Sachin Tendulkar takes minority stake in Hitwicket maker Metasports
What's the deal? Sachin TendulkarDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired a significant minority stake in Metasports Interactive, the company behind mobile cricket game HitwicketDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The former India captain will also serve as brand ambassador and appear as a playable character. Terms were not disclosed.
What each side gets: Metasports gains Tendulkar's profile and cricketing insights, which it plans to embed in gameplay to explain strategy to players. His likeness becomes part of Hitwicket's in-game content and brand activations.
What's Hitwicket? Launched in 2020, it is a multiplayer strategy title where users manage a virtual team as owner, coach, and captain, making tactical calls on chases, bowling matchups, and field settings. The game has more than 20 million players across 120 countries.
The numbers: Metasports says revenue doubled over the past six months, with players spending an average of 51 minutes a day in the game. More than half its revenue comes from outside India — including the UK, Australia, the US, and Canada — and over 97% comes from in-app purchases. These figures are company-reported.
Why now? The deal follows a larger financing move: in April 2026, Metasports secured $20 million in user acquisition funding from London-based MeticaDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →. The company is targeting 100 million downloads over the next three years.
What's the endgame? Metasports is exploring generative AI for real-time commentary and personalised experiences, and plans to introduce subscriptions for core users alongside opt-in advertising. It is also backed by Prime Venture PartnersDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, Horizon VenturesDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, commentator Harsha Bhogle, and The Chennai AngelsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →.
The signal: A celebrity endorsement tied to equity is a familiar growth lever, but with terms undisclosed, the deal's financial weight is hard to gauge. Its real value lies in whether Tendulkar's name can convert cricket fans into players as Hitwicket chases a fivefold jump in its user base.
Read more: economictimes.indiatimes.com
Image credit: Generated with Gemini
