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Premier League said its India strategy is increasingly focused on grassroots football, coach education and community development beyond fan engagement. Speaking to The Free Press Journal, Premier League India chief Hrishikesh Shende said initiatives such as Premier Skills and NEXTGEN Coach are designed to improve coaching quality and use football as tool for social inclusion and youth development.

As the Premier League deepens its footprint in India, the focus is shifting beyond fandom and viewership to long-term grassroots development. With more than 144 million followers in the country, the League is increasingly investing in coaching infrastructure, youth development and community-led football initiatives through programmes such as Premier Skills and NEXTGEN Coach. In an exclusive interaction with The Free Press Journal, Hrishikesh Shende, Managing Director, Premier League India, speaks about the League’s evolving vision for India, the importance of empowering grassroots coaches, and how football can become a catalyst for social change across communities.

Excerpts

Q: Over the past 18 years, the Premier League has maintained a sustained presence in India. How has the League’s vision for football development in the country evolved during this period?

A: When you look back at the last 18 years, what stands out is the consistency of our commitment to India. We have always seen India as a strategically important market, and our focus from the very beginning has been on supporting grassroots football and creating long-term community impact through the game. What has evolved over time is the depth of that engagement. We started with programmes like Premier Skills in partnership with the British Council back in 2007, which has since benefited over 124,000 young people across the country, and more than 7,300 coaches, referees and educators.