SportsPosted at: Oct 6 2026 4:00PM


KPPL to serve off Oct 9 with seven franchises, 56 players in Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Oct 6 (UNI) Karnataka is set to get its first franchise-based pickleball league as the Karnataka Pickleball Premier League (KPPL) makes its debut here on October 9, bringing seven teams and 56 players together for a three-day competition aimed at giving the fast-growing sport a professional platform in the state.
The inaugural KPPL will be held from October 9 to 11 at GKVK, Bengaluru, with Coorg Originals, promoted by JoshuaTree.PLAY, among the seven franchises taking the court.
The league will feature players from Karnataka and across India, with the 56-member field selected from 89 aspirants through a nine-round draft held in Bengaluru on September 20.
The seven franchises -- Bengaluru Chargers, Coorg Originals, Mangaluru Roarers, Mysuru Royals, Belagavi Barons, Ballari Tuskers and Tumakuru Titans -- will represent different regions of Karnataka, giving the league a distinctly state-wide character.
Coorg Originals will be led by captain Poojith P., with Kuldip Ravindra Mahajan as its icon player. Built around the identity "MADE OF COORG", the franchise brings together players from different sporting backgrounds with a common ambition of making an impact in competitive pickleball.
For JoshuaTree.PLAY, the tournament marks its entry into professional sport and its first sporting property.
"We are very excited to see Coorg Originals take the court. For us, this is the beginning of a larger journey in sport -- discovering talent, building teams and creating sporting properties," Joshua Upputuru, Founder and Director of Joshua Tree, said.
He said pickleball offered an exciting space and expressed confidence about the franchise's journey in the sport.
The league has been positioned as more than a new sporting tournament, with organisers looking to build a sustainable competitive ecosystem for players and expand pickleball's audience across Karnataka.
A.G. Shivakumar, President of the Karnataka State Pickleball Association, said the league marked an important step in the development of the sport in the state.
"By bringing the association, Entropy Sports and Events, and seven franchises together, we are creating a professional platform for the sport to grow at every level. Our aim is to give players greater opportunities while taking pickleball to a much wider audience across the state," he said.
KPPL Brand Ambassador and Kannada film actor Sriimurali said the growing popularity of pickleball presented Karnataka with an opportunity to become a major centre for the sport.
"The sport is attracting a new generation of players and fans, and Karnataka has a wonderful opportunity to be at the heart of that growth," he said.
The league also carries a social-impact component, with Coorg Originals partnering with U&I Trust as its Social Impact Partner. The initiative will focus on education, mentorship and opportunities for young people from underserved communities.
With seven franchises, a nationwide player pool and a professional league structure, KPPL's inaugural season seeks to turn the growing interest in pickleball into a sustained competitive sporting movement in Karnataka.
UNI BDN
Tags: #KPPL to serve off Oct 9 with seven franchises# 56 players in Bengaluru
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