World Pickleball League: From Jharkhand to Chennai, the story of Sonu Kumar

Sonu Kumar Vishwakarma, a 22-year-old from Jharia, Jharkhand, is set to represent Chennai Super Champs in the inaugural World Pickleball League (WPBL).

His journey from Jharia to Chennai draws intriguing parallels to MS Dhoni’s love affair with the city, yet it also represents a striking contrast.

While Dhoni famously stumbled upon cricket while playing football as a youngster, Sonu’s story takes the opposite route. 

From holding a cricket bat to holding a pickleball padel

At a time when Jharkhand’s youth was chasing cricket dreams inspired by Dhoni, Sonu chanced upon pickleball while playing cricket six years ago.

Drawn to the fast-paced and engaging nature of the sport, he shifted focus entirely, carving his path in an unconventional field.

Sonu’s decision to pursue pickleball led him to Mumbai, where he honed his skills and committed himself to the game.

His breakthrough came in November 2024 when he clinched the Men’s 19+ gold medal at the World Pickleball Championship in Mumbai, defeating Spain’s Mauro Garcia.

This achievement cemented his place among the top five players in India, with impressive DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) scores of 5.32 in singles and 4.871 in doubles.

'Sporting home' in Chennai

The story comes full circle as another boy from Jharkhand finds his 'sporting home' in Chennai, this time with Chennai Super Champs in the World Pickleball League.

The Chennai Super Champs, owned by actor-entrepreneur Samantha Ruth Prabhu offers Sonu a platform to not only showcase his skills but also to elevate the profile of pickleball in India.

Sonu’s journey reflects the growing appeal of pickleball, a sport that combines elements of badminton, tennis, and table tennis.

Its accessibility and dynamic play have caught the imagination of a new generation of athletes, and Sonu stands as a testament to this shift.

Vishwakarma and his Chennai Super Champs will participate in the six-team inaugural season of the World Pickleball League, beginning January 24th.

All teams would face each other once in a round-robin format with the top four teams advancing to the semi-finals. The final is slated for 2nd February. All matches will be played in Mumbai.