🏀🔥
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Aman W
Good news but I hope they've learned from the mistakes of other leagues in India. Infrastructure and consistent scheduling are key. Also, would love to see some foreign players join - DeMarcus Cousins being involved is a great start! Bas pata nahi kab tak chalega...
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Lisa P
Love seeing more sports getting professional leagues in India. Basketball is fast, exciting, and perfect for our youth. The fact that fans get to vote on the first 6 teams is a smart move - it builds ownership. I'm rooting for Chandigarh and Pune to make the cut! 🏀

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