It is estimated that there are almost 1.1 billion Indian cricket fans. With the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023, Indians were responsible for breaking multiple viewership records due to their love of the game.
Aside from cricket, however, another form of entertainment draws in millions of Indian fans: video games. In 2022, India recorded 421 million players, a figure that grew to an estimated 450 million by the end of 2023.
Growing alongside the gaming industry in India is the lucrative esports arena. eSports, or electronic sports, have seen monumental growth in the country and internationally. With the massive pool of Indian cricket fans, many are questioning whether these fans can transition to esports and put India on the map in the global esports industry.
What is eSports?
eSports are electronic video games that players compete in via international and local tournaments to test their skill at games ranging from first-person shooters (FPS) and real-time strategy (RTS) to sports. Soccer, American football, and racing are among the most popular sports associated with esports.
The industry has been acknowledged as an official sport since 2007 when the Olympic Council of Asia added esports to the Olympic register. Since then, countless countries have recognised esports as an official sporting event, including the United States in 2013, and recognised players as athletes.
Since its recognition as a sport, esports has amassed a massive international following that attracts over 500 million viewers from more than 152 countries annually. One of the largest tournaments, the 2021 League of Legends Championship, accounted for over 73 million viewers during its last battle.
eSports in India
As with other countries experiencing a player boom, India has quickly attracted players and viewers to the esports scene. In 2022, the country’s esports sector was valued at an estimated $165.7 million. This is expected to grow to over $522.6 million by 2028.
Alongside the tournaments themselves, Indian esports have also grown in popularity due to the opportunity to bet on the outcome of games. After placing bets, many fans enjoy coverage on cricket-betting.com and other websites that actively broadcast esports tournaments and results.
eSports and Cricket
With almost 500 million fans tuning in to watch IPL (Indian Premier League) games in 2022, many have thought tapping into this audience could bolster the esports community. Should these fans support esports in the country, it would almost instantly make India one of the most prominent esports markets on the planet.
Work has been underway to make cricket an esports export to the rest of the world. At the forefront of this work has been game developer JetSynthesys.
The developer, working alongside the Serum Institute of India and one of the greatest Indian players in history, Sachin Tendulkar, has released some of the best cricket video games of all time. These include Real Cricket and Sachin Saga, which combined have enjoyed more than 380 million downloads.
According to JetSynthesys, these games are the developer’s claim to fame, and it states that it is the sole developer currently exporting Indian cricket fever to other parts of the world. However, it is not only through games that can be used in esports tournaments that the company is attempting to merge cricket and the global esports market. It also operates three unique platforms, each with its own objective.
Nodwin
In 2015, JetSynthesys partnered with Nodwin Gaming to develop an esports management company and platform. Aimed at expanding esports in India, the platform helps organise and operate events, stream and control media coverage of tournaments, and even manage esports merchandise.
Skyesports
More locally, JetSynthesys has also launched Skyesports in 2018. Aimed at expanding India’s esports reach into South Asia, the platform organises significant tournaments throughout the region. To date, it is responsible for managing ten IPs, has hosted more than 40 tournaments, and has attracted more than 300 million views during tournaments.
100MB
Despite cricket already attracting incredible attention, JetSynthesys and Sachin Tendulkar partnered to launch 100MB. The app, which acts as an information and news website, gives fans access to exclusive cricket content, quizzes, videos, interviews, merchandise, and even predictions.
Success
With all this work being done to launch cricket in the esports arena and attract Indian cricket fans, the biggest success occurred toward the beginning of 2023. Under one of the many IPs it operates, JetSynthesys launched the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL).
Based on the IPL, the GEPL stands as the first franchise-based international cricket esports tournament. By its own admission, it aims to merge cricket, gaming, esports, and entertainment into one incredible package accessible through the Real Cricket 24 Game.
Featuring real-world players and coaches and assigning mentors to teams, the tournament began with an open registration period in June 2023. The conclusion of the inaugural tournament, broadcast on various platforms, occurred at a nail-biting final on December 10, 2023.
With the tournament’s success alongside the launch of Real Cricket 24—touted as the world’s first cricket esports game—the company has already said that planning is underway for the next edition of the championship.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that cricket is more than just a game in India. For many, it is a lifestyle, and some even go as far as to call it a religion. While not as widespread, gaming is also gaining popularity among Indians in epic proportions.
With the work done by companies like JetSynthesys and the launch of new tournaments such as the GEPL, the divide between cricket fans and esports is growing smaller. Should this continue, there is no doubt that cricket will put India on the map as one of the leading esports countries worldwide. How quickly this will happen, however, remains to be seen.
Photo by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash (Free for commercial use)
