Photo Credits to: Up Words
WPBL Season 2 isn’t easing in. It’s arriving like a festival that just happens to have elite pickleball at its core. The league is back at Mumbai’s Jio World Garden for a January 24–February 8 window, and it’s bigger by design. Seven franchises. A packed match calendar. A global player mix. And a distribution plan built for phones as much as seats.
The intent is obvious: WPBL is trying to make pickleball feel less niche and more like a headline sport experience.
Celebrity Heat, Then Competitive Fire
Season 2 opened on January 24 with a Celebrity Pickleball Showdown, putting franchise co-owners on court and turning the launch night into a spectacle.
Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Atlee, Riteish Deshmukh, Rakul Preet Singh, and Jackky Bhagnani were among the headliners who stepped into the arena alongside players from their teams. Rishabh Pant, Sunil Gavaskar, and Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh are also part of the celebrity ownership group behind the seven franchises this season.
WPBL founder and CEO Gaurav Natekar summed up the vibe ahead of the opener: “With the energy of Jio World Garden and fans right on top of the action, it promises to create a special atmosphere for everyone involved.”
It’s a smart hook. Celebrity visibility brings attention early. The league’s format is built to earn repeat viewing.
The Numbers That Define This Season
WPBL Season 2 leans into volume and that changes everything for momentum. The season features 120 matches across 13 days, with 56 players representing 18 nations. That’s an increase from 90 matches in Season 1, a jump that signals expansion rather than repetition.
A schedule this dense creates pressure-cooker storylines. Teams don’t have time to “grow into” the tournament. Players don’t get long stretches to reset. Every tie matters because the next one arrives fast. For viewers, it also means pickleball becomes daily programming - more like a league habit than a one-off event.
Photo Credits to: Field Vision
Sony LIV Streaming, Eurosport Telecast, And A Wider Funnel
WPBL’s biggest off-court move is access. All 120 matches are available on Sony LIV with live coverage and on-demand viewing, alongside highlights and additional digital content. On television, the league is also being carried on Eurosport India, widening reach across both screens.
That two-lane approach matters in a market where audiences split between mobile-first fans and traditional sports viewers. WPBL is trying to meet both - without diluting the product. It also reinforces the league’s larger bet: pickleball isn’t just participation sport anymore. It’s becoming watchable entertainment with real broadcast infrastructure behind it.
Bengaluru vs Pune Brings Back the Finals Pressure
The league stage began on January 27 with a marquee clash: Bengaluru Jawans vs Pune United. It’s not just a “big match.” It’s history on day one.
Bengaluru are the defending champions after beating Pune 3–1 in the Season 1 final on February 2, 2025. Starting Season 2 with the same pairing instantly sharpens the stakes - and gives the season a storyline that even casual fans can follow.
Ticketing has also been streamlined this year through Swiggy Scenes, tying the live experience to a simple digital entry point for fans coming to Jio World Garden.
What’s next?
WPBL Season 2 now settles into its real test: sustaining energy across a relentless schedule, while turning celebrity curiosity into sport loyalty.
With the season running through February 8, the question isn’t whether WPBL can create buzz - it already has. The question is whether this bigger, faster, more accessible season can turn pickleball into a must-watch habit in India’s crowded sports calendar.
