KRAFTON India and commercial affiliate Winners Alliance announced an expansion of their licensing partnership for the mobile title Real Cricket, incorporating officially licensed international cricketers from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The agreement builds on a commercial framework established in 2024, when the World Cricketers’ Association (WCA) and Winners Alliance completed a collective licensing agreement that introduced more than 250 professional cricketers to the title. The deal represented the first large-scale group licensing initiative of its kind in international cricket.
Expanding the International Roster
With the addition of players from Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, the game’s licensed roster now covers athletes from 17 nations. The existing roster includes players from:
- Afghanistan
- Australia
- England
- New Zealand
- South Africa
- United States
- West Indies
- Zimbabwe
By pooling their name, image, and likeness (NIL) rights through Winners Alliance, participating players access collective licensing models common in other major global sports leagues. The arrangement creates incremental off-field revenue streams, broadens digital exposure across global gaming audiences, and provides structured avenues for personal brand development without requiring individual commercial negotiations.
Strategic Position in Mobile Gaming
Developed by Nautilus Mobile and published by KRAFTON India, Real Cricket operates as a simulation-style mobile franchise featuring licensed tournament formats, multiplayer modes, and broadcast-style match mechanics.
The integration of South Asian talent aligns with the publisher’s broader localization and intellectual property strategy. Alongside separate commercial collaborations—such as integrations with the Indian Premier League (IPL)—expanding official player representations allows the platform to maintain year-round engagement, bridging the gap between international fixture calendars.
Anuj Sahani, Director, Publishing, and Head of KRAFTON Incubator Program, KRAFTON India, said:
Cricket has always been about the connection between players and fans, and that connection is now extending beyond the field. With Real Cricket, we want to bring that relationship into gaming and give fans the opportunity to experience the sport through the players they follow. The expansion of our partnership with Winners Alliance allows us to bring more international cricketers into this experience and further strengthen Real Cricket’s connection with the global game.