Gaming
A full house at the crease as E-Cricket signs 600-plus real-world stars
MUMBAI: Cricket gaming is about to get a lot more crowded in a good way. Lightfury Games has announced that its upcoming title E-Cricket will feature more than 600 officially licensed international players, making it one of the largest player rosters ever assembled for a cricket game and a first of this scale for an Indian studio.
The licensing has been secured in partnership with Winners Alliance, an athlete-centric commercial solutions firm that works closely with the World Cricketers’ Association. The deal allows LightFury to bring real-world cricketers into the game as fully playable characters, strengthening its ambition to blur the line between live cricket and virtual competition.
The roster spans major and emerging cricketing nations, including Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, West Indies, Afghanistan, Ireland, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, the USA, Canada, the Netherlands and Italy. Big international names such as Chris Gayle, Joe Root, Rashid Khan, Pat Cummins, Jos Buttler, Travis Head, Trent Boult, Quinton de Kock, Sikandar Raza and Andre Russell are all part of the line-up, with more players set to be added in future phases.
Each licensed cricketer will be recreated with individual player models, overall ratings, and data-driven attributes designed to mirror real-life strengths, tendencies and match impact. Rather than relying on static numbers, the game uses progressive performance systems, allowing players to evolve based on in-game situations and decisions.
Beyond the numbers, E-Cricket is being built with broadcast-style presentation, dynamic AI-led commentary and tactical batting and bowling systems, aiming to ensure that no two matches play out the same way. Built on Unreal Engine 5 and designed mobile-first, the title promises high-fidelity visuals and physics tailored for handheld play.
Currently in development and slated for release in 2026, E-Cricket has already generated strong buzz following its tech demo at GDC in early 2025. With a global roster, real-world authenticity and ambitions well beyond the boundary rope, LightFury Games is signalling that Indian studios are ready to play in the big leagues of global sports gaming.
Gaming
Roblox appoints Sunil Rao as India managing director to drive growth
Former AWS leader to lead creator ecosystem, partnerships and local strategy
MUMBAI: Roblox has appointed Sunil Rao as managing director for India, as the company looks to deepen its footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
Rao, who will join in May, will serve as the senior-most representative for Roblox in India, leading local strategy, partnerships and day-to-day operations. His mandate includes strengthening the platform’s presence, supporting the creator ecosystem and aligning India’s market needs with global priorities.
A key focus area will be nurturing India’s growing community of developers and creators, enabling local studios to leverage Roblox’s tools for scaling and monetisation. Globally, the platform’s creator community earned over $1.5 billion in 2025, underlining the economic potential of user-generated content ecosystems.
“Roblox is at the forefront of enabling a new generation of creators and games. India’s scale, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy present a massive opportunity,” said Rao. “I’m excited to build a vibrant and inclusive ecosystem that empowers developers and creators across the country. Ensuring child safety and aligning closely with India’s regulatory framework will be among my top priorities.”
Welcoming the appointment, Roblox vice president international Zhen Fang said India represents a high-potential market for the company. “Sunil brings deep expertise in building operations across diverse markets, and his passion for community-centric platforms makes him the ideal leader to drive our next chapter of growth in the country.”
Rao brings over two decades of experience across technology platforms, venture capital and developer ecosystems. He was previously part of the leadership team at Amazon Web Services, where he led strategy and corporate business development across Asia-Pacific and Japan. He also served as a partner at Lightspeed Venture Partners, working closely with startups and founders.
Earlier in his career, Rao played a key role in building developer ecosystems at Symbian, Nokia and Google, contributing to the growth of major mobile and internet platforms.
With India’s large youth population and rapidly evolving digital landscape, Roblox’s latest leadership move signals a sharper focus on long-term growth, local relevance and creator-led innovation in the market.
