Cricket Icon Sachin Tendulkar Backs Mobile Gaming Startup Hitwicket
Former professional cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has invested in Metasports Interactive, the studio behind the mobile strategy game Hitwicket.
Indian gaming startup Metasports Interactive, known for its mobile cricket strategy title Hitwicket, has secured an investment from cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. While the financial terms and valuation remain undisclosed, the deal deepens Tendulkar's role in the company's branding and in-game content development. The startup has now attracted two prominent cricket figures, with commentator Harsha Bhogle also previously investing.
Founded by Kashyap Reddy and Keerti Singh, Hitwicket has raised over $23 million in total funding since its inception six years ago. Its most recent major influx of capital came in April 2024, when it secured $20 million from London-based Metica to fund user acquisition and monetization efforts. CEO Kashyap Reddy noted that the collaboration with Tendulkar provides technical insight into elite-level decision-making, which the company aims to integrate into its gameplay mechanics.
The startup currently claims a global user base of 20 million players, with a target of reaching 100 million downloads over the next three years. The firm reports that its revenue doubled in the six months leading up to this announcement, with the vast majority derived from in-app purchases.
Hitwicket operates in an increasingly crowded Indian gaming market. Local competitor LightFury Games is currently preparing to launch its own cricket title, eCricket, having secured licensing deals with several high-profile cricketers. According to industry data from Niko Partners, India's gaming revenue recently surpassed the $1 billion threshold, serving a population of over 511 million gamers.