Gamerji Launches Sportsdraft, Introducing IPL-Style Auction Gameplay

Gamerji, one of India's esports tournament platform, today announced the launch of its latest sports gaming experience, Sportsdraft. This innovative IPL-style auction gameplay allows users to draft their favorite players through a virtual auction, creating their own dream teams. Players can compete with friends or join public leagues to build winning squads and earn rewards. With the IPL season around the corner, Sportsdraft offers cricket fans an exciting new way to experience the game through team ownership and strategic play.

Soham Thacker, CEO & Founder of Gamerji, expressed his enthusiasm for the launch, stating, “With India’s unbeatable run in the ongoing Champions Trophy and the world’s biggest league, IPL, just weeks away, cricket fever is at its peak. Our users and telecom partners’ feedback inspired us to develop Sportsdraft—an engaging, non-RMG gameplay experience that allows players to build their squads using points earned on the Gamerji platform. Even before the official launch, our beta version saw 35% of Gamerji users playing Sportsdraft, and we expect this to double as IPL season begins.”

Unlike traditional fantasy games, Sportsdraft offers a season-long gameplay experience, where users strategically draft and own players for their teams, rather than simply selecting them for individual matches. This format brings a sense of exclusivity and ownership, as drafted players belong solely to the user’s team within a league, making every decision highly strategic and competitive.

To participate in Sportsdraft, users can access the Gamerji platform via its website or app, select a league, and enter the virtual auction. During the auction, each player has a base price, and participants strategically allocate budgets to bid on top-performing cricketers for various tournaments, including IPL, ICC events, and domestic T20 leagues. The auction operates on a timer mechanism—if a user doesn’t place a bid within 10 seconds, the highest bidder secures the player, with the timer resetting each time a new bid is placed.

Once teams are formed, users can manage their squads through features like the Daily Picker Mode, where players are drafted for individual matches. Additionally, users can designate a Power Player to earn double points during specific games and challenge others in Daily 1v1 Matches for bonus rewards. Performance is automatically scored based on real match outcomes, with winners earning Gamerji diamonds, which can be redeemed for gift vouchers from affiliated brands listed on the Gamerji platform.

Founded in 2019 by gaming expert and serial entrepreneur Soham Thacker, Gamerji is dedicated to bridging the gap between amateur and professional gamers by offering a competitive, skill-based esports ecosystem. With over 16.7 million users across India and MENA, Gamerji hosts more than 1,400 tournaments daily, enabling gamers to compete, communicate, and get recognized for their skills. The company aims to cross 30 million users within the next 12 months as it continues to expand its offerings in the esports space.

The Indian esports market is currently valued at $200.7 million (2024) and is projected to reach $919 million by 2033, growing at a CAGR of 18.42%. As esports adoption accelerates, platforms like Gamerji are driving new-age gaming experiences that go beyond traditional fantasy sports.