After the Gaming Ban, IPL 2026 Reflects India’s Shift Towards Infrastructure-Led Sports Growth

IPL 2026 isn’t just about runs, wickets, and playoffs. As the ninteenth season of the cashrich league unfolds, it is also reflecting a deeper shift in how India’s sports economy is being shaped.

The 2025 ban on real-money gaming platforms, once a major sponsorship driver, has nudged leagues and franchises towards a more balanced and sustainable revenue mix, with greater reliance on long-term brand partnerships.

At the same time, stakeholders are increasingly looking beyond event-led revenues. There is a growing focus on building consistent engagement through participation, grassroots development, and community-driven formats, areas where physical infrastructure plays a central role. While investments remain selective and largely urban-centric for now, sports facilities are steadily gaining attention as tangible, long-term assets capable of generating predictable cash flows.

In an email interaction with myKhel, Deepak Verma of Pacecourt - India’s first manufacturer of synthetic acrylic sports flooring materials, with over 14 years of experience delivering sports surface systems across the country - shared insights on how infrastructure is evolving into a viable, complementary pillar in India’s sporting ecosystem. Here are the excerpts:

Q: With IPL 2026 now underway, how do you see league economics evolving after the Union Government’s 2025 blanket ban on real-money gaming platforms, which were key sponsors and engagement drivers?

A: The ban is likely to accelerate a structural shift in league economics. While real-money gaming had become a significant short-term revenue driver, its absence is pushing leagues and franchises to rebalance towards more diversified and stable sponsorship categories such as consumer brands, financial services, and digital platforms. In the medium term, this could lead to a healthier revenue mix, with greater emphasis on long-term partnerships rather than high-spend, short-cycle categories.

Q: Has the gaming ban triggered a shift in investment focus towards physical sports infrastructure as stakeholders look for more sustainable revenue streams?

A: It appears to have reinforced an existing trend rather than triggered a completely new one. There is growing interest among stakeholders in physical infrastructure as a long-term, tangible asset that supports consistent engagement. While it may not directly replace lost sponsorship revenue, infrastructure is increasingly being viewed as a complementary layer that enables recurring usage and community-driven monetisation.

Q: Are franchises, academies, or private investors now allocating more capital into grassroots facilities and infrastructure post-2025?

A: There is a gradual but noticeable increase in conversations around grassroots investment. Franchises and academies are recognising the importance of building a broader participation base, not just for talent development but also for sustained fan engagement. However, capital allocation is still selective and tends to be focused on urban and semi-urban markets where utilisation visibility is stronger.

Q: Sports infrastructure is increasingly being seen as an emerging asset class - how mature is this opportunity in India today?

A: At this stage, the opportunity can be described as early to mid-stage. There is clear demand and increasing institutional interest, but the market still lacks uniform benchmarks in terms of utilisation rates, pricing models, and return expectations. As more organised players enter the space and data becomes more structured, the segment could evolve into a more defined asset class over the next few years.

Q: What kind of returns or business viability can investors expect from community sports facilities and recreational infrastructure?

A: The returns are typically steady rather than high-yield, and are closely linked to factors such as location, sport mix, and programming. Facilities that offer multi-sport formats, coaching, and community engagement tend to see better utilisation and more predictable cash flows. From a viability standpoint, integration with residential communities, schools, or corporate hubs often strengthens the business case.

Q: How are real estate developers integrating sports infrastructure as a value driver in residential and commercial projects?

A: Developers are increasingly positioning sports infrastructure as part of a broader lifestyle proposition rather than a standalone amenity. Well-designed facilities contribute to higher occupancy, stronger community engagement, and, in some cases, premium pricing. In commercial developments as well, recreational infrastructure is being used to enhance employee experience and differentiate assets in a competitive market.

Q: Have you seen a behavioural shift where consumers are moving from passive sports consumption to active participation, especially after the gaming ban?

A: There has been a steady shift towards active participation over the past few years, driven largely by health awareness, lifestyle changes, and improved access to facilities. The gaming ban may have had a marginal influence, but the broader trend is structural. More consumers are now engaging with sport as a regular activity rather than purely as spectators.

Q: Which sports are driving the highest infrastructure demand right now - does cricket still dominate, or are sports like badminton, tennis, and pickleball gaining ground?

A: Cricket continues to dominate in terms of cultural significance and large-format infrastructure. However, there is strong growth in sports like badminton and tennis, and more recently pickleball, particularly in urban areas. These sports are space-efficient, easier to adopt recreationally, and align well with the rise of community and pay-and-play formats.

Q: Looking ahead, can sports infrastructure emerge as a key revenue pillar alongside media rights and sponsorships in India’s evolving sports economy?

A: Sports infrastructure has strong potential to evolve into a meaningful revenue pillar over time, particularly as the ecosystem becomes more participation-driven. Unlike media rights and sponsorships, which are largely event-led, infrastructure enables continuous engagement through training, recreation, and community usage. As utilisation levels improve and more organised formats emerge - such as academies, grassroots leagues, and pay-to-play models - these assets can generate steady, recurring revenues.

While it may take time to reach the scale of traditional revenue streams, infrastructure is well-positioned to play a complementary and increasingly important role in building a more resilient and well-rounded sports economy in India.