JetSynthesys, a global leader in sports management, digital entertainment and technology, has announced season 3 of the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), the world’s only franchise-based e-cricket league.
Player registrations have commenced on May 26. Powered by Real Cricket, the world’s most downloaded mobile cricket simulation game, with over 400 million lifetime downloads. GEPL Season 3 will be televised on Star Sports Network and JioHotstar, with a prize fund of INR 3.1 crore. The final will be held on August 9 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Mahalunge-Balewadi, Pune.
The GEPL has continuously attracted some of India’s most notable corporate founders, financiers, and cultural personalities, owners who have supported the league not as a sponsorship play, but as franchisees seeking to construct a long-term institution. Delhi Sharks (Peyush Bansal), Bengaluru Badgers (Nikhil Kamath, Ankit Nagori, Prashanth Prakash), Chennai Falcons (Gopal Srinivasan, Madhusudanan R, Arjun Santhanakrishnan), Mumbai Grizzlies (Sara Tendulkar), Pune Stallions (Suniel Shetty), and Hyderabad Rhinos (Amit Mehta) are returning from Season 2. Season 3 promises to be bigger, bolder, and more competitive, with prominent companies and a larger viewer base.
Rajan Navani, Chairman, JetSynthesys, said, “GEPL has consistently pushed the boundaries of what esports can be in India. Season 3 is not just another chapter, it is the moment we take e-cricket from a passionate community pursuit to a national digital institution. With the scale of our reach, the depth of franchise investment, and the growing aspirations of millions of esports athletes, we are building something truly generational.”
Season 2 established new standards for e-cricket in India. It was televised live on Star Sports Select and Star Sports 3 throughout the IPL window, generating over 174 million impressions and introducing e-cricket to the national broadcast platform for the first time. Player interest increased fivefold to 910,000 from 200,000 in Season 1. Season 3 promises to be bigger in every way, as the league continues to expand as a participatory platform.
Last year, Chennai Falcons, owned by Gopal Srinivasan, Madhusudanan R, and Arjun Santhanakrishnan, won the championship. In a watershed moment for grassroots talent, Sukhpreet Singh emerged as the season’s breakthrough star, climbing through GEPL’s competitive environment to win S2 MVP, Player of the Series, and Top Wicket Taker. His story exemplifies GEPL’s role in recognising, fostering, and promoting grassroots talent on a national scale. The finals at Bengaluru’s Koramangala Indoor Stadium drew large crowds.
Jogesh Lulla, Senior Vice President – Sports, said, “Season 2 proved that e-cricket can hold its own on a prime-time broadcast stage. Season 3 is our commitment to making GEPL the definitive platform for India’s next generation of esports champions. Our first-of-its-kind national esports survey* by YouGov, commissioned by JetSynthesys, found that 81% of Indian esports players have considered pursuing esports professionally, while 56% are interested in roles beyond gameplay such as coaching, content creation, and team management. What we’re building with GEPL is an IP that is not just a tournament but a career engine for India’s next generation of esports champions.”
With major ownership, a record prize fund, and India’s fastest-growing esports community behind it, GEPL Season 3 comes at a time when the country’s hunger for professional digital sport has never been higher.
