Sachin Tendulkar Invests in Hitwicket Maker Metasports Interactive as Startup Targets 100 Million Downloads

Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has invested in Metasports Interactive, the Hyderabad-based gaming company behind mobile cricket strategy game Hitwicket, as the startup aims to expand its global reach. The association gives Tendulkar an ownership stake in the company and a role in shaping the game’s development, bringing his experience as an international cricketer into its gameplay. The investment amount and the company’s valuation have not been disclosed.

Metasports is targeting 100 million downloads for Hitwicket over the next three years, building on a player base of more than 20 million across over 120 countries. Tendulkar will also feature as a playable character and appear in the game’s content and brand experiences. The announcement was made on November 3, 2026, with co-founder and CEO Kashyap Reddy describing the partnership as both a strategic investment and a way to make the game more authentic for cricket fans.

Sachin Tendulkar’s role goes beyond brand endorsement

Metasports initially approached Tendulkar around six months ago to explore a collaboration for Hitwicket. The discussions eventually developed into an investment and strategic association.

Tendulkar is expected to contribute insights from his playing career to help the development team capture the finer tactical details of cricket. These include reading a bowler, assessing field placements, choosing attacking or defensive approaches and understanding how pitch and playing conditions affect decisions.

The company wants to incorporate this knowledge into the game’s strategy and player experience.

Tendulkar will also appear as a playable character. Metasports is exploring ways to represent different stages of his cricketing career, potentially allowing players to experience different versions of the legendary batter as a team mentor or strategist.

The company has not disclosed the size of Tendulkar’s investment, the equity percentage acquired or the valuation at which the transaction took place. Reports describe him as a strategic investor and indicate that the association also includes brand and promotional activities.

Hitwicket has crossed 20 million players globally

Founded in 2020 by Kashyap Reddy and Keerti Singh, Metasports Interactive developed Hitwicket as a multiplayer cricket strategy game.

Unlike conventional cricket games that focus heavily on batting timing, bowling controls and simulation, Hitwicket places greater emphasis on decision-making.

Players take on the roles of team owner, coach and captain. They manage their teams, make tactical choices and compete against other players.

The game requires users to decide when to attack, how to approach a run chase, which bowlers to target and how to respond to opponents’ strategies.

According to the company, Hitwicket has attracted more than 20 million players across over 120 countries. Users spend approximately 51 minutes per day on the game, reflecting the engagement the company says it has built around its strategic format.

The company also reported that revenue more than doubled over the six months preceding the announcement.