KRAFTON India recently made a major move by acquiring Real Cricket, one of the biggest cricket game franchises in the country. This acquisition has created huge excitement among Indian gamers, as two strong gaming brands are now coming together.
If you’d like to hear everything directly from the guests themselves, we’ve also published the full video interview on our YouTube channel. The conversation goes even deeper into their vision, future plans, and the thinking behind this collaboration, making it a must-watch for anyone who follows BGMI, Real Cricket, or Indian gaming as a whole.
To understand what this partnership truly means for players, what changes they can expect, and how it could shape the future of gaming in India, TalkEsport sat down with Anuj Sahani, Head of the KRAFTON Incubator Program & Associate Director – Publishing, and Anuj Mankar, Director & CEO of Nautilus Mobile and the creator of the Real Cricket franchise. Both leaders offered straightforward, honest insights into the vision behind this collaboration and why it marks an important step forward for the industry.
Krafton’s India Expansion: The Real Cricket Story
Krafton’s recent acquisition of a controlling stake in Nautilus marks its first major operator-style investment in India, and the focus has been on Real Cricket, the country’s most popular cricket game. Anuj Sahani from Krafton India said Real Cricket is not just the biggest cricket game in India, but also has global appeal. He revealed that Krafton aims to grow the game further using its in-house expertise in technology, performance marketing, and brand management. “The goal is to grow the game from where it is. Cricket is a very popular sport, and Real Cricket as a game is very popular. Hand in hand, it goes very well, and hopefully in the next few years we will make it a much bigger game from India for the globe,” he added.
Anuj Mankar, the man behind Real Cricket, shared that transitioning from Jet Synthesis ownership to Krafton’s majority control felt like a validation of over a decade of hard work. He revealed that the partnership allows Nautilus to upskill by learning from Krafton’s expertise while simultaneously enhancing the studio’s capabilities. “It’s been an exciting journey so far, and what excites me more is the future how we can grow, improve, and help Krafton meet its ambitions,” Mankar said.
Sahani explained that Krafton’s $200 million-plus investment in India reflects a commitment to building local gaming ecosystems. Real Cricket is central to this vision, as it can be developed in India for a global audience. He highlighted how Krafton has experimented with various game genres over the last three years, including launches like Cookie Run and Bullet Echo, to expand the Indian audience’s gaming experience.
Since the acquisition, Nautilus has gained access to advanced technology stacks, AI tools, and better live-op capabilities, according to Mankar. He revealed that the Krafton acquisition provides full support to make Real Cricket a larger brand than ever before, including access to Krafton’s publishing, advisory, and operational resources.
On Krafton’s decision to acquire both Nautilus and Real Cricket, Sahani said the acquisition was a combination of factors. “What Nautilus has achieved in the last 10 years is tremendous. They have a very strong development team, and Real Cricket is their biggest IP. It’s the combination that works well for us,” he explained.
Regarding technology upgrades, Mankar revealed that a complete rebuild of motion capture, animation, physics, and systems will take about 12 to 18 months. For now, the main focus has been learning to work together and restructuring roles as Krafton takes on publishing duties.
Both leaders discussed the esports potential of Real Cricket. Sahani noted that the game has a strong community, and Krafton aims to grow live-ops driven gameplay and social features, while expanding the esports ecosystem over the coming years. Mankar highlighted the franchise league with celebrity-owned teams and said leveraging Krafton’s expertise will help bring cricket esports into the mainstream.
Mankar also explained gameplay improvements beyond graphics, emphasizing game balance, updated AI, pacing, live events, community-driven features, a battle pass, and tournaments with real-world rewards. Sahani confirmed that Krafton is professionalizing licensing, brand management, and LiveOps to support Real Cricket’s global ambitions.
When asked about IPL partnerships, Sahani said authenticity is a priority, and Mankar added that player likeness and playstyles, such as Bumrah’s bowling, have been faithfully replicated. Updates from the IPL auction and additional partnerships are planned to make this period the best in Real Cricket history.
On shared infrastructure, Sahani explained that Krafton is integrating analytics, anti-cheat systems, LiveOps, and cross-promotions across BGMI, Real Cricket, and future India-made titles. Mankar added that customer service tools and advanced data stacks are being implemented to make content around the World Cup, IPL, and other major events more visible to players.
Sahani revealed Nautilus will also act as a mentor studio for the Krafton India incubation program, helping local developers grow. He confirmed that more term sheets, acquisitions, and incubator programs are expected, with the third cohort of incubation starting in April, and applications available on the Krafton India website.
Finally, when asked about the future vision of Real Cricket, Mankar said the goal is to create the “FIFA of cricket on mobile,” combining large-scale motion capture, licensing deals, and experienced teams to get close to that vision in the next three years. Sahani added that Krafton’s aim is to provide the most realistic cricket simulation experience so players feel like they are playing or watching a real match.
KRAFTON’s acquisition of Real Cricket is more than a business deal, it’s a signal of where Indian gaming is headed. With one of the country’s strongest publishers joining forces with a studio that has spent over a decade building India’s biggest cricket franchise, the stakes and expectations are higher than ever. What’s clear from both Anuj Sahani and Anuj Mankar is that this partnership is built on shared ambition: to take an Indian-born game and elevate it to global standards.
The next few years will be crucial, filled with upgrades, deeper esports integration, and a renewed push for authenticity. But if the vision laid out by both leaders holds true, Real Cricket is on track to become not just India’s definitive cricket game, but a world-class sporting title that represents the strength and maturity of the country’s gaming ecosystem.