New Delhi: In one of the most dramatic finishes of the Indian Pickleball League, Mumbai Smashers held their nerve in a pulsating 25-24 Grand Rally victory over Capital Warriors Gurgaon in Decider 1 at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium on December 5. The win keeps Mumbai alive in the playoff race and pushes the league into its tensest phase yet, with both Mumbai and Gurgaon now set to face Bengaluru Blasters in the upcoming decider rounds.
Grand Rally – Mumbai Smashers vs Capital Warriors Gurgaon
Mumbai opened strongly with Ammol Ramchandani and Quang Duong, whose early dominance handed their side a 2-0 cushion. But the Warriors, guided by the experienced pairing of Jack Munro and Stavya Bhasin, responded instantly to level the score 2-2, signalling that a long and unpredictable battle was ahead.
As the rotations began, the momentum kept shifting. At 3-2, Emilia Schmidt swapped in for Gurgaon, while Allison Harris replaced Ammol for Mumbai, a tactical move that added both power and precision to Mumbai’s frontline.
The high-intensity rally reached 5-5 with the introduction of Naimi for Gurgaon and Pearl Amalsadiwala for Mumbai. Both teams showcased high-calibre net play, with each point fiercely contested. Mumbai edged forward 8-7, but the Warriors’ rotation, bringing Stavya back for Emilia, added consistency to their left-right combination.
At 10-10, another crucial swap saw Jack return for Naimi, and Mumbai brought back Quang, signalling the start of the end-game push. By 13-12, Mumbai again held a narrow lead. Allison and Ammol entered for Mumbai, while Gurgaon brought in Stavya for Emilia, preparing their strongest combinations for the toughest phase.
One of the most spectacular points of the match came at 14-14, with Jack and Emilia executing a sensational rally-arguably the best of the tournament so far-to level the score. With new energy and belief, Gurgaon refused to let Mumbai pull away.
At 15-15, Mumbai reintroduced Pearl for Quang, while Gurgaon brought back Naimi. Mumbai surged again, taking a 17-15 lead with Pearl and Ammol combining effectively. Gurgaon had no choice but to use their timeout to regroup.
The timeout worked. Gurgaon roared back to narrow the gap to 18-17, thanks to Stavya’s clean finishing and Naimi’s quick reflexes at the net. Mumbai responded by sending Ammol back in, and Gurgaon turned to Emilia once again as the pressure mounted.
At 21-19, with Mumbai still ahead, Pearl made way for Quang, and Gurgaon restored Jack to the court. Jack and Stavya came up big, digging deep to bring the score to 21-21, forcing Mumbai to burn a timeout of their own.
Post-timeout, Gurgaon surged ahead 22-21, then 23-22, with Stavya starring in clutch moments before rotating out for Emilia again.
From there, the match grew even more nerve-racking. Mumbai levelled the score at 23-23, then 24-24, setting up the final golden point of the decider.
With everything on the line, Mumbai sent Allison and Quang for the last exchange, while Gurgaon trusted Emilia and Jack to finish the job.
The final rally was tense, daring, and electric-both teams pushing every limit. Ultimately, Mumbai’s pairing executed with pinpoint control, winning the golden point 25-24 and sealing a monumental victory in Decider 1.
With this win, Mumbai stay firmly in the playoff race and carry strong momentum into their next knockout clash against Bengaluru Blasters. Capital Warriors Gurgaon, who fought bravely throughout, will also face Bengaluru in the upcoming decider.
The league table has never looked tighter, and the pressure heading into the next grand rally is at its absolute peak.
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.
Set to debut from December 1-7, 2025, at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, the inaugural edition will establish Delhi as the epicentre of India’s next major sporting revolution. The event will bring 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.
Where to watch the live broadcasting and streaming of the Indian Pickleball League?
Catch all the live action of the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL 2025) from December 1 to 7, 2025 on ZOOM TV and Mirror NOW from 2:30 PM daily. A two-hour highlights package will air on DD Sports every night from 10 PM to 12 AM, which will also be streamed on DD’s OTT channel -Waves. In addition to TV broadcasts, Pickleball Now – the world’s first dedicated pickleball TV channel available on CTV and digital platforms– will also showcase the league. Viewers in the Indian subcontinent can watch the live streaming of IPBL 2025 on the YouTube channels of Pickleball Now, Sports Now and ZOOM. The matches will also stream live on Times Play, Times Network’s flagship OTT platform, Tata Play, and Vi Movie & TV.
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