Indian basketball took a monumental step forward as the Basketball Federation of India (BFI) unveiled the Pro International Basketball League (INBL Pro), with its inaugural season set to commence on January 15. Featuring six franchises, the league will span venues across Punjab, Gujarat, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Chennai, with the final rounds slated for Abu Dhabi in March.
Further, in an exciting partnership, the league announced the formation of the Indian Panthers, a team set to compete in New Zealand’s professional basketball leagues. Based in Auckland, the Panthers will train and play against top teams, representing a collaborative effort to elevate Indian basketball on the global stage.
Key figures present at the launch included Aadhav Arjuna (President, BFI), Kulvinder Singh Gill (Secretary General, BFI), T. Chengalraya Naidu (Treasurer, BFI), Rupinder Brar (Founder & Chairman, INBL Pro), Abhishek Yash Tyagi (Founder & Co-Chairman, INBL Pro), Dushyant Khanna (Founder & Director, INBL Pro), and Praveen Barish (CEO, INBL Pro).
A groundbreaking move, the INBL Pro is designed to showcase under-25 players from India and abroad, with each team including two experienced international players as mentors. Player selection will culminate in an auction on January 9, following the National Basketball Championship in Gujarat.
Parveen Batish, CEO of INBL Pro, emphasised the league’s transformative potential, stating, “Basketball is already part of the culture so we must give people something to watch out for.” Highlighting the infrastructure challenge, he added,
“The challenge is that basketball internationally is played on wood or indoors. Here, because of the lack of infrastructure, Indians play outside on concrete and so on.”
New Zealand Basketball League Commissioner Justin Nelson expressed his enthusiasm, tweeting, “it’s an innovative and groundbreaking move and one that will build strong links between India and New Zealand – on and off the court.” He added:
“New Zealand is a nation of five million people, yet we’re very good at basketball. To work with a country that has 1.4 billion people, half of which are under the age of 25, for us is very exciting.”
The collaboration opens new avenues for New Zealand’s businesses and sports initiatives in India. While India has seen limited NBA representation, the INBL Pro aims to change that narrative. By integrating global expertise and local talent, the league aspires to improve players’ skills, foster professional opportunities, and boost India’s international ranking.
The league’s format will feature daily matches, and to ensure active participation, a Rapid League with shorter quarters will be introduced. Depending on the men’s league’s success, plans for a women’s INBL league may follow.
Beyond India, the Indian Panthers will serve as a cultural and athletic bridge in New Zealand, home to the largest Indian migrant community in the Pacific. The team will operate out of Pulman Arena in South Auckland, integrating Indian players with local and international talents.
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