Bengaluru Jawans, the team owned by the Indian filmmaker Atlee and his wife Priya Atlee, have become the champions of the first season of the World Pickleball League (WPBL).
The unit, which consists of players like Vrushali Thakare, Katerina Stewart, Jack Foster, Marcelo Jardim, Alejandra Bobaria, Felix Grunert, and Mauro Garcia, beat Pune United 3-1 in the finals, which was held at the prestigious Cricket Club of India (CCI).
Jack Foster’s decisive 26-8 win in men’s singles set the tone, with Trang Hyunh-McClain and Alejandra Borobia winning 13-9 in women’s doubles. Pune rallied with a 15-6 men’s doubles win from William Sobek and Vanshik Kapadia, but Katerina Stewart’s 21-9 victory against Brooke Revuelta secured Bengaluru’s championship.
At the exciting event, SportsMint Media had the privilege of interviewing the iconic film director and proud owner of Bengaluru Jawans, Mr Atlee Kumar.
In this exclusive, one-on-one interview, Mr Atlee revealed key insights into the decision-making process behind acquiring the team, his bold vision for the Jawans, and his incredible experience.
1. What motivated you to get involved, and what were the key discussions when you decided to buy the team?
Over the past year, I spent about three to four months in LA and San Francisco for work. During that time, I kept hearing about this game called Pickleball. We decided to check it out, thinking it was going to go viral. But when we looked into it, we realised it had already spread everywhere. Priya then suggested that we should form a team if there was a league, and she ended up finding one. That’s how we ended up with a team in the World Pickleball League!
2. What factors did you consider while investing in a Pickleball team, and how do you evaluate the sport’s financial potential?
I didn’t dive too deep into the financial side of the sport, but one thing I really believe is that Pickleball is going to be the next-generation game. In just 15 minutes, the game can have so many twists and turnarounds—it can be anyone’s game. It offers a lot of inspiration, hope, and trust, and that’s what I want to spread. That’s why I’ve chosen to invest in it. From here, I’ll let fate decide where it goes, but I have a strong feeling it’s going places. I truly believe that by next season, it’s going to be much bigger.
3. We’ve seen you lead on film sets, what’s your leadership style in the team’s dressing room? Do you have a director’s vision for the team?
I’m completely away from it for now. Everything depends on Oliver (Bengaluru Jawan’s coach). Maybe next season, I’ll have a better sense of what to say and what not to say. Right now, I’m just learning—I’m a beginner. So for now, I’m just sitting back and watching Oliver.
4. How has the experience been so far, spending time with top athletes? What have you learned from them, and what insights would you share with the young athletes of India?
I think the sport really teaches you about the ups and downs. The quick shifts in momentum—your temperament goes up, then comes down—but you have to maintain balance to handle it all. That’s one of the key things I’ve learned from this short format of Pickleball. I believe that once people start playing, it will improve not only their physical health but also their mental well-being. It really teaches you a lot.
5. What is the one business aspect of this sport that surprised you in the past few months?
I’m purely doing this to learn something new, get into a sport, and understand it better. So, I’m just a beginner, but you know, beginner’s luck always seems to work. I think it’s working for us so far—let’s see how it goes.