The Indian men’s national football team is ranked abysmally at 142nd. In tennis, there is no Indian in the top 250 singles, men or women.
India is light years away from qualifying for even an expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup. Indian singles players have won a total of two matches at Majors in the last decade.
But even as two truly global sports are bedridden in the country, India is looking for international stars. Argentine legend Lionel Messi has just completed a four-city tour and from Wednesday, a battery of renowned tennis players, led by former world No. 1 and 2021 US Open champion Daniil Medvedev, will descend on Bengaluru to play the World Tennis League (WTL) exhibition.
“It is a waste of time to bring stars like Messi for such events,” said Pradhyum Reddy, who has held the roles of coach, technical director and CEO at several clubs. Sports stars.
Several people protested following the unfortunate events that took place during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata, demanding refund of tickets and liability. | Photo credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
Several people protested following the unfortunate events that took place during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata, demanding refund of tickets and liability. | Photo credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
«Take them for a match, like the last time Messi was here and Argentina played Venezuela (2011). This trip was an absolute waste of money, and if they have that kind of money, it could be better spent. That people are willing to pay huge amounts of money to catch a glimpse of Messi from a distance is a sad state of affairs,» he added.
Such private investments focused on star visits and exhibitions rather than player development initiatives come at a worrying time. Football’s top flight, the Indian Super League (ISL), is in limbo, and the All India Tennis Association (AITA) closed the National Tennis Center in New Delhi late last year.
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“You have sponsors because a big name like Mahesh (Bhupathi) is in charge (WTL),” says Zeeshan Ali, former India Davis Cup coach.
«The AITA, for whatever reason, is not able to attract sponsors. The onus then falls on the big names, and there is no reason why they cannot come together and start a program at the grassroots level,» he added.
Glitzy, star-driven tournaments like WTL are not new to India. The International Premier Tennis League (IPTL) – also founded by Bhupathi – ran from 2014 to 2016. The Vijay Amritraj-led Champions Tennis League was held in 2014 and 2015. But there is no tangible evidence that either has helped the sport.
“In cricket, IPL viewers consistently watch the best in the world, and that has a knock-on effect, but how much impact can a one-off tennis match have on a child?” Pradhyum wondered. “And just seeing Messi walking through the stadium can hardly inspire anyone to play.”
Zeeshan believes that stars play a role, but player development must go along with it.
«When (Roger) Federer came to India (IPTL 2014), and when (Rafael) Nadal did for the Davis Cup (2016), there was a queue for tickets. So big players do generate interest. But given where Indian tennis is, the money can be better spent. Any good junior should not take a scholarship to a university in the United States. If there is a path that parents see in India, the tennis scene will change,» he said.
Published on December 16, 2025
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