New Delhi, Jan. 27 -- In a country where cricket is religion, pickleball and padel have picked up mass momentum. But, there's a twist. Along with late night partying, Gen Z and millennials are turning to these highly social racquet sports to hang out with friends on weekend nights. "It's a great way to catch up without the pressure of eating out or drinking," says Tanay Bhimrajka, 31, entrepreneur in South Mumbai. "We are a group of friends who play regularly and sometimes welcome newer people whom we connect with via WhatsApp communities," he says.

The love for pickleball made four friends, Shashanth Shetty, Sashant Shetty, Milin Patel and Bhushan Shinde, open an indoor 24 x 7 neon pickle ball court, LEVEL ONE, in Andheri East, Mumbai, ...