The India Basketball League has confirmed Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai as the first five cities to host teams in its inaugural season, scheduled to begin in early 2027.
The sixth franchise location is yet to be decided. Aizawl and Hyderabad have been added as wildcard contenders and will be considered alongside Ahmedabad, Kolkata and Pune.
The league said its selection process was based on fan engagement and interest from basketball communities in the shortlisted cities. It described the exercise as an attempt to involve supporters in shaping the league’s initial city line-up.
Karan Singh, managing director of ACG Sports, said the league had looked beyond the size of potential markets while deciding on its first set of teams.
“Every great sporting league is ultimately built around a passionate ecosystem. As we set out to build the India Basketball League, our objective was not simply to identify large markets, but to identify cities where basketball already has a genuine heartbeat — where players, fans and communities have nurtured the game for years,” Singh said.
He said the league had invited fans to have a direct voice in selecting the founding cities.
“The five cities announced today are the first proof of what IBL stands for — that the future of this league will be shaped not just for the fans, but with the fans,” he said.
The IBL is set to be India’s first professional basketball league. It plans to feature Indian and international players, with six city-based teams expected to take part in the first season.
The league is expected to announce its final franchise city in the coming days.
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