Cricket gaming start-up Hitwicket partnered with iconic cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle to enhance the cricket gaming experience of fans worldwide, the company said in a statement.
Bhogle will play the role of a strategic investor and infuse his expert insights to craft first-of-its-kind cricket content with Hitwicket, merging his extensive cricketing knowledge with the virtual world of mobile gaming, the company added.
Hitwicket is a virtual world where every user plays the role of an owner, coach, and captain of a cricket team, ensuring enduring engagement. The company anticipates that Bhogle's involvement will enhance Hitwicket's global outreach to 50 million downloads within the next 2 years. The company has over 5 million downloads globally.
Harsha Bhogle is a renowned figure in the global cricket broadcasting industry with over 40 years of experience as a cricket commentator. His extensive knowledge and passion for the game have solidified his status as “The Voice of Cricket”.
Hitwicket has evolved over the years introducing new segments through technology gaining recognition for developing a game that strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and depth. On average an Indian gamer spends 3.4 hours per week on mid-core games, while Hitwicket's users spend 4.9 hours per week on the app, showcasing its strong appeal to cricket enthusiasts worldwide. 19 per cent of Hitwicket's user base is women, one of the highest for any sports game, and its interface and gameplay cater to ages 10 to 60 making it simple to play. Hitwicket is played in 109 countries around the world with India, Australia, UK, and USA being the top 4 markets.
The company claimed that it has managed to create a gateway for American audiences to understand the sport as they have grown 2X in the last 3 months in the market, with 40 per cent of the users experiencing cricket for the very first time.
Commenting on the investment, Harsha Bhogle stated, "Hitwicket's innovative approach and commitment to delivering an immersive gaming experience make it a standout player in the industry. Hitwicket's potential to build a global gaming franchise is truly inspiring. I’m looking forward to Hitwicket's potential to be the Made in India cricket game that unites India with the rest of the world and elevates the country's profile in mobile cricket gaming. Its global promise signifies that a game from India can indeed touch the world.”
Founded in 2020 by Keerti Singh and Kashyap Reddy, the start-up is a Hyderabad-based cricket strategy gaming company. Recognized by Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, as the Most Innovative Mobile Cricket Game globally, marking a significant milestone as the first Indian game to achieve such recognition. Hitwicket has secured seed funding of $3 million from Prime Venture Partners in 2022.
