Sonu Nigam, Scout join GEPL as franchise owners ahead of Season 3

Playback singer Sonu Nigam and gaming creator Scout (Tanmay Singh) have joined the ownership group of the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), with JetSynthesys announcing them as franchise owners for the league's third season.

Nigam will own the Kolkata Hawks, while Scout has acquired the Gujarat Wolves franchise as GEPL expands to an eight-team competition. The tournament will be played at the Jairaj Sports & Convention Centre in Pune from August 1 to August 9 and will be broadcast on Star Sports and JioHotstar.

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Powered by Real Cricket, a mobile cricket simulation game with more than 400 million lifetime downloads, GEPL Season 3 will feature a prize pool of Rs 3.1 crore.

The latest additions expand an ownership roster that already includes entrepreneur Peyush Bansal (Delhi Sharks), Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath along with Ankit Nagori and Prashanth Prakash (Bengaluru Badgers), Sara Tendulkar (Mumbai Grizzlies), actor Suniel Shetty (Pune Stallions), Gopal Srinivasan, Madhusudanan R and Arjun Santhanakrishnan (Chennai Falcons), and Amit Mehta (Hyderabad Rhinos).

Announcing the new owners, JetSynthesys Chairman Rajan Navani said the league was attracting personalities from diverse fields as esports continued to gain mainstream acceptance.

"We are delighted to welcome Sonu Nigam, one of India's legendary cultural icons, and Scout, a pioneer who has helped shape the country's esports landscape, as franchise owners for Season 3. Their association reflects how music and esports are evolving into mainstream entertainment and attracting leaders who have built deeply engaged communities of their own," Navani said.

He added that the league aims to create opportunities for Indian esports athletes while building a homegrown sports property with global relevance.

For Nigam, the move marks his first investment in an esports franchise. The singer said the league combines two passions that unite audiences across generations.

"Music and sports have always found ways to bring people together, and GEPL feels like a natural extension of that. I am excited to own the Kolkata Hawks and be part of a platform that is redefining how young India engages with cricket," he said, adding that he hopes to provide emerging talent with a platform.

Scout, one of India's best-known esports personalities, said owning the Gujarat Wolves was an opportunity to contribute to the gaming community that helped build his career.

"My association with GEPL is a chance to give back to the community which has backed me from the start, and to build a team that reflects the discipline and hunger I have always believed the Indian esports scene has in abundance," he said. He added that his focus would be on nurturing grassroots talent and helping aspiring players view esports as a viable career.

Jogesh Lulla, Senior Vice President, JetSynthesys Sports, said the addition of Nigam and Scout reflected the league's growing appeal across entertainment and gaming.

"The calibre of ownership joining GEPL Season 3 is a clear signal of how far the league's footprint has travelled. Sonu Nigam extends our reach into mainstream entertainment audiences while Scout brings deep credibility within India's gaming community," Lulla said.

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According to JetSynthesys, GEPL Season 2 generated more than 174 million impressions and attracted over 910,000 player registrations and expressions of interest, with the organisers expecting further growth in the upcoming edition.