April 2026 | India Gaming & Startup Funding News – Bengaluru-based LightFury Games has raised $11 million (₹103 crore) in a pre-Series A funding round, led by Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI, and Times Internet.
The round also saw participation from leading Indian cricketers, including MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah, and Hardik Pandya, along with Ravindra Jadeja, Shreyas Iyer, Tilak Varma, and Sai Sudharsan.
Funding to Build a Global AAA Cricket Game
The fresh capital will be used to:
- Complete development of its flagship game eCricket
- Build infrastructure for live game operations and updates
- Add new content, features, and gameplay enhancements post-launch
The company is aiming to create a world-class AAA cricket game from India for a global audience.
eCricket: Aiming to Redefine Cricket Gaming
Founded in 2024 by Karan Shroff, Tina Balachandran, and Anurag Banerjee, LightFury Games is focused on building high-quality sports gaming experiences.
Key Features of eCricket:
- Built on Unreal Engine 5 for advanced graphics
- Realistic physics and gameplay mechanics
- AI-powered commentary system
- Live-service model with continuous updates
- Licensing rights for 600+ professional cricketers
The game aims to deliver authentic, competitive, and immersive cricket gameplay, targeting a global audience of over 2.5 billion cricket fans.
Investor Confidence from Cricket Legends
MS Dhoni highlighted that while many cricket games exist, there has always been a gap in delivering a truly immersive experience. He expressed confidence in LightFury’s vision to bridge that gap.
Similarly, Jasprit Bumrah emphasized the importance of detail and authenticity in cricket, noting that the startup’s focus on realism sets it apart.
The involvement of professional cricketers adds credibility, domain expertise, and authenticity to the product.
Market Opportunity: India’s Growing Gaming Industry
India is one of the largest gaming markets globally by user base, yet the ecosystem has largely focused on:
- Casual games
- Mid-core mobile gaming
High-end AAA game development remains underdeveloped.
Market Outlook:
- Expected to reach $10 billion by early 2030s
- Driven by rising smartphone penetration
- Supported by affordable internet access
LightFury aims to tap into this opportunity by building a globally competitive gaming title from India.
Vision: Building India’s AAA Gaming Future
With strong investor backing and a clear product vision, LightFury Games is positioning itself to:
- Lead AAA sports game development from India
- Serve a massive global cricket audience
- Build a scalable, live-service gaming platform
Ruchi Kumar is the associate editor at Entrepreneur News Network and TVW News India, where she leads editorial strategy, brand storytelling, and startup ecosystem coverage. With a strong focus on innovation, business, and marketing insights, he curates impactful narratives that spotlight India’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape. She has written extensively on fintech, AI and emerging startups.