The badminton racquet Isometric 30 VF by Yonex. – CC CC BY-SA 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Introduction
Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty are the greatest men’s doubles pair in Indian history and one of the loudest success stories in world badminton. From Asian Games gold in 2022 to a world No. 1 ranking in 2024 and a string of Super 750 titles, the pairing has turned Indian doubles from afterthought into a global force.
Asian Games gold (2022), Commonwealth Games gold (2022), French Open Super 750 (2024)
Early life
The two players come from very different parts of India. Satwik grew up in Amalapuram, Andhra Pradesh, a shuttler from a family steeped in the sport, while Chirag was raised in Mumbai. Both trained independently before being paired together in 2016 under the guidance of national coaches. The early bond they formed, one physically explosive and one tactically cool, became the foundation of an elite pairing.
Career highlights
Year
Achievement
2016
Formed the pairing at the under-19 level
2018
Won the BWF World Tour Finals qualification era titles and the Commonwealth Games team gold
2022
Won Commonwealth Games gold and then Asian Games gold in Hangzhou
2023
Won the Korea Open Super 750 and the Indonesia Open
2023
Set the world record smash speed in tournament play
2024
Reached world No. 1 in the men’s doubles rankings
2024
Won the French Open Super 750
2025-2026
Maintained top-ranked doubles status with regular title runs
Bronze medal match at the Badminton Mixed International Team competition – CC CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Playing style
The pairing is built on a perfect contrast: Satwik is the hammer, a hitter with the hardest smash in the world, while Chirag is the wall, an elite defender and net player who keeps rallies alive.
Shot category
Satwik
Chirag
Smash power
Elite (record-hitting)
Good (supports)
Net play
Good
Elite
Defense
Strong (with reach)
Elite
Serve and return
Good
Excellent
Court covering
Strong
Elite
Speed of rally
Excellent
Excellent
Rivalries
Satwik and Chirag have built a rivalry with the Korean and Chinese pairs that dominates men’s doubles, especially against the Indonesian pairings of the elite tier. Within India, their rivalry with the younger doubles generation has pushed the whole program forward.
National team role
The pair is the anchor of India’s Thomas Cup and Sudirman Cup campaigns, the doubles point India can almost bank on. Their success has transformed Indian badminton’s youth pipeline, producing a flood of junior boys taking up doubles.
What’s next
With the Asian Games, the Commonwealth Games, world No. 1, and a shelf of Super 750 titles secured, the only major trophy missing is a World Championship or Olympic gold. As of 2026, they remain among the clear favorites to break that barrier.
Racquet sports player and writer covering pickleball, padel, tennis, badminton, and squash. Former collegiate tennis player turned recreational pickleball enthusiast. Jackson writes beginner-friendly guides to help new players get on court faster.
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