Yes, padel is already played in India, even though cricket remains by far the country’s dominant sport. Padel is growing through a different route: major cities, private clubs, multi-sport venues and an urban audience looking for a social sport that is easy to pick up and fits the premium fitness lifestyle.
How many padel courts are there in India?
The figure that best captures the shift comes from the latest overview cited by The Economic Times: India is said to have moved from around 100 courts in 2023 to close to 500 today, with an estimated player base of 100,000. In a country of more than 1.4 billion people, that volume is still modest. The growth curve is much harder to dismiss.
Padel is not competing with cricket on cricket’s own terrain. It is first taking root where the offer can be profitable: Mumbai, Delhi, Chandigarh, Bengaluru, and venues able to combine sport, leisure, networking and a club experience. For an emerging market, that can matter more than court count alone: playing frequency and the ability to build a community will shape what comes next.
Investors want to create a habit
The real change is not only the number of courts. It is also the profile of the players entering the ecosystem. PadelPark India, backed notably by Parth Jindal and former cricket captain MS Dhoni through 7Padel, is working on an eight-city franchise league. The aim is clear: give padel television and digital visibility, following the model of sports that have managed to exist in cricket’s shadow through clear league formats.
That strategy says a lot about India’s current moment. Building courts attracts the first players; creating events, coaches, competitions and regular appointments can turn curiosity into a lasting practice. Mahesh Bhupathi, involved in the World Padel League, has made that point clearly: the issue is not the spike of interest, but whether players keep coming back week after week.
The challenge: from premium club to real ecosystem
India has several traits of a promising emerging market: a young urban population, a strong sports culture, rising interest in fitness and premium real estate looking for distinctive amenities. The Indian Padel Federation also argues that the country can become an important relay for international development.
But the trajectory is not automatic. Equipment costs, real court density, coach education, access beyond metropolitan areas and governance remain decisive issues. The Economic Times notes in particular that India still does not have a national federation recognised by the FIP, limiting institutional support and sporting structure.
That is where the difference will be made between an urban trend and a solid market. Indian padel does not need to overtake cricket to succeed. It needs to prove that it can build its own habits: full clubs, regular players, recognisable competitions and an offer accessible enough to move beyond the premium circle of the early years.
