Hyderabad: Indian sporting icons Sameer Varma -ranked 8th in Asia, tennis ace Vishnu Vardhan and Kidambi Nandagopal will be seen in action at the launch edition of Hyderabad Pickleball League (HPL), marking a landmark moment for the world’s fastest-growing sport in India.
The top players’ presence and participation underscored the scale of this first-of-its-kind franchise competition, which blends regional participation with IPL-style entertainment.
Conceptualised by Centre Court Sports and Entertainment, the league is set to kick off on October 10th, 2025.
Leading the charge at the auction, star players Sameer Varma (All Stars), Sreekar Mothukuri (Credicon Mavericks), Vivek Reddy Priyadarshini (Dasos Dynamos), Zena Chatwal (Keerthi Warriors), Sahithi Ponnala (Nandi Chargers), Harsh Ranasaria (Starry Smashers), Nikhil Thummalapalli (Teramor Titans) and Rishabh Rama (The Raptors) emerged as the marquee signings. Each was directly drafted by their respective franchises for ₹2 lakhs in Category A before the official bidding began, instantly setting the tone for a high-stake competitive evening.
The high-spirited player auction at Zero40 Brewing in Hyderabad on August 20th, saw a total of eight franchises: All Stars, Credicon Mavericks, Dasos Dynamos, Keerthi Warriors, Nandi Chargers, Starry Smashers, Teramor Titans and The Raptors, vied for the finest players across categories A, B, C, and D. In line with league rules, all teams were required to select 10 players with at least one player over 35 years of age and a minimum of two female players, ensuring a mix of talent and experience across squads.
On a night of fierce bidding, All Stars shone bright by signing former tennis player, Veda Raju Prapurna for Rs 78K and Akshath for Rs 70K. Credicon Mavericks picked Sama Sathwika for Rs 85K and Punna Vishal for Rs 70K while also snapping up Indian Tennis player Vishnu Vardhan and Indian Badminton player Shrikanth Kidambi’s brother, Nandagopal.
Dasos Dynamos went big for Sowmya Pulumati at Rs 82K and Vikram Lagadapati at Rs 60K. Keerthi Warriors secured Bhaskar Paramatmuni at Rs 1 lakh and Soli Colah for Rs 50K. The team also made a statement of intent, circling off 14-year-old sensation Gia Gandhi. Nandi Chargers bid aggressively for Girish Karri at Rs 1 lakh. While, Starry Smashers snapped up Fayrouz Sousan Zaidi and Ramya Sridhar for Rs 1 lakh each.
And Teramor Titans locked in Vijaytej Raju Gangapatnam at Rs 1 lakh, Naga Moksha Yerram at Rs 75K and Indian Tennis player Theertha Shashank. Meanwhile, The Raptors made strategic bids for Neharika Paramatmuni at ₹1 lakh and Sayam Bothra at Rs 90K.
The auction showcased strategic bidding as the franchises built a perfect squad mixed with star power and emerging talent, ensuring a highly competitive season ahead. With the teams now finalised, the HPL 2025 season is set for action and intense battles on court, promising a spectacular start for Pickleball in Hyderabad.
