The Mumbai Smashers turned the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall into a full-blown celebration zone after defeating Hyderabad Royals 5-1 in the final to win the inaugural Indian Pickleball League title on December 7, 2025. A now-viral Instagram video captured the team breaking into dance and even playing the dhol as they soaked in their historic victory.
General Manager Matthew Nola stole the spotlight with his trendy, high-energy dance moves at centre court. Soon after, doubles specialist Pearl Amalsadiwala joined him, and the duo set the tone for what became a joyous team-wide celebration.
They were quickly followed by Rishi Reddy, Sindoor Mittal, Allison Harris, and Ammol Ramchandani, who matched the vibe with their own freestyle steps. Even head coach Rohan Gajjar joined in, impressing the crowd with his traditional dance moves as fans cheered from the stands.
Another clip showed Nola and Pearl taking over the dhol, with the entire Mumbai Smashers squad grooving to the beats. The pair, known as two of the most entertaining personalities on the team, once again lived up to their reputation.
The celebration capped off a remarkable turnaround for Mumbai Smashers, who struggled early in the league before storming through the deciders, playoffs, and finals to be crowned champions of the first-ever IPBL season.
About the Indian Pickleball League:
The Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), launched by The Times Group, is India’s official and only national league for Pickleball, sanctioned by the Indian Pickleball Association (IPA), which is recognised by the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, Government of India.
The inaugural edition played from December 1-7, 2025, at the KD Jadhav Indoor Hall, Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, established Delhi as the epicentre of India’s next major sporting revolution. The event brought together top Indian and international players, franchise-owned city teams, and millions of fans through live and digital platforms.
About Indian Pickleball Association:
The Indian Pickleball Association is the official governing body for pickleball in India and is dedicated to promoting, developing, and organising the sport across the country. The association continues to inspire players of all ages and skill levels to embrace the game through events like the IPA Nationals. IPA is affiliated with the Asian Pickleball Association (APA) and the Global Pickleball Federation (GPF).
About Pickleball World Ranking:
PWR is a national ranking system that spans all age groups, skill divisions, and formats -including singles, doubles, and mixed categories. It serves as the official National Sports Federation Ranking for India. With multiple sanctioned events taking place every week across the country, PWR defines the top Indian players at every level and forms the foundation for team selection at the school, district, state, and national stages.
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