Bengaluru Stallions unveil 4-member squad for IGPL Invitational Season 2
Synopsis
India's first franchise golf league kicks off its second season on 23 September in Ras Al Khaimah, with Bengaluru Stallions naming a four-man squad of Trishul Chinnappa, Veer Ganapathy, Sunhit Bishnoi, and Sudhir Sharma — and billing themselves as the 'RCB of golf' in a sport they say is shedding its elite-only image.
Key Takeaways
Bengaluru Stallions GC unveiled their four-member squad on 17 September 2026 for the second season of the IGPL Invitational.
The squad comprises Trishul Chinnappa , Veer Ganapathy , Sunhit Bishnoi , and Sudhir Sharma .
Season 2 of the IGPL Invitational begins in Ras Al Khaimah on 23 September 2026 .
The Bengaluru Stallions' home leg will be held at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) from 1 to 5 December 2026 .
The IGPL is India's first franchise-based professional golf league, featuring 10 city-based teams across a nine-event season .
The Bengaluru Stallions GC unveiled their four-member squad on Thursday, 17 September 2026, ahead of the second season of the IGPL Invitational, which gets underway in Ras Al Khaimah on 23 September. The squad reveal also featured the franchise's new jersey for the campaign.
The Squad
Trishul Chinnappa, Veer Ganapathy, Sunhit Bishnoi, and Sudhir Sharma will carry the Bengaluru flag in the upcoming season. The quartet was present in person at the unveiling event. The team represents a blend of experience and emerging talent — Chinnappa is an established professional who has competed both in India and overseas, while Ganapathy, the son of Indian golfer and coach Rahul Ganapathy, was India's top-ranked junior golfer until last year.
Home Leg at KGA in December
The Bengaluru Stallions will host their home leg of the 2026 IGPL Invitational at the Karnataka Golf Association (KGA) from 1 to 5 December. The event is expected to draw fans, families, and aspiring golfers from across the region.
What the Players Said
Chinnappa drew a pointed comparison to the Indian Premier League to explain the league's broader ambition. 'Just like you have an RCB, we are very similar, but for golf,' he said. 'Till today, everybody thinks golf is only for the elite, but that is changing. India is changing, and so is sport. We have spent our whole lives trying to be as good as we possibly can. We all have stories to tell, and this is how we tell them.'
On the shift from individual to team competition, Chinnappa noted a genuine change in mindset. 'Golf is an individual sport. We are so used to saying I want to be on top, suddenly we are saying we want to be on top. I have started looking out for my teammates. It is a new feeling, and it is getting stronger.'
Bishnoi emphasised the exposure the league offers younger players who would otherwise struggle to afford international competition. 'Playing outside India is very expensive. The IGPL has given juniors and amateurs this exposure. In Morocco, it was so windy — conditions you won't get in India. This is a very good place for upcoming players to raise their game. All of us are going to play our own game, support each other, and hopefully come out on top a few times this season.'
About the IGPL
The IGPL — India's first franchise-based professional golf league — features 10 city-based teams competing across a nine-event season. Each tournament is played over 54 holes across three days, with the best two scores from each team's four players counting towards the team total on each day. Beyond the professional circuit, the league runs grassroots programmes that send coaches into schools and residential communities, and its tournaments include pro-am days, giving amateurs, juniors, and business leaders the chance to play alongside professionals.
With Season 2 set to open in Ras Al Khaimah and culminate in a home leg in Bengaluru, the Stallions will be hoping to raise their game after gaining experience from the inaugural season.
Point of View
But the real test is whether the league can convert pro-am days and school programmes into sustained grassroots participation. Golf's elite perception is a structural barrier, not just a PR problem, and a nine-event season will need consistent broadcast visibility to shift it. The Bengaluru home leg in December at KGA is the franchise's best shot at proving local resonance beyond the corporate gallery.
NationPress
17 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who are the Bengaluru Stallions' players for IGPL Season 2?
The Bengaluru Stallions have named Trishul Chinnappa, Veer Ganapathy, Sunhit Bishnoi, and Sudhir Sharma for the second season of the IGPL Invitational. Chinnappa is an experienced professional with international exposure, while Ganapathy was India's top-ranked junior golfer until last year.
When and where does IGPL Invitational Season 2 begin?
The second season of the IGPL Invitational gets underway on 23 September 2026 in Ras Al Khaimah. The Bengaluru Stallions will host their home leg at the Karnataka Golf Association from 1 to 5 December 2026.
What is the IGPL and how does it work?
The IGPL (India Golf Premier League) is India's first franchise-based professional golf league, featuring 10 city-based teams across a nine-event season. Each tournament is played over 54 holes across three days, with the best two scores from each team's four players counting towards the daily team total.
Why does the IGPL matter for young Indian golfers?
The league provides juniors and amateurs competitive exposure in international conditions that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive, according to Bengaluru Stallions player Sunhit Bishnoi. The IGPL also runs grassroots programmes placing coaches in schools and residential communities, and its tournaments feature pro-am days for amateurs and aspiring players.
How is the IGPL franchise model different from traditional golf?
Traditional professional golf is an individual sport where players compete for personal rankings. The IGPL introduces a team-based franchise format, similar in concept to the IPL in cricket, where players compete for a city franchise and team scores are aggregated — a format Trishul Chinnappa says has changed how golfers relate to each other on tour.
