Sachin Tendulkar takes significant minority stake in Hitwicket maker Metasports Interactive

Former India captain Sachin Tendulkar has acquired a significant minority stake in Metasports Interactive, the company behind mobile cricket game Hitwicket, and will also serve as its brand ambassador, co-founder and CEO Kashyap Reddy said.

The financial details of the investment, including the valuation, have not been disclosed due to confidentiality agreements.

Tendulkar's likeness will be incorporated into Hitwicket as a playable character. The company said that working with Tendulkar would help it understand how elite cricketers think on the field and improve player engagement.


Hitwicket has recorded 20 million downloads across more than 120 countries. Metasports aims to reach 100 million downloads over the next three years. The company said the game's revenue doubled over the past six months.

Hitwicket allows users to manage a virtual cricket team as its owner, coach and captain. Its gameplay centres on tactical decisions such as planning a chase, deciding when to attack or defend, and choosing which bowlers to target.

“Hitwicket stood out to me for how it brings the strategic thinking behind cricket into the game,” Tendulkar said in a statement.

Reddy said Hitwicket's players spend an average of 51 minutes a day playing the game. More than half of the company's revenue comes from outside India, with markets including the UK, Australia, the US and Canada.

Metasports raised $20 million in user acquisition funding from London-based Metica in April 2026. The company is also exploring the use of generative AI for real-time commentary and gameplay, as well as to personalise the gaming experience for different categories of users.

The company plans to introduce subscriptions for its core users and is selectively expanding opt-in advertising. More than 97% of Hitwicket's revenue comes from in-app purchases.

Launched in 2020, Hitwicket is a mobile-first multiplayer cricket game focused on strategic decision-making. It is also backed by Prime Venture Partners, Horizon Ventures, cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle and The Chennai Angels.