Smaller cities produce more elite athletes in India: report

Only 16 percent of India’s top athletes in six franchise leagues across five disciplines are from the seven metros, indicating a shift in the perception of sports as a viable career option in ambitious India.

The findings are part of a report titled India’s Most Valuable Sports Teams 2026 – prepared by Hurun India and Fanatic Sports – which was released in Mumbai on Tuesday.

The report is based on 1,323 athletes participating in the Indian Premier League, Women’s Premier League, Indian Super League, Pro Kabaddi League, Hockey India League and Prime Volleyball League.

According to the report, of the 732 athletes classified as from cities, 617 are from Tier I, Tier II or Tier III cities, while the seven metro cities together have produced only 115 athletes. Collectively, these cities account for almost three-quarters of the 1,018 Indian athletes studied for the report.

While the report does not include some other franchise-based leagues that have endured over the years, Anas Rahman Junaid stated that the six properties were just a starting point for the investigation.

“As this is our first foray into the sports sector, this is a start. We hope to continue adding other competitions every year from now on,” said Anas.

«The main aim of the report is to let companies know that sports is now a viable asset class in India. More importantly, the report is an eye-opener for the younger generation, encouraging them to take sports seriously and invest in it as a career option. It helps us understand that there is quite a large talent pool in our country. And it is not just in the metros or certain states; it is spread across the country,» said Raghav Gupta.

Haryana tops the list of states producing top athletes with 129 athletes in these six leagues, followed by Maharashtra (95) and Punjab (81). Manipur (67) and Mizoram (42) – helped by their strong representation in the ISL – are the two northeastern states to feature in the top 10.

The report also highlights that Ketan Kushwaha, a 14-year-old hockey player, is the youngest professional Indian athlete, even younger than teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

While the report has refrained from projecting commercial values ​​for any league apart from the IPL, it is estimated that the IPL will be a US$15 billion property by 2032. Kolkata Knight Riders is also listed as the most valued IPL franchise, with a valuation between Rs. 19,200 crore and Rs. 22,500 crore, followed by Mumbai Indians (Rs. 18,400 crore to Rs. 21,700 crore) and Chennai Super Kings (Rs. 18,400 crore to Rs. 20,700 crore).

Published on May 19, 2026