Actor and entrepreneur Suniel Shetty has entered the digital sports arena by investing in the Global e-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), acquiring the Pune franchise for its upcoming second season.

The league, organized by JetSynthesys, will take place in Bengaluru from April 27 to May 2.

GEPL, India's first and largest franchise-based e-cricket league, merges traditional cricket fandom with competitive esports. The league has seen explosive growth, with player registrations soaring from 2 lakh in Season 1 to over 9.1 lakh this year.

Season 2 will feature 34 matches and a prize pool of ₹3.05 crore.

Matches are played on the Real Cricket 24 platform, following a franchise team format aimed at building a sustainable esports ecosystem around cricket.

Shetty, a lifelong cricket enthusiast, said he’s excited to support the sport's digital evolution. “GEPL is redefining how fans engage with cricket,” he shared.

JetSynthesys CEO Rajan Navani welcomed Shetty's involvement, calling him the ideal partner to amplify the league's reach, thanks to his passion, entrepreneurial spirit, and strong connection with India's youth.