In a sport where partnerships are carefully cultivated over years, India’s newest men’s doubles pairing Arjun–Hariharan has torn up the rulebook and produced one of the most compelling storylines of the 2025 badminton season.
MR Arjun and Hariharan Amsakarunan two players who were not even training partners three months ago—have delivered a title-winning spree that has thrust them into the national spotlight and redefined what a “scratch pair” can achieve.
Their latest triumph came on November 9, 2025, at the Telangana India International Challenge in Hyderabad, where they defeated Thailand’s Pharanyu Kaosamaang and Tanadon Punpanich 21-14, 21-14. That victory sealed their third straight title in just over a month an unprecedented run that has elevated them as India’s most interesting men’s doubles experiment since Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty established themselves among the world’s best.
This partnership was never meant to be permanent. It began as a tactical experiment. National coaches Tan Kim Her and Pullela Gopichand had decided in August to split Hariharan from his long-time partner Ruban Kumar Rethinasabapathi, a duo that had climbed as high as world No. 31 and built solid chemistry since 2022. Hariharan and Ruban were dependable reserves in major team events and had quietly become India’s second-best men’s doubles pair. But the coaches felt something was missing and sensed untapped potential in a different pairing.
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
That is where Arjun entered the picture. At 27, the Thomas Cup winner was returning from a year of injuries that derailed his rise with Dhruv Kapila, a partnership that had once reached world No. 19 and delivered big wins at the 2022 World Championships. His experience, tactical discipline and front-court intelligence made him an ideal complement to Hariharan’s explosive back-court game and 457 km/h power smash. The theory was simple: pair a crafty veteran with a ferocious young attacker and see what happens.
Their first two tournaments the Indonesia Masters Super 100 and the Chinese Taipei Open offered early glimpses but also exposed the expected teething issues. A semifinal and a quarterfinal finish showed promise without hinting at what was to follow. But once they arrived at the Al Ain Masters Super 100 in early October, everything began to click. They beat the Indonesian fifth seeds Raymond Indra and Nikolaus Joaquin 21-17, 21-18 to clinch their first title. In 35 minutes, the partnership moved from “experimental” to “seriously interesting.”
Read Articles Without Ads On Your IndiaSportsHub App. Download Now And Stay Updated
The next week in Istanbul, they were irresistible. At the Türkiye International Challenge, they stormed through the draw without dropping a game after the second round and obliterated Japan’s Yuto Noda and Shunya Ota 21-13, 21-6 in a 29-minute final. That day became even more memorable for Hariharan, who pulled off a rare “doubles double” by winning the mixed doubles crown with Treesa Jolly just an hour earlier.
What stood out during this period was the clarity in their roles. Arjun brought calmness and composure, managing tight points with decision-making sharpened by years of top-level play. Hariharan supplied the firepower but also began to evolve tactically, rotating more freely to the net, something he rarely did with Ruban. Their synergy developed quicker than anyone expected.
By November, they carried their momentum into the Telangana International Challenge and sealed their hat-trick of titles in front of a home crowd. Across all three finals, the pair displayed the same hallmark traits quick starts, sharp mid-court control and little hesitation in finishing rallies. Their ability to maintain tempo and dictate positions made them stand out on the Continental Circuit. Beyond the results, Arjun–Hariharan have offered national coaches something invaluable: proof that “scratch pairing” can be a strategic advantage rather than a desperate tactic. The philosophy, used effectively by Malaysia and Indonesia, is built on creating unpredictability.
When partnerships are new, opponents struggle to study their patterns and strengths. This tactical chaos works in favour of the newer pair especially if both players bring complementary tools.
The success of this Indian experiment also softens the country’s long-standing dependence on Satwik and Chirag. With the world No. 1 pair heavily loaded with tournaments and expectations, the rise of a promising second combination adds depth, insurance and fresh options for team formats like the Thomas Cup, Sudirman Cup and Asian Games.
The next challenge for Arjun and Hariharan will be to translate their dominance from Super 100 and International Challenge events into consistent performances on the higher rungs of the BWF World Tour. Their fast rise through the rankings has reflected their immediate success, but the step to Super 300 and above brings a different level of power, speed and defensive resilience from top-30 pairs.
For Arjun, this revival marks a deeply personal milestone a return to relevance after months spent navigating injury and rehabilitation. For Hariharan, the partnership represents a chance to break new ground beyond the success he enjoyed with Ruban. Together, they are showcasing a bold new doubles identity for India one built on flexibility, adaptability and a willingness to rethink conventional pathways.
Three months ago, this pairing was an experiment. Today, it is one of Indian badminton’s brightest stories of 2025.
If the early signs are anything to go by, Arjun and Hariharan are not just playing together they are building the blueprint for India’s next great doubles surge.
