GEPL Season 3: Real Cricket Esports League With ₹3.1 Cr Prize Pool

The digital pitch is set, and the stakes have never been higher. JetSynthesys has officially announced the highly anticipated Season 3 of the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), cementing its position as the world’s only franchise-based e-cricket league. With a staggering prize pool of ₹3.1 crore on the line, player registrations officially opened on May 26. 

Aspiring esports athletes can now sign up to compete for their shot at glory, leading up to a massive grand finale scheduled for August 9 at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Mahalunge-Balewadi, Pune. Fans across the country won't miss a beat of the action, as the entire tournament will be broadcast nationwide across Star Sports and JioHotstar.

Powered by the immensely popular mobile cricket simulation game Real Cricket, which boasts over 400M lifetime downloads, GEPL is perfectly blending India's deep-rooted love for cricket with the booming competitive gaming ecosystem. The league has drawn immense backing from high-profile business founders, investors, and cultural icons who aren't just looking for a quick sponsorship but are investing in franchises to build a long-term esports institution. 

Returning franchise owners for Season 3 feature a star-studded lineup, including Peyush Bansal for the Delhi Sharks; Nikhil Kamath, Ankit Nagori, and Prashanth Prakash for the Bengaluru Badgers; and Gopal Srinivasan, Madhusudanan R, and Arjun Santhanakrishnan for the defending champions, the Chennai Falcons. The elite roster is further bolstered by Sara Tendulkar’s Mumbai Grizzlies, Suniel Shetty’s Pune Stallions, and Amit Mehta’s Hyderabad Rhinos.

For the organizers, this league is about much more than just a tournament; it is a dedicated career-making platform for India's youth. Rajan Navani, Chairman of JetSynthesys, emphasized that GEPL has consistently pushed the boundaries of what Indian esports can achieve. He noted that Season 3 represents a pivotal moment, transforming e-cricket from a passionate community hobby into a massive national digital institution. Driven by the scale of their reach, deep franchise investments, and the growing dreams of millions of young players, Navani proudly stated that they are building something truly generational.

Shifting from Grassroots Talent to National Broadcast

This ambitious vision is firmly backed by hard numbers and incredible real-life success stories. Last season set unprecedented benchmarks for the sport, generating over 174M broadcast impressions on Star Sports Select and Star Sports 3 during the IPL window. Player interest surged to an astounding 910,000, marking a massive fivefold increase from Season 1’s 200,000 registrants. 

Last year, Sukhpreet Singh became the ultimate breakout star, rising through the competitive ranks to secure the Season 2 MVP, Player of the Series, and Top Wicket Taker awards. His inspiring journey from an everyday gamer to a national esports sensation, culminating in front of a packed crowd at Bengaluru's Koramangala Indoor Stadium, is the exact pipeline JetSynthesys aims to foster.

Looking ahead, the focus remains heavily on building sustainable, long-term careers in gaming. Jogesh Lulla, Senior Vice President of Sports at JetSynthesys, highlighted a recent first-of-its-kind national esports survey by YouGov, which revealed that 81% of Indian esports players have considered pursuing gaming professionally. Furthermore, 56% are actively interested in broader industry roles like coaching, content creation, and team management. 

Lulla affirmed that Season 3 is a commitment to making GEPL a definitive career engine for the next generation of esports champions. With record-breaking prize money, marquee ownership, and the momentum of India’s fastest-growing digital community, GEPL Season 3 arrives at the perfect moment to satisfy the country’s insatiable appetite for competitive esports.