Gaming
Game set match Lightfury plays a straight bat on the global stage
MUMBAI: Cricket may be played on grass, but its next big contest is clearly being lined up on screens. Lightfury Games, India’s emerging AAA-focused game-tech studio, has struck partnerships with two of the sport’s most storied properties, The Ashes and Australia’s Big Bash League, marking a rare global breakthrough for an Indian gaming company. The associations signal Lightfury’s intent to build a cricket gaming franchise with genuine international ambition, led by its upcoming esports title E-Cricket.
The collaborations doubled up as a global unveiling platform for LightFury’s refreshed E-Cricket logo, which debuted during live tournament broadcasts. The new identity adopts a sharper, more athletic design language, mirroring the studio’s shift from early-stage development into a more assertive, outward-facing phase focused on scale, competitiveness and global relevance.
Visibility was not symbolic alone. Lightfury featured through virtual pitch mat integrations during live match broadcasts, embedding the E-Cricket brand directly into globally followed cricket events. The on-air placements delivered exposure across key cricket markets, including Australia and England, positioning the Indian studio within the visual grammar of elite international sport rather than niche gaming spaces.
For LightFury, the associations represent more than branding wins. They mark a meaningful step into the global cricket ecosystem, aligning the studio alongside established sporting platforms as it works towards creating a long-term, internationally competitive cricket gaming IP rooted in India. The move underscores how Indian studios are increasingly looking beyond domestic audiences to build franchises designed for worldwide play.
Commenting on the development, Lightfury Games CEO and co-founder Karan Shroff said cricket deserves a world-class competitive gaming title with global reach. He added that E-Cricket is being built as a high-fidelity, skill-driven experience, with expansion plans firmly focused on major cricket markets such as Australia and England.
Taken together, the Ashes and BBL associations reflect the payoff from Lightfury’s early groundwork and signal the beginning of a broader global rollout. As the studio edges closer to introducing E-Cricket to international audiences, the message is clear: India is no longer just exporting cricket talent on the field, but is increasingly shaping how the game is played in the digital arena too.
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.
