The upcoming seventh season of Ultimate Table Tennis (UTT) will see a compelling mix of continuity and fresh leadership, as all seven franchises confirmed their coaching line-ups ahead of the July 2026 campaign in Goa.
Reigning champions U Mumba TT will stick with their successful combination of Jay Modak and John Murphy, a partnership that guided them to the title last season. Their continued presence offers stability, with Modak’s focus on nurturing young players complemented by Murphy’s international expertise.
One of the headline changes comes with Sourav Chakraborty, the current national team coach, who will make his UTT debut by taking charge of Ahmedabad APL Pipers. He will work alongside returning coach Francisco Santos, adding both fresh ideas and proven pedigree to the side.
Another notable addition is former Season 1 player Abhishek Yadav, who transitions into coaching with UP Prometheans. He will be joined by Chris Pfeiffer, forming a blend of familiarity and new perspective.
Dabang Delhi TTC will feature a completely revamped coaching unit, with Czech Republic’s Petr David — a decorated doubles champion — teaming up with Indian coach Srivatsa Chakravarthy, signaling a fresh start for the franchise.
Several teams, however, have opted for continuity. Dempo Goa Challengers retain Parag Agarwal and Elena Timina, while PBG Pune Jaguars once again rely on Sachin Shetty — who has now been part of every UTT season — alongside French coach Julien Girard. Kolkata Thunderblades also continue with their established pairing of Jubin Kumar and Tobias Bergman.
Speaking on the developments, co-promoter Vita Dani highlighted the importance of this balance, saying, “It’s exciting to see such a strong blend of continuity and fresh perspectives across teams this season. Coaches are central to how teams prepare, adapt and perform.”
Promoted by Niraj Bajaj and Dani under the guidance of the Table Tennis Federation of India, the league continues to grow in stature. Matches will be broadcast on Star Sports and streamed via JioHotstar.
Season 7 will follow a round-robin format, with each of the seven teams facing one another once across 21 matches. The top four teams will progress to the semi-finals, setting the stage for another tightly contested edition of India’s premier table tennis competition.
Coaches for upcoming season
Ahmedabad APL Pipers – Sourav Chakraborty (Indian), Francisco Santos (Foreign)
PBG Pune Jaguars – Sachin Shetty (Indian), Julien Girard (Foreign)
Dempo Goa Challengers – Parag Agarwal (Indian), Elena Timina (Foreign)
Dabang Delhi TTC – Srivatsa Chakravarthy (Indian), Petr David (Foreign)
Kolkata Thunderblades – Jubin Kumar (Indian), Tobias Bergman (Foreign)
U Mumba TT – Jay Modak (Indian), John Murphy (Foreign)
UP Prometheans – Abhishek Yadav (Indian), Chris Pfeiffer (Foreign)
