M3M India, a real estate developer, has entered the fast-growing world of sports management by acquiring the NCR franchise of the debut Indian Pickleball League (IPBL), a premier initiative of the Times of India Group.
The franchise, named Capital Warriors Gurgaon, will be led by Dr Payal Kanodia & Aishwarya Bansal, Family Office of M3M India, who will drive strategy, brand-building, and team vision.
in the inaugural season, bringing together top Indian athletes, global coaching talent, and a world-class fan experience.
Aishwarya Bansal, Family Office of M3M India, said, “Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports globally, and India is perfectly positioned to lead this cultural movement. Our entry into the Indian Pickleball League (IPBL) is not just an investment in sport–it is an investment in community, youth engagement, and the future of urban experiences. In times to come, we see Pickleball as the second highest in followers after cricket. The Capital Warriors Gurgaon will embody the spirit of new-age India: energetic, inclusive, and globally inspired. We are grateful to the Times of India Group for creating a world-class platform that allows emerging sports to thrive.”
Dr Payal Kanodia, Family Office of M3M India, and Chairperson & Trustee, M3M Foundation, said, “With ‘Lakshya’–our flagship sports initiative–at the heart of the nine major programmes of the M3M Foundation this year, we have deepened our commitment to nurturing sporting talent and strengthening sports infrastructure and accessibility across India. Recognising the vital role that sports play in building character, discipline, and resilience, we took a bold step forward by committing to the development of 50 pickleball courts across the country, especially to train and uplift underserved children. By creating infrastructure that inspires active and healthy living, we are opening new pathways for growth, inclusion, and community empowerment. At the launch of India’s first national government-recognised pickleball league–an extraordinary awareness milestone–The Times of India acknowledged this transformational effort. Together with ‘Capital Warriors Gurgaon’, we are striving to give back to the city we love, envisioning it as a vibrant playground where every child has the opportunity to play, every family finds time to bond, and every elderly citizen finds joy simply by being part of an active, connected community.”
This move marks the second major investment by the M3M India Family Office into new-age consumer sectors. Earlier, the family office made headlines by investing $20 million in beauty-tech platform Kult, acquiring 55% equity.
