Key Points

The World Pickleball League has chosen Jio World Garden as the venue for its second season, promising a high-energy fan experience. The league aims to combine elite sport with entertainment, featuring celebrity franchise owners and top players. After a successful debut at Cricket Club of India, WPBL is scaling up with a more immersive setting. The shift reflects the league's ambition to grow pickleball into a premium sport in India.

Key Points: World Pickleball League Season 2 to Host at Mumbai's Jio World Garden

  • WPBL Season 2 moves to Jio World Garden for premium fan engagement
  • Features six teams with marquee players and celebrity owners
  • Aims to blend elite sport with top-tier entertainment
  • Follows successful debut season at Cricket Club of India
2 min read

World Pickleball League announces Jio World Garden as official venue for Season 2

WPBL Season 2 elevates fan experience at Mumbai's iconic Jio World Garden, featuring elite players, celebrity owners, and immersive entertainment.

"This is more than just a venue shift - it's a step up in how we present the sport. - Gaurav Natekar, WPBL CEO"

Mumbai, July 18

The World Pickleball League (WPBL) on Friday announced Jio World Garden as the host venue for Season 2, set to take place in Mumbai from January 24 to February 8, 2026. Located in the heart of Mumbai's financial hub, Bandra Kurla Complex, Jio World Garden is one of Mumbai's premier event venues, known for its world-class infrastructure and versatility, having hosted international artists like Backstreet Boys, Bryan Adams, Slash and Armin van Buuren along with Indian icons such as Arijit Singh, AR Rahman and Diljit Dosanjh, as per a press release from WPBL.

With six competing teams, marquee players, celebrity franchise owners, and India's fastest-growing sport at its core, World Pickleball League Season 2 will be the first-ever franchise sports league to be held at Jio World Garden, affirming its rising stature and ambition to deliver a premium, fan-first experience. With this move, WPBL aims to elevate its live experience, create a more immersive setting for fans, and deliver on its promise of blending elite sport with top-tier entertainment.

Following a landmark debut season at the historic Cricket Club of India, which introduced pickleball to a national audience, WPBL's return to Mumbai promises bigger crowds, stronger global participation, and a renewed focus on fan engagement, grassroots growth, and innovative storytelling formats at an iconic location that will allow the League to design vibrant, high-touch experiences that connect audiences with the game like never before.

Gaurav Natekar, Co-founder & CEO, World Pickleball League, said as quoted by the WPBL press release, "After a successful Season 1, we wanted a venue that could match the scale and ambition of Season 2, and Jio World Garden provides us that platform to continue the legacy. It's iconic, centrally located, and offers us the flexibility to create a dynamic and engaging fan-first environment in Mumbai's premier corporate hub. This is more than just a venue shift - it's a step up in how we present the sport, connect with the audiences, and grow the WPBL experience into a truly premium product."

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Priya S
Exciting news! But I wish they would take the tournament to other cities too. Mumbai gets all the big events while other metro cities are ignored. Bengaluru or Hyderabad would be great options for Season 3!
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Aman W
Played pickleball in my society last weekend - such a fun sport! Glad it's getting recognition. The venue looks world-class, but hope they focus on developing local talent, not just celebrity owners.
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Sarah B
As an expat living in Mumbai, this is wonderful! Pickleball is huge back home in Canada. The venue choice shows India is serious about making this sport mainstream. Looking forward to attending! 🇮🇳🇨🇦
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Karthik V
While I appreciate the growth, the ticket prices last season were too high for middle-class families. Hope they introduce some affordable seating options this time. Sports should be accessible to all.
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Nisha Z
Amazing venue choice! Jio World Garden has hosted some legendary concerts. Now pickleball gets its moment in the spotlight. Hope they stream matches free on JioCinema for those who can't attend 🙏

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