Cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar has joined Metasports Interactive as an investor and strategic partner. The Hyderabad-based developer of the cricket strategy game Hitwicket aims to reach 100 million global downloads in three years. As a private company, Metasports Interactive does not have listed shares, meaning there is no direct impact on the stock market.
Cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar has entered the mobile gaming sector by acquiring an equity stake in Hyderabad-based Metasports Interactive. The partnership will see the former captain take an active role as a strategic partner to help the startup grow its flagship title, Hitwicket, a mobile-first strategy game. The company has announced an ambitious plan to scale its user base from the current 20 million to 100 million downloads over the next three years.
Moving Beyond Traditional Sports Gaming
Unlike traditional sports games that focus on quick reflexes or simple simulation, Hitwicket is built on tactical decision-making. The company reports that its current user base, spread across 120 countries, spends an average of 51 minutes per day in the game. The management team, led by founders Kashyap Reddy and Keerti Singh, believes that blending Tendulkar’s real-world cricketing expertise with deep strategic gameplay will help the title stand out in the crowded mobile gaming market. This collaboration is expected to influence how the game handles field placements and complex bowling strategies, turning professional insights into playable features.
Financials and Funding Context
Metasports Interactive is a private company, and its shares are not traded on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) or the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE). Investors looking for direct exposure to the gaming sector through this partnership will not find a ticker symbol for the company. The startup has been building its infrastructure through private capital, most notably securing a $20 million non-dilutive user acquisition fund from London-based Metica in April 2026. This funding model is specific to user growth and marketing, rather than standard equity dilution, which allows the company to focus on scaling its reach without immediately issuing new shares.
Sector Challenges and Risks
The mobile gaming sector is highly competitive, and maintaining growth is a significant challenge. The company’s target of 100 million downloads requires consistent user retention and the ability to lower the cost of acquiring new players. While the company reported a 100% revenue increase in the six months leading up to November 2026, driven by in-app purchases, success in this industry often hinges on the ability to constantly update content to keep players engaged. Gaming startups frequently face pressure from high marketing costs and the need for continuous innovation to prevent user churn. For investors and industry observers, the key monitorable will be whether the company can successfully leverage the new partnership to achieve its global download targets without significantly inflating its operational costs. Future updates will likely center on execution milestones, user growth numbers, and how effectively the game captures market share in key cricketing nations.