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The Indian men’s National football team is ranked an abysmal 142. In tennis, there is no Indian in the singles top-250, 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 grand total of two matches at Majors in the last decade.
Yet, even as two truly global sports are bedridden in the country, India is courting international stars. Argentine legend Lionel Messi 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 in Bengaluru to play the World Tennis League (WTL) exhibition.
“It’s a waste of time bringing stars like Messi for such events,” Pradhyum Reddy, who has donned the roles of a coach, technical director and CEO at multiple clubs, told Sportstar.
Several people protested following the unfortunate events that took place during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata, asking for ticket refunds and accountability.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI
Several people protested following the unfortunate events that took place during Lionel Messi’s visit to Kolkata, asking for ticket refunds and accountability.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI
“Bring them for a game, 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 can be better spent. That people are willing to pay huge sums to get a glimpse [of Messi] from a distance is a sad state of our affairs,” he added.
Such private investment being directed towards star visits and exhibitions and not player-development initiatives comes at a disconcerting time. Top-flight football, the Indian Super League (ISL), is in limbo, and the All India Tennis Association (AITA), late last year, closed down the National Tennis Centre in New Delhi.
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“You have sponsors because a big name like Mahesh [Bhupathi] is heading it [WTL],” said 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 get together and start a grassroots-level programme,” he added.
Glitzy, star-driven tournaments like WTL aren’t 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 proof that either helped the sport.
“In cricket, IPL viewers are consistently watching the best in the world, and it does have a knock-on effect, but how much of an impact can a one-off tennis match have on a kid?” wondered Pradhyum. “And seeing Messi just walking around the stadium can hardly inspire anyone to play.”
Zeeshan believes that stars do have a role but player development should march in step.
“When [Roger] Federer came to India [2014 IPTL], and when [Rafael] Nadal did for Davis Cup [2016], there was a queue for tickets. So big players do generate interest. But given where Indian tennis is, money can be spent better. Every good junior should not be taking a scholarship to a college in the United States. If there is a path that parents see within India, the tennis scene will change,” he said.
Published on Dec 16, 2025