India’s top men’s doubles pair, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, have regained their mojo after a tumultuous latter part of 2024 and the beginning of 2025, marred by injuries and sub-par form.
Their absence from the BWF World Tour, followed by early exits, saw them slip to the 27th ranking. Even though they remained title less over the past 16 months, they improved their level significantly recently, making five semifinal finishes, including winning a World Championships bronze, and two back-to-back runner-up finishes at the Hong Kong Open and China Masters.
Now ranked World No. 7, Satwik and Chirag, who are chasing their 10th title, attributed their recent surge on the World Tour to a change in mindset and strategy.
“We have tried playing side-by-side more often, especially after service to control the pushes,” Chirag, who previously relied more on the front-and-back strategy, told PTI.
Their Malaysian coach, Tan Kim Her, was at the forefront of this change in approach. “Coach us that many pairs are doing it, and we too felt it (side-by-side strategy) worked well. Once a guy serves, the other splits up at the front court to catch the pushes. It has really worked for us in the last two to three tournaments,” added Chirag.
One style not enough
While they remain one of the most aggressive pairs on the Tour, Satwik and Chirag also worked on adding variations to their service, with Chirag developing an effective flat serve as his primary weapon.
“In the last couple of tournaments, we’ve served a lot better than in the past year. The game is too fast to rely on one style. You need multiple ways to score points, and that’s what we are trying to develop,” he said.
In the last 16 months, they dealt with significant challenges, with Satwik suffering a shoulder injury and Chirag experiencing fitness issues. Their ranking dropped to 27th during this period.
“Everybody expects results, but there are plenty of factors not in your hands. To return from 27th to the top-8 within a few months after injuries is commendable. Despite setbacks, we’ve played countless semifinals and two finals, which I think is really commendable.”
They fought back and became the only Indian male shuttlers to win two medals at the World Championships.
“We had tough draws and opponents we hadn’t fared well against in the past. Winning those matches gave us the confidence to believe again. That confidence helped us in the back-to-back finals (in Hong Kong and China Masters in Shenzhen) that followed, even though we couldn’t always cross the line,” said Chirag.
“Compared to the top pairs, we lag in that area. At crucial moments, we tend to attack rather than defend, unlike the Koreans who stay calm and solid. If we can defend strongly under pressure, it will take us much ahead. We start to open in rallies, but when it heats up, we tend to go attacking, so improving defense under pressure is the key,” said Satwik.
Camaraderie
Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her continues to guide their development, having worked with them since their early career stages.
“The camaraderie is special,” Satwik added. “He used to joke that he’ll only post our pictures once we win medals. After the Worlds, he said, ‘Finally, I can pose with you guys.’ Now he tells us, ‘once you start, there’s no stopping.’ We trust him completely, and that bond has always helped us push ourselves further.”
The pair is currently on a break to spend time with their respective families before returning to training at Pullela Gopichand’s Hyderabad facility.
Confident
“Right now, we are switching off our phones and spending time at home,” Satwik said. “I am here to celebrate Dussehra with friends, and Chirag is also enjoying family time. Being back home with friends and family really helps to relax the mind before getting back to Hyderabad for practice.”
Even though they could not overcome the final hurdle in the last two tournaments, Satwik and Chirag are looking at the positives of reaching the finals.
With upcoming tournaments in France and Denmark, they remain focused on their goals.
“We may not have crossed the line in the finals yet, but the confidence from the Worlds has put us on track. We just need to stick to our strategies, keep evolving, and make sure we are ready for the next tournaments,” added Chirag.