Quang Duong Headlines First-Ever IPBL Draft in ‘Special Moment’ for Budding League

The inaugural Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) held its first-ever draft, and former PPA Tour standout Quang Duong of Vietnam got the distinction of getting called first. Duong, who is currently a pickleball free agent, was drafted by the Mumbai Smashers, who are looking to show out in the league’s first season.

“The Mumbai Smashers have always believed in backing smart, fearless talent. Our picks reflect a balance of experience and aggression—qualities we believe will help us set the tone in Season One,” said Nitish Mittersain, Owner of the Mumbai Smashers.

The Hyderabad Royals, picking second, nabbed USA’s Ben Newell, who was among the most sought-after foreign players of the draft. Picking third, the Lucknow Leopards went for Ryler Deheart, who is an American like Fudge, and is widely regarded as among the very best of this pool of talent.

“Special Moment” Brings A-Level Talent to IPBL

In all, the IPBL’s six teams—Mumbai, Hyderabad, Lucknow, Chennai Super Warriors, Capital Warriors Gurgaon, and Bengaluru Blasters—selected 53 players from the draft, including 36 selected across three competitive pools: Super Stars Pro International, Super Stars Pro Indian, and Rising Stars.

“Today’s Draft is a very special moment for the Indian Pickleball League,” said Vineet Jain, Managing Director of The Times Group, who is organising the league. “I am really excited how each one of you are going to shape the league going forward. Pickleball is the fastest growing sport in the world, as well as in India. And with your passion and dedication, I am sure we will make pickleball the biggest sport after cricket.”

After Mumbai and Hyderabad, it was time for the Warriors to make their pick, and they showed they mean business as they drafted Jack Munro, a fast-rising American talent known for his explosive power and attacking instincts. The Super Warriors were not to be outdone as they picked Mitchell Hargreaves, the talented Australian who combines power and agility like no other. Finally, the Blasters opened with Phuc Huynh, who made a name for himself here in Asia for his cat-quick reflexes and aggressive, attacking style.

“We believe in fierce and bold playing style that can help us dominate the court this season. Keeping that in mind, we went for players who believe in our philosophy, and we are very happy with the composition of our squad,” said Shreya Agarwal, Owner of the Leopards.

“This auction represented more than just signings—it was about building a team driven by unshakeable grit and an unrelenting competitive spirit,” noted Dr Payal Kanodia and Aishwarya Bansal, Owners of the Warriors. “With every pick, we’re committed to bringing a fierce, tenacious brand of pickleball to the league—one that won’t back down.”

“Our strategy was to create a squad with strong fundamentals and tactical maturity. We are confident this group will represent Chennai with pride and intensity,” explained Chennai Owner Dr Swetha Sundeep.

“The auction was not a gamble for the Bengaluru Blasters; it was a calculated takeover. We secured the most undervalued assets in the league, combining disruptive athleticism with unmatched data-backed consistency. Our ‘moneyball’ strategy wasn’t about saving money—it was about maximising victory per rupee spent. We are here to establish a new competitive standard, and we fully intend to dominate this league from day one. Get ready for a revolution, Bengaluru,” said Vasanth Kalyan, Digital CEO of the Blasters.

IPBL Lineups

Here are the rosters of the inaugural IPBL season:

Mumbai Smashers

Quang Duong (Superstar Male International), Allison Harris (Superstar Female International), Ammol Ramchandani (Superstar Male Indian), Pearl Amalsadiwala (Superstar Female Indian), Rishi Reddy (Rising Star Male), Sindoor Mittal (Rising Star Female)

Lucknow Leopards

Aditya Ruhela (Superstar Male Indian), Ronav Motiani (Rising Star Male), Ryler DeHeart (Superstar Male International), Shelby Bates (Superstar Female International), Mihika Yadav (Superstar Female Indian), Naomi Amalsadiwala (Rising Star Female)

Hyderabad Royals

Ben Newell (Superstar Male International), Megan Fudge (Superstar Female International), Divyanshu Kataria (Superstar Male Indian), Snehal Patil (Superstar Female Indian), Tejas Gulati (Rising Star Male), Shreya Chakraborty (Rising Star Female)

Chennai Super Warriors

Mitchell Hargreaves (Superstar Male International), Roos Van Reek (Superstar Female International), Harsh Mehta (Superstar Male Indian), Aaliya Ebrahim (Superstar Female Indian), Aman Patel (Rising Star Male), Priyanka Mehta (Rising Star Female)

Capital Warriors Gurgaon

Jack Munro (Superstar Male International), Emilia Schmidt (Superstar Female International), Stavya Bhasin (Superstar Male Indian), Naimi Mehta (Superstar Female Indian), Arik Badami (Rising Star Male), Danielle Jones (Rising Star Female)

Bengaluru Blasters

Phuc Huynh (Superstar Male International), Pei Chuan Kao (Superstar Female International), Arjun Singh (Superstar Male Indian), Rakshikha Ravi (Superstar Female Indian), Aditya Singh (Rising Star Male), Shraddha Damani (Rising Star Female)

The first season of the IPBL will run from 1 to 7 December 2025.