For decades, Indian badminton was synonymous with singles excellence.
From Prakash Padukone’s trailblazing All England triumph in 1980 to Pullela Gopichand’s victory in 2001, and from Saina Nehwal’s Olympic bronze to P.V. Sindhu’s historic medals on the biggest stage, India’s identity was firmly rooted in singles. Doubles, especially men’s doubles, was a neglected discipline an afterthought in a system that placed all its resources and ambitions on producing the next big singles star.
Today, however, the story is changing. A quiet revolution is underway, reshaping India’s reputation in the badminton world. At the forefront of this movement are Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty popularly known as SatChi who have redefined what Indian doubles can achieve. Their journey has inspired a wave of younger pairs, bringing depth, competitiveness, and hope that India can finally stand shoulder to shoulder with traditional doubles powerhouses like Indonesia, China, and Denmark.
When Malaysian coach Tan Kim Her paired Satwik and Chirag in 2016, few could have imagined the heights they would reach. Both were raw talents Satwik, with his towering presence and booming smash, and Chirag, quick-witted and razor-sharp at the net. Early results were modest, but their determination was obvious. The first breakthrough arrived with the Mauritius International in 2016, followed by a watershed moment in 2019 when they stunned China’s reigning Olympic champions to lift the Thailand Open Super 500.
Their rise accelerated under Danish coach Mathias Boe, who instilled tactical discipline and a more rounded style of play. The pair became central to India’s historic Thomas Cup triumph in 2022, where doubles strength proved decisive. That same year, they clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games. In 2023, they etched their names in history again securing India’s first men’s doubles gold at the Asian Games and rising to World No. 1.
SatChi’s game embodies complementary strengths: Satwik’s sledgehammer smashes from the backcourt combined with Chirag’s finesse and interceptions up front. More importantly, their evolution has been about adaptability. Against Malaysia’s Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik, a pair that once held a dominant head-to-head record, SatChi learned to win flat, defensive exchanges rather than relying solely on brute force. This tactical maturity has turned them from dangerous outsiders into bona fide champions.
Of course, the journey has not been without setbacks. Injuries and a grueling calendar tested their resilience, especially in 2024 and early 2025. Yet their bronze medal at the 2025 World Championships, secured with a win over Chia–Soh—the same duo that ended their Olympic run—was a testament to their grit. Today, Satwik and Chirag are not just India’s best-ever men’s doubles pair; they are the architects of a new badminton culture.
A New Generation Emerging in Men Doubles
Crucially, SatChi’s success has not remained an isolated story. It has triggered a surge of young Indian pairs embracing doubles as a legitimate career path.
- Hariharan Amsakarunan and Ruban Kumar, currently ranked inside the top 30, have been building consistency on the BWF Tour. Hariharan’s firepower from the back and Ruban’s sharpness at the net give them a balanced edge. While they still lack consistency against higher-ranked opponents, their ceiling is evident. However there has been reports that they are moving ahead with different partners
- Sai Prateek and Pruthvi Roy have shown promise at the Super 300 level, finishing runners-up at the 2024 Syed Modi International. Their chemistry is improving, and their contrasting styles Prateek’s defense and Roy’s fast net play make them a dangerous duo in the making.
- Viswatej Gobburu and Bhargav Ram Arigela, among the youngest on the circuit, already boast solid junior-level results and represented India at the 2025 World Junior Championships. Their ranking may still be outside the top 100, but their fearless approach has caught attention.
- Suraj Goala and Dhruv Rawat, ranked in the 80s, underline India’s growing depth. Their triumph at the 2025 Cameroon International showed that even beyond the top tier, India now has doubles specialists capable of winning internationally.
This pipeline marks a sharp departure from the past, when doubles was seen as a fallback option for singles players who couldn’t break through. Today, youngsters actively aspire to be doubles specialists.
The Ecosystem Behind the Rise
The rise of Indian men’s doubles is not accidental it is the product of deliberate structural changes. The Badminton Association of India (BAI), after years of singles-centric policies, finally recognized doubles as a priority. Hiring specialist coaches like Tan Kim Her and Mathias Boe introduced a professional, strategy-driven approach.
Private academies such as the Prakash Padukone Academy in Bengaluru and the Suchitra Academy in Hyderabad have also played a pivotal role, offering scientific training, video analysis, and exposure to international competition. The now-defunct Premier Badminton League (PBL), too, provided invaluable experience, allowing young Indians to test themselves against the world’s best in a high-profile, televised environment. Its relaunch, reportedly in the works, could again be a game-changer for developing doubles.
Government support through the Sports Authority of India (SAI), coupled with corporate investment from Reliance and TATA, has created an ecosystem where young doubles players receive financial stability and international exposure—two factors long missing in Indian badminton.
Challenges Ahead
Yet, the path to sustained dominance is fraught with challenges. Doubles demands relentless fitness and near-perfect coordination; lapses are punished instantly. For India, consistency remains a hurdle while SatChi have broken barriers, replicating that standard across multiple pairs is still a work in progress.
Injury management is another concern. Satwik’s battles with back and elbow problems, along with Chirag’s fitness issues, highlight the need for advanced sports science and load management. The reliance on foreign coaches, while productive, also underscores the urgency of developing world-class Indian doubles coaches for the long run.
Finally, the competition is unforgiving. Indonesia, China, Malaysia, and Denmark boast multiple top-20 pairs, ensuring that every major tournament demands peak performance. For India’s rising pairs, breaking into the top 30 and sustaining themselves there will be the true test.
From being the discipline that India ignored, men’s doubles has become the symbol of a new dawn in Indian badminton. Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty have proven that Indian doubles can dream big, win big, and even sit atop the world rankings. Their success has created a ripple effect, inspiring Hariharan–Ruban, Sai Prateek–Pruthvi, Viswatej–Bhargav Ram, Suraj–Dhruv, and others to aim higher.
The road ahead will demand resilience, tactical innovation, and systemic support. But the trajectory is unmistakable. Indian men’s doubles is no longer the sport’s forgotten chapter it is a revolution in motion. And as the younger pairs climb the ladder, fans can finally look forward to a future where India is not just a singles powerhouse, but a nation that commands respect in every discipline of badminton.
