Dilli Dillwale Claim Maiden WPBL Title in Mumbai, Defeat Chennai 3-2

Dilli Dillwale completed a dramatic comeback to defeat Chennai Super Champs 3-2 in the World Pickleball League 2026 Grand Final at Jio World Garden, Mumbai, and lift their first WPBL crown. The five-match final swung after an opening rout, but Dilli rallied through a nervy mixed doubles and a men’s doubles decider to seal the title.

Chennai’s Rika Fujiwara set the tone in the opening match, overwhelming Alejandra Lopez 27-3. As reported: "Rika Fujiwara began the outing in her trademark dominating demeanour, overcoming her Dilli Dillwale opponent Alejandra Lopez by 27-3. Right from the commencement of the tie, the seasoned Grand Slam star held an extreme stronghold over the proceedings, refusing to cede an inch, which gave the Super Champs a firm foot ahead in the fixture straightaway." Dilli responded immediately in match two when Max Manthou and Trang Huynh edged Ly Hoang Nam and Carlota Trevino 11-10 in mixed doubles, a one-point thriller that swung momentum back to the Delhi franchise.

Reports credit Dilli with victories in three of the remaining four matches after the opening loss - mixed doubles, women’s doubles and the decisive men’s doubles - with the men’s doubles winner ultimately delivering the championship-clinching point. Full player pairings and scorelines for the women’s doubles and men’s doubles matches have not been published in the accounts reviewed; the mixed doubles 11-10 and the Fujiwara 27-3 results are the explicit score details available.

Individual honours underlined Dilli’s standouts and campaign performers. "Dilli's Max Manthou was adjudged the Player of the Tournament, whereas Katerina Stewart and Ly Hoang Nam got the Band of Honour for winning the most points amongst women and men respectively, in this campaign, according to a release." The awards reflect season-long contributions: Max Manthou’s pivotal mixed-doubles performance in the final and Katerina Stewart’s scoring across women’s fixtures earned league-level recognition, while Ly Hoang Nam topped the men’s points charts.

Beyond the court, the victory has business and cultural resonance. Dilli Dillwale is co-owned by former India cricketer Sunil Gavaskar, and the franchise model - part of a league founded in 2024 and now in its second season - continues to attract celebrity ownership and urban stadium settings such as Mumbai’s Jio World Garden. The WPBL’s city-franchise format, international rosters and broadcasters listed for the competition underline the sport’s push to professionalize pickleball in India and across the region.

Social feeds reacted quickly, with posts celebrating Dilli’s "maiden title" and Season 2 triumph. As the league builds its statistics database and releases official match sheets, this final will be examined for tactical shifts and the players who rise in a sport where single points can change a city’s sporting map.