Big Ant's Takes Aim at India With Cricket 26 Indian Edition

Big Ant Studios is rolling out Cricket 26, with a dedicated Indian Edition slated for release Nov. 20, as the Australian developer looks to capitalize on surging demand for sports titles in one of the world's fastest-growing gaming markets.

The game, priced at ₹4,999 for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, is now available for pre-order through Indian retailers Games The Shop and e2zSTORE. The company hasn't disclosed plans for a digital release or detailed what exclusive content the Indian Edition will include.

Cricket 26 marks the latest iteration of Big Ant's cricket franchise, known for its granular approach to simulating the sport's mechanics, from batting and bowling techniques to fielding positions and team management. The new release introduces a management career mode that puts players in charge of lineups, batting orders, injury decisions and match strategies.

Cricket 26 Adds Management Career Mode and Multiplayer Features

Big Ant is also expanding its multiplayer offerings. The game includes an enhanced Ashes Mode focused on the historic Australia-England cricket rivalry, which Cricket Australia promoted on X. A new Centurion multiplayer feature lets players command full squads in weekly competitive challenges.

The Indian market has emerged as fertile ground for cricket games, a category that has evolved significantly from rudimentary mobile titles on early Nokia handsets. Developers like Nextwave Multimedia and Nautilus Mobile helped professionalize the genre in the 2010s with titles such as World Cricket Championship and Real Cricket, introducing official licenses and console-quality graphics to mobile platforms.

Big Ant's strategy appears designed to bridge multiple player segments, from hardcore simulation enthusiasts to more casual fans, through localized content and features that blend management depth with accessible multiplayer competition.