In a significant move set to reshape the landscape of racket sports in India, former cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's brand, 7Padel MS Dhoni, has officially merged with PadelPark India, a venture backed by JSW Sports founder Parth Jindal. Announced on 7 January, this strategic merger aims to forge India's foremost padel ecosystem, combining star power with institutional backing to fuel the sport's explosive growth.
A Unified Vision for Padel's Future
The newly merged entity is positioned as a unified national platform designed for rapid scaling, deeper community engagement, and more professionally structured play. Padel, a racquet sport that blends elements of tennis and squash, is identified as one of India's fastest-growing sports. The company stated that this unification marks a pivotal step in organizing and standardizing padel's development across the country.
Parth Jindal has been an early investor in PadelPark India since August 2024. With MS Dhoni now joining as a Partner in the merged platform, the venture gains unparalleled visibility and strategic depth. The company highlighted that this institutional and star backing is expected to be a key driver for padel's next phase of expansion nationwide.
Leadership Speaks: Scaling Beyond Metros
Speaking on the merger, cricketing legend MS Dhoni emphasized the sport's potential. He pointed out that with over 10 million racquet sport players in the country, Tier-1 cities have already demonstrated padel's rapid adoption. "The next step is taking that momentum into newer markets and making the sport accessible beyond the metros," Dhoni stated.
He elaborated on the sport's inherent appeal, noting, "Once courts are available, people will take to it naturally - padel is social, it’s played in doubles, and it’s built around community, which suits India." Dhoni expressed confidence in PadelPark India's comprehensive 360° ecosystem, which includes courts, coaching, tournaments, and community programs, to scale the sport consistently and build a professionally run framework across India.
Building a Credible and Professional Sport
Nikhil Sachdev, Co-Founder of PadelPark India, underscored the significance of the partnership. "This unification represents more than a partnership; it marks a shared belief in how padel should grow in India," Sachdev said. He explained that bringing the two brands together creates a single, aligned platform capable of elevating standards, strengthening participation, and building long-term credibility for padel.
Appreciating Dhoni's involvement, Sachdev added, "Dhoni’s leadership, values, and clarity of thought add tremendous depth to our mission. Together, we now have the structure, vision, and momentum to define the future of padel in India."
About PadelPark India's Expansive Reach
PadelPark India, founded by Nikhil Sachdev, Jigar Doshi, Pratik Doshi, and Ronak Daftary, is a major force in the sport's infrastructure. The organization currently manages over 40 courts and has contributed to building a total of more than 200 courts across India. Ambitiously, the group aims to expand to between 400 and 500 courts within the next year, dramatically increasing access to world-class padel facilities.
The merger is designed to accelerate this growth nationwide, fostering a sport that is accessible, community-led, and professionally managed. The combined platform's offerings are extensive:
- SkyPadel: Handles infrastructure development.
- Indian Padel Tour: Manages competitive matches and tournaments.
- Indian Padel Academy: Provides grassroots and elite training, in collaboration with Westlife Foodworld.
- Bullpadel India: Serves as the exclusive distributor of Bullpadel products in India.
- 7Padel MS Dhoni: Acts as the customer-facing brand for the merged entity.
This consolidation signals a mature, structured approach to cultivating padel in India, moving from fragmented growth to a unified, national mission driven by some of the biggest names in Indian sports and business.
