At Saturday’s glittering launch in New Delhi, 72 The League unveiled its trophy, assembled its stars, and made clear its ambitions to turn match play into must-watch television.
The inaugural edition of PGTI’s 72 The League was launched Saturday with the kind of ceremony typically reserved for established institutions, not untested experiments. ICC Chairman Jay Shah unveiled a custom-designed trophy created by internationally acclaimed artist Vibhor Sogani. Kapil Dev, India’s World Cup-winning captain and current PGTI president, looked on approvingly. Young guns like Shaurya Bhattacharya and 16-year-old Kartik Singh mingled with seasoned professionals Honey Baisoya, Manu Gandas, Ajeetesh Sandhu and Viraj Madappa. The message was unmistakable: Indian golf was betting big on reinvention.
A Trophy Worthy of the Ambition
The trophy itself carried symbolic weight. Designed by Sogani, known for innovative public art installations and contributions to contemporary design, it represents organisers’ determination to position the league not as a makeshift domestic affair but as a marquee event worthy of international attention. The silverware will be handed to the winning team after a format unlike anything most Indian professionals have encountered on home soil: match play featuring singles, fourballs and foursomes across three Delhi-NCR courses.
Players Arriving in Form, Hungry for Something New
The quality of the field promises genuine competition. Honey Baisoya, the league’s most expensive buy at Rs 20.50 lakh, currently leads the PGTI Order of Merit and arrives fresh off a victory at the DP World Players Championship at Qutub Golf Course earlier this month. He opened the season with a third-place finish at the SECL Chhattisgarh Open and has been in relentless form since.
Shaurya Bhattacharya, who finished third on the 2025 PGTI Order of Merit with two wins, was tied second at the recent DP World Players Championship alongside Manu Gandas. Both bring momentum into a league designed to capitalise on precisely this kind of competitive sharpness.
‘We Had a Lot of Discussion’: Auction Day Buzz
For players, the auction was as much a psychological event as a financial one. Baisoya recalls the anticipation vividly. “We were playing the practice round in Tolly, and everyone was looking at Instagram,” he said. “We saw the stories about how the auction was being held. And it was so exciting. We had a lot of discussion, and on the morning of the auction, I messaged my friend Veer [Ahlawat] saying that I have a feeling I’ll go for Rs 20 lakh. In the end, it turned out exactly like that.”
Bhattacharya, pre-selected by UP Prometheans, emphasised the unfamiliar thrill of collective strategy. “The camaraderie within the team and how we would strategise in the team format is really interesting,” he said. “The feeling behind this week for me is excitement, but at the same time, it would be a very competitive tournament.”
Veterans Embrace the Ryder Cup Dream, Scaled Down
For seasoned professionals, the league represents something deeper than novelty. Viraj Madappa, returning after an 18-month injury layoff, framed it in aspirational terms. “This is the first time for me to be part of a team,” he said. “Golf is a very individual sport but right now you have nine other guys behind you. As golfers, we always have a dream to play the Ryder Cup format, but the Presidents Cup is as close as it gets for Indians. Here, we have a format very similar to that, and to play for something bigger than ourselves is very exciting.”
Asian Tour winner Ajeetesh Sandhu, part of the Rajasthan Regals, echoed the sentiment. “We’ve never played in a team format, or at least I haven’t,” he said. “To have the opportunity to help your teammates, help your co-players and youngsters — it’s such a new thing in golf. It’s got so much excitement, not just in the players but all over the country.”
Youth, International Talent, and the Road Ahead
Kartik Singh, at 16 the league’s youngest participant, brings fresh eyes to proceedings. “This is my first year on the PGTI and I’m very grateful that I’ve been selected for the league,” he said. “It will be really interesting playing the match play and the foursome, four-ball styles. It’s all a really different format than what we normally play.”
The league will also feature 12 overseas players, including American Jhared Hack, the most expensive international buy at Rs 15.80 lakh. “Everybody’s been extremely welcoming,” Hack said. “The opportunity to be a part of 72 The League and PGTI and be with an organisation that helps me advance my career and help grow the game — it’s a great opportunity.”
Play begins Monday, February 24, at ITC Classic Golf & Country Club, before moving to Jaypee Greens and Qutub Golf Course. Whether the league can sustain attention beyond its opening fortnight, whether match play can find an audience in a country conditioned to cricket’s rhythms, and whether franchise loyalty can take root in a sport built on individual pursuit — these remain open questions. But Saturday’s ceremony suggested organisers are not hedging their bets. They are swinging for the fences.