10/12/2025
Mumbai Smashers’ Dream Debut: Nazara Technologies’ Pickleball Move Turns into a Breakout Success
The week-long thrilling action culminated in a Mumbai Smashers vs Hyderabad Royals finale that kept spectators on the edge of their seats until the final serve. Nazara Technologies’ acquisition of the Mumbai franchise through its subsidiary Absolute Sports has proven to be a strategic masterstroke. The team closed the season by becoming the inaugural champions of the Indian Pickleball League — a landmark moment for both the franchise and the sport’s rise in the country.
The Mumbai Smashers, not only stormed into the IPBL final but also clinched a nail-biting 5–1 win against the Hyderabad Royals on Sunday, December 7, at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. In their debut season, the Mumbai team has emerged as one of the league’s most dynamic and closely watched sides, elevating Nazara’s presence in an emerging sport that is growing at a meteoric pace globally.
Pickleball’s surge in popularity has been as much a lifestyle shift as a sports phenomenon. The league raised the bar from the start of the tournament, as it was led by a strong line up of international talents, including World No. 3 Quang Duong, Megan Fudge, P**c Huynh, Pei Chuan Kao, Jack Munro, Roos Van Reek, Mitchell Hargreaves, and Emilia Schmidt. Indian athletes who delivered with equal intensity include, Aditya Ruhela, Shreya Chakraborty, Rakshikha Ravi, Stavya Bhasin, and Snehal Patil earned roaring support from the stands.
