MS Dhoni, Jasprit Bumrah back LightFury Games in $11 million round; bet big on ‘eCricket’

LightFury Games, a startup based in Bengaluru, has successfully secured $11 million in a pre-Series A funding round, with prominent Indian cricketers like MS Dhoni and Jasprit Bumrah lending their support. This investment is aimed at creating a world-class AAA cricket gaming franchise. The funding round attracted other notable investors, including Blume Ventures, V3 Ventures, MIXI, and Times Internet. Several cricketers, such as Hardik Pandya, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Tilak Varma, and Sai Sudharsan, also participated. The capital raised will primarily facilitate the development of their inaugural title, eCricket, while also establishing the necessary infrastructure for live operations to enhance the gameplay experience. Karthik Reddy, co-founder and managing partner at Blume Ventures, expressed his excitement, stating, "We’ve backed LightFury from its inception, supporting their goal to lead a new wave of Indian gaming studios with global ambitions. With the integration of cutting-edge AI tools, we eagerly await the launch of eCricket, which we hope will become a landmark in Indian gaming history." Earlier this year, in April 2024, LightFury raised $8.5 million in seed funding, also led by Blume Ventures, with participation from Japanese mobile entertainment company Mixi and venture capital firm Gemba Capital. Angel investors like Kunal Shah, founder of Cred, and Gaurav Munjal, co-founder of Unacademy, also contributed. The involvement of these high-profile cricketers underscores a strong belief in India's potential to develop a competitive sports gaming franchise on a global scale. MS Dhoni remarked, "Having seen various cricket games over the years, I've noticed something has always been missing. When LightFury presented their vision, I realized they were addressing that gap. It’s a substantial challenge, and I’m here to assist in any way I can." Jasprit Bumrah highlighted the game’s attention to detail, saying, "Cricket is a sport of fine margins, and eCricket’s focus on authenticity is remarkable." Hardik Pandya emphasized that the game aims to reflect the true scale of cricket, asserting, "Cricket embodies pressure, skill, and entertainment. This game is not about simplifying cricket for gaming; it’s about elevating gaming to match the grandeur of cricket." Founded in 2024, LightFury is positioning eCricket as a mobile-first AAA title powered by Unreal Engine 5, featuring physics-based gameplay, real-time decision-making, and dynamic AI-driven commentary. CEO Karan Shroff shared the company's broader vision, stating, "We are building from India for a global audience, maintaining high standards of quality, competitive gameplay, and true-to-sport authenticity. This endeavor transcends a mere game launch; it’s about demonstrating that India can create premium gaming IPs for the world." The game promises an extensive roster of over 600 professional cricketers, including international stars like Chris Gayle, Joe Root, and Ben Stokes, as the company seeks to engage with cricket's vast global audience, estimated to be around 2.5 billion fans.