Beyond IPL: Untapped Sports Leagues in India
IPL has been the driving engine of India’s sports business industry for the past decade. Valued at around $18 billion, the IPL has become the 2nd most valuable sports league globally, just behind the National Football League (NFL) among the richest sports leagues of the world. It’s expected given the immense popularity of cricket in India.
Even sponsors & advertisers look to capitalize on cricket’s popularity, as 89 percent of the marketing spends by brands have been in cricket. This includes sponsorships (₹7942.8 crores), endorsements (₹1350.2 crores) and media spends (₹9571.2 crores) per the Sporting Nation Report (2025) by WPP Media. As a result, it’s also generating a huge quantum of job opportunities in the sports industry. However, beyond the IPL, there are several sports leagues in India which are thriving to provide better returns to brands, even though at relatively lower advertising spends.
The Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has been leading on this front, being the second-most successful league on the commercial as well as sporting front. And while leagues like the Indian Super League (ISL), Hockey India League (HIL), Tennis Premier League (TPL), Pro Wrestling League (PWL), Premier Badminton League (PBL), etc. have starved for media attention, they are largely untapped in terms of the sponsorship & advertising potential as well as job scope for sports professionals.
Various Jobs Opportunities in Sports Leagues in India
So, let’s understand the whole spectrum of sports leagues in India and what kind of career opportunities are available across these leagues in various functions.
Sports Leagues in India Beyond IPL
Pro Kabaddi League (PKL)
Started in 2014, the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) has hit the perfect chords of the India audience, building a substantial fanbase in our cricket-crazy country. With each passing season, the popularity of its high-octane games & fast-paced action has hooked audiences and even made kabaddi athletes like Rahul Chaudhari, Ajay Thakur, Rohit Kumar & Pardeep Narwal as household names.
It was the innovation & tweaks to kabaddi’s format for the PKL including do-or-die raids, super raids, super tackles that worked wonders for creating this excitement among audiences. And today the PKL is the second-most watched sports league in India after the IPL with over audience of around 45 crores (per the Sportlight Report by KPMG), second only to the IPL. Over the seasons, it has attracted over 20-25 crores of viewership consistently, which makes it an appealing sporting property for advertisers & sponsors.
FAST FACTS – PKL
Year Started: 2014
Teams: 12
Seasons To Date: 12
Most Successful Teams: Patna Pirates (3 titles), Dabang Delhi & Jaipur Pink Panthers (2 titles each)
JOB SCOPE
PKL is one of the more popular non-cricket sports leagues in India, which attracts a lot of interest & commercial value. This, in turn, helps it generate a lot of demand for sports professionals who can carry the league’s operations smoothly. Even PKL teams hire many professionals who work in team management & logistical roles.
The experience of working in PKL or for any PKL team is certainly quite highly valued, given how quickly the league has built a solid foundation in India’s sports business industry. IISM students have regularly worked in the PKL as part of their live exposure, be it with specific teams or the operations team of the league.
Riding on IPL’s success, there was a strong push for having a Women’s version of the IPL, especially after the Indian Women’s Cricket Team started peforming well on the international stage in 2017-18. After decent audience response to the exhibition Women’s T20 Challenge, the BCCI greenlit the Women’s Premier League (WPL) in 2022, with its first season held in 2023 and the league took off in spectacular fashion.
The rising appeal of players like Smriti Mandhana, Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues pulled in the crowds in Delhi, Mumbai, & Bengaluru. And over its four seasons to date, the WPL has raked in substantial amount of hype, sponsorship money & player fame. The 2026 WPL season saw premium sponsor brands like Kingfisher, Bisleri, ChatGPT, Lakme, Hero Moto Corp, OnePlus, Tata Capital & many more.
Also Read: IPL 2026 Digital Ads: How Broadcasters Are Cashing in Big
FAST FACTS – WPL
Year Started: 2023
Teams: 5
Seasons To Date: 4
Most Successful Teams: Mumbai Indians & Royal Challengers Bengaluru (2 titles each)
JOB SCOPE
Just like the IPL, the WPL has seen growth on both commercial & sporting front, which probes the need for sports professionals in various functional areas. From venue management for stadium operations on game day to ticketing & fan engagement, the WPL sees many young aspiring sports managers work on-ground.
Many IISM students have worked in the WPL across its four seasons and have gained valuable live exposure. And while the WPL is yet to reach the commercial success that the IPL is enjoying, its early signs are very similar to the initial seasons of the IPL. So, work experience for young sports professionals in the WPL is currently quite underrated and equally valuable to the IPL.
Indian Super League (ISL)
Along with the PKL, the year 2014 also the Indian Super League (ISL) come into action, primarily due to the efforts of the Reliance Foundation & its subsidiary Football Sports Development Ltd. (FSDL). Following the city-based franchise model, the ISL has grown on several fronts over the years with viewership numbers, a loyal social media fanbase & commercial interest from sponsors & brands.
However, the recent upheaval in Indian national football, issues on the commercial rights deal between the FSDL & the AIFF had even brought the ISL to a halt last year. Its latest season eventually kicked off in February 2026 under the AIFF’s supervision. Now, the ISL will bounce back on the commercial front with parties like FanCode & Genius Sports offering varied 20-year deals worth ₹1190 crores & ₹2129 crores for the commercial rights of the ISL.
FAST FACTS – ISL
Year Started: 2014
Teams: 14
Seasons To Date: 12
Most Successful Teams: Atletico de Kolkata (3 ISL Trophies)*now defunct, Mohun Bagan Super Giant & Mumbai City FC (2 ISL Trophies & 2 Leagues Shields each)
JOB SCOPE
Despite its recent struggles, the job scope in the ISL for team management, social media, content creation, venue operations, etc. remains strong. Teams like Mumbai City FC & Bengaluru FC, and many others need sports professionals to efficiently run their in-season work.
IISM students often get opportunities to intern & work with ISL teams as they see the spectacle of Indian football happening live for 2 to 3 months. With a dedicated plan to revive its commercial rights deal, the ISL will start generating more job opportunities for sports professionals in the coming decade.
Hockey India League (HIL)
The Hockey India League (HIL) kicked off in 2013 and has seen a lot of ups & downs in its journey to date. For five consecutive seasons from 2013-2017, the HIL saw perennial action as Indian hockey stars rubbed shoulders with their foreign counterparts. Then, after a long hiatus, the HIL was revived in the 2024-25 season. It has seen several teams become defunct over the years and newer teams take part in the league.
In terms of commercial interest, the broadcast deals for the Hockey India League have often been in the modest range. However, the response to the league with viewership figures and social media has been immense, with the 2026 HIL season garnering over 1 billion views across digital platforms. This came despite no OTT platform streaming the HIL games, as they streamed all games live on YouTube for free. So, in terms of audience interest & digital growth, the Hockey India League still possesses solid potential.
FAST FACTS – HIL
Year Started: 2013
Teams: 8
Seasons To Date: 7
Most Successful Team: Kalinga Lancers (2 titles)
JOB SCOPE
Leagues like HIL often require a lot of personnel from a management & operations perspective, with venues, ticketing, broadcasting & several functions working in top gear. IISM students have also worked in the Hockey India League regularly in various verticals from venue operations to team logistics & broadcasting, as part of their live exposure.
Tennis Premier League (TPL)
The Tennis Premier League (TPL) started in 2018 on the similar city-based franchise to popularize tennis & nurture young talent in India. With a fast-paced multiple matches format (25 points per match victory) between teams of men & women players, the TPL has been consistently getting decent coverage by broadcasters like JioHotstar. Marquee players from India and overseas like Rohan Bopanna, Billy Harris and Pedro Martinez have featured in the TPL, with Indian stalwarts like Leander Paes & Sania Mirza being teams’ brand ambassadors.
While it’s nowhere close to IPL’s popularity, from a league operations and logistics perspective, the TPL has been running rather smoothly. Barring the 2020 COVID year, every year has seen a TPL season behind held. And given how Sony Sports persistently retains its TV broadcast rights & JioHotstar holds the digital rights, the TPL’s commercial returns due to its niche audience.
FAST FACTS – TPL
Year Started: 2018
Teams: 8
Seasons To Date: 7
Most Successful Team: Hyderabad Strikers (3 titles)
JOB SCOPE
The Tennis Premier League doesn’t pop into our minds when discussing about popular sports leagues in India. But given it’s consistency, it is one of the most underrated sports leagues that also provides several job opportunities. From league operations & planning to finance, sports marketing, sponsorships, the TPL has multiple functions hiring for young sports professionals. Even IISM students have gone and worked in the TPL time and again.
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Indian Pickleball League (IPBL)
The Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) is one of the newest sports leagues in India, having started in 2025 itself by the Times Group. The Ministry of Sports & Youth Affairs along with the Indian Pickleball Association recognized it as the official national league of pickleball in India.
With pickleball as a sport picking up a lot of popularity globally, the scope of IPBL to become big seems immense as of now. Having seen the success of the World Pickleball League and even the World Pickleball Championship, Indian audiences may steadily get hooked on to IPBL as well, even with a niche audience like the PKL & ISL enjoy.
Also Read: Careers in Sports – Your Guide to a Future in a Booming Ecosystem
FAST FACTS – INDIAN PICKLEBALL LEAGUE
Year Started: 2025
Teams: 6
Seasons To Date: 1
Teams: Mumbai Smashers, Chennai Super Warriors, Hyderabad Royals, Lucknow Leopards, Bengaluru Blasters, Capital Warriors Gurgaon
JOB SCOPE
The World Pickleball League & World Pickleball Championship (WPC) have seen IISM students volunteer and work at their respective events, which highlights the need for sports professionals in pickleball as well. So, as the Indian Pickleball League also picks up in its coming seasons, they will require trained sports management personnel who can improve the league’s organization on various fronts.
Pro Panja League (PPL)
Pro Panja League (PPL) becoming a reality was definitely a strangely innovative move, as it had its first season in 2023. And the kind of response audiences gave it has made it a fascinating sports league in India. Arm wrestling becoming a proper sport with its dedicated league with some apt branding and marketing efforts show the depth & innovation in India’s sports industry.
And the Pro Panja League has seen more than decent response from the sponsors & broadcasters too. Sony Sports & DD Sports have been showcasing the league on TV while FanCode also streams it on digital platforms. So, the Pro Panja League has pumped a breath of fresh air in India’s sports league ecosystem!
FAST FACTS – PRO PANJA
Year Started: 2023
Teams: 6
Seasons To Date: 2
Teams: Mumbai Muscle, Kiraak Hyderabad, Jaipur Veers, Sher-E-Ludhiana, MP Hathodas, Rohtak Rowdies
JOB SCOPE
Similar to the IPBL, Pro Panja League will grow and require sports professionals to scale its league operations. So far, few IISM students have worked in the Pro Panja League as part of their live exposure for Sports Management. And given the kind of marketing, sponsorship & venue operations activities that happen during Pro Panja, the scope of job opportunities in this league is only going to increase in the coming years.
Other Emerging Sports Leagues: Wrestling, Table Tennis, Volleyball
Talking about some of the other sports leagues in India, the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) and Ultimate Kho-Kho have tried making decent inroads in terms of their commercial potential. The Pro Wrestling League has flown under the radar, as a recent research highlighted that it yields one of the best returns to sponsor brands at naturally quite lower investments.
Ultimate Table Tennis, just like the TPL has garnered a decent social media & digital fanbase, as table tennis enthusiasts in India are finally getting a platform to showcase their passion for the sport. Ultimate Kho-Kho, meanwhile, is aiming to get popularity like Kabaddi and its initial audience response has been promising.
How a Sports League Grows Towards Success
Similarly, the Prime Volleyball League is one competition that has picked up well in terms of its consistent organization, having completed 4 seasons to date since 2022. However, the sheer lack of buzz around it shows how the Volleyball league has so much potential to improve in terms of marketing & storytelling while also develop Indian volleyball.
The same goes for the Global Chess League and the Indian Racing League, which are trying to popularize sports that aren’t considered as mainstream as cricket or football in India. The Premier Badminton League (PBL), however, needs a major boost on all fronts, as it hasn’t been held since 2020, despite the abundance of badminton players in India. They can certainly take a leaf out of the Hockey India League’s playbook and how they revived the league after a 7-year hiatus.
CONCLUSION
All in all, beyond the IPL, India has an abundance of sporting leagues across various sports. It’s all about how they can market & elevate these leagues to another level to unlock its untapped potential. While IPL & cricket today dominates sports business in India, with roughly 90 percent of money flowing there, these other sporting leagues have massive potential and can balance this lopsided nature of the sports ecosystem if their marketing, operations, storytelling, digital media strategy & overall organization is improved upon.
And on the job front, it will naturally generate more opportunities once the audience interest rises, viewership figures improve & the media rights valuation increases. IISM students working in these leagues is a massive testimonial to the potential of jobs across these spectrum of sports leagues. And if you also wish to enter the sports industry and work in the sport you follow, you can get in touch with us at IISM.
