☰

Indian Cricket Champs 19 – The Ultimate Desi Cricket Gaming Experience

In the bustling landscape of Indian gaming, where cricket isn’t just a sport but a way of life, Indian Cricket Champs 19 emerged in 2019 as a game-changer – a title that didn’t just replicate cricket, but captured the very essence of desi cricket, from the gully cricket matches in small-town India to the glitz of the IPL and the intensity of India vs Pakistan clashes. Developed by Mumbai-based Indian Game Studios Pvt. Ltd. and published by Daman Games, this game wasn’t just another addition to the cricket gaming genre; it was a love letter to the billion-strong cricket-crazy audience of India, designed from the ground up to resonate with the unique tastes, preferences, and cricketing sensibilities of Indian fans.

🇮🇳 For generations, Indian cricket fans have craved a video game that understands their world – a game that doesn’t treat domestic tournaments like the Ranji Trophy as an afterthought, that features local stadiums from Vadodara to Visakhapatnam, that includes regional commentary in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Bengali, and that captures the raw emotion of a last-ball six in a village tournament or a nail-biting IPL final. Indian Cricket Champs 19 delivered on all these fronts and more, becoming the fastest-selling cricket game in Indian gaming history within months of its release.

Unlike international cricket games that often cater to a global audience and sidelined Indian cricket’s nuances, Indian Cricket Champs 19 was built with India at its core. The development team spent over two years researching the intricacies of Indian cricket – from the turn of the pitch in Chennai to the bounce in Mohali, from the aggressive batting style of T20 cricket to the patience required for Ranji Trophy’s four-day matches. They conducted focus groups across 28 Indian states, speaking to local cricketers, coaches, umpires, and die-hard fans to ensure every aspect of the game felt authentic to the Indian experience.

Upon its release on 28th September 2019, Indian Cricket Champs 19 took the Indian gaming market by storm. The Android version crossed 5 million downloads within the first month, while the PC version sold over 2 lakh copies in its initial quarter – numbers that were unheard of for a homegrown cricket game. What made this success even more remarkable was that the game catered to all segments of Indian society: from the urban youth playing on high-end smartphones to the small-town gamer on a budget PC, from the casual player looking for a quick gully cricket match to the hardcore enthusiast simulating a full Ranji Trophy season.

Indian Cricket Champs 19 Gameplay Screenshot showing a Mumbai Indians IPL match at Wankhede Stadium

At its heart, Indian Cricket Champs 19 was more than a game – it was a celebration of Indian cricket in all its forms. It acknowledged that cricket in India is not just about the national team; it’s about the local club tournaments in Uttar Pradesh, the inter-college matches in Karnataka, the village tournaments in Punjab, and the street cricket games in every lane of Mumbai and Delhi. This holistic approach to representing Indian cricket is what set Indian Cricket Champs 19 apart from its competitors and made it a cultural phenomenon rather than just a video game.

📌 Key Milestone: Indian Cricket Champs 19 won the "Best Indian Game of 2019" at the National Gaming Awards, beating out 30+ titles across all genres for the prestigious award. The game was also felicitated by the BCCI for its contribution to popularizing domestic cricket among Indian youth.

The success of Indian Cricket Champs 19 can be attributed to its unwavering focus on "Indianness" – a term that goes beyond just including Indian teams and stadiums. It meant understanding the psyche of the Indian cricket fan: the superstitions, the regional rivalries, the joy of a local boy making it big, the heartbreak of a lost match against Pakistan, and the pride of seeing your state team lift the Ranji Trophy. Every feature, every gameplay mechanic, every piece of commentary in Indian Cricket Champs 19 was designed with this understanding, making it a game that felt personal to every Indian player.

Another factor that contributed to the game’s success was its accessibility. Unlike many international cricket games that required high-end hardware to run smoothly, Indian Cricket Champs 19 was optimized for low and mid-range devices – the kind that are prevalent in Indian households. The game ran seamlessly on smartphones priced under ₹10,000 and PCs with basic configurations, ensuring that it reached the widest possible audience across India’s diverse economic landscape.

Moreover, Indian Cricket Champs 19 was released at a time when Indian gaming was on the cusp of a revolution. The rise of mobile gaming, the growth of esports in India, and the increasing popularity of cricket-themed games created the perfect storm for a title that combined all these elements. The game’s online multiplayer mode, which allowed players to compete against friends and other players across India, became a social phenomenon, with office tournaments, college competitions, and even local gaming cafes hosting Indian Cricket Champs 19 leagues with cash prizes – a trend that further boosted its popularity.

Gameplay Mechanics – True to the Spirit of Desi Cricket

The gameplay of Indian Cricket Champs 19 was crafted with a simple yet powerful philosophy: to balance realism with playability, and to ensure that every aspect of the game reflected how cricket is actually played in India. Unlike international cricket games that often prioritize generic gameplay mechanics, Indian Cricket Champs 19 focused on the unique nuances of Indian cricket – from spin bowling on dusty pitches to the aggressive batting style in T20 matches, from the strategic field placements in Ranji Trophy games to the unorthodox shots popularized by Indian batsmen in the IPL.

Batting System 🎯 – Desi Style

The batting mechanics in Indian Cricket Champs 19 were a revelation for Indian gamers, who had long been frustrated with generic batting systems in international cricket games. The game offered two control schemes: a touch-based system for mobile devices (optimized for Indian touchscreen usage patterns) and a keyboard/mouse setup for PC (designed to mimic the feel of playing gully cricket with a bat and ball).

For mobile players, the controls were intuitive and responsive – a gentle tap on the screen for a defensive shot (the "Dravid tap," as it was affectionately called by fans), a quick swipe up for a lofted shot over the infield, a swipe to the left or right for cuts and pulls (favorites of Indian batsmen like Sehwag and Gambhir), and a diagonal swipe for the iconic cover drive – a shot that every Indian cricket fan associates with the great Sachin Tendulkar.

What made the batting system truly unique was its adaptation to Indian pitch conditions – a factor that is often overlooked in international cricket games but is crucial to the Indian cricketing experience. On the spin-friendly pitches of Chennai, Hyderabad, and Indore, the ball turned sharply, requiring players to adjust their timing and shot selection to avoid getting out LBW or caught behind. On the faster pitches of Mohali, Delhi, and Jaipur, pace bowlers gained an advantage, with the ball bouncing higher and moving off the seam – a challenge that tested the reflexes of even the most skilled players.

Indian Cricket Champs 19 also introduced the "Desi Shot Meter" – a unique feature that measured the "Indianness" of a player’s shots. Shots like the helicopter shot (made famous by MS Dhoni), the scoop over fine leg, the reverse sweep, and the paddle sweep – all staples of modern Indian batting – were not just included but rewarded with extra runs and style points. The meter filled up as players executed these shots successfully, unlocking special abilities like "Power Play Mode" (where all shots had increased power for a limited number of overs) and "Super Over" (a chance to score extra runs in a single over).

Another standout feature of the batting system was the inclusion of regional batting styles. Players could choose to bat like a typical Mumbai batsman (technical, patient, strong against spin), a Punjabi batsman (aggressive, powerful, strong against pace), a Tamil Nadu batsman (elegant, wristy, excellent timing), or a Bengal batsman (unorthodox, innovative, good against both pace and spin). Each style had its own strengths and weaknesses, reflecting the real-life batting characteristics of players from different regions of India.

The game also included a "Situation Awareness" system that adjusted the difficulty based on the match scenario – a feature that resonated deeply with Indian fans who understand the importance of context in cricket. Chasing a small target against a spin-heavy attack in Chennai was a different challenge than defending a large total on a flat pitch in Mumbai, and Indian Cricket Champs 19 captured these nuances perfectly, making every match feel unique and true to real-life cricket situations in India.

Bowling System 🏏 – Spin, Swing, and Everything In Between

Bowling in Indian Cricket Champs 19 was equally detailed and tailored to Indian conditions, with a focus on spin bowling – the backbone of Indian cricket for decades. The game featured separate control schemes for pace bowlers, spin bowlers (off-spin, leg-spin, left-arm orthodox), and medium pacers, each reflecting the real-life mechanics of bowling in India.

Spin bowlers were the stars of the show in Indian Cricket Champs 19, as they are in real Indian cricket. Leg-spinners could bowl googlies, flippers, and topspinners, with the amount of spin adjustable based on the pitch conditions and the bowler’s skill level. Off-spinners could bowl doosras and carrom balls, while left-arm spinners could bowl arm balls and chinaman deliveries – all with realistic animations captured from actual Indian domestic spinners during motion capture sessions.

The game’s AI system for batsmen was designed to mimic the behavior of Indian batsmen against spin – a crucial aspect that had been missing from previous cricket games. Batsmen would struggle against quality spin on turning pitches, often playing false shots or getting out to well-disguised variations. Conversely, batsmen with strong spin-playing skills (like those from South India) would handle spin better, forcing bowlers to vary their line and length to get them out.

Pace bowlers in Indian Cricket Champs 19 were not neglected, however. The game included realistic variations like bouncers, yorkers, slower balls, and cutters – all of which are commonly used by Indian pace bowlers in domestic and international cricket. The pace bowler controls allowed players to adjust the speed, line, and length of each delivery, with special attention paid to the conditions: fast bowlers could extract more swing on cloudy days in Kolkata or Bengaluru, while they could generate more pace on hot, dry days in Delhi or Jaipur.

One of the most innovative features of the bowling system was the "Captain’s Strategy" mode, which allowed players to set field placements based on regional strategies. For example, in a Ranji Trophy match in Ahmedabad, the field placement for a spin bowler would include close-in fielders like silly point, short leg, and leg slip – a setup that is typical in Indian domestic cricket but rarely seen in international games. Similarly, in an IPL match, the field would be spread out to prevent boundaries, reflecting the aggressive batting style of T20 cricket in India.

The game also included a "Bowler Fatigue" system that mirrored the conditions in Indian cricket. Bowlers would tire more quickly in the hot and humid conditions of Chennai or Kolkata, leading to a drop in pace and accuracy – a detail that added a layer of realism and strategy to the gameplay. Players had to manage their bowlers carefully, rotating them to keep them fresh, especially in long-format matches like the Ranji Trophy or Test cricket.

Fielding System 🚨 – Agile and Responsive, Like Indian Fielders

Fielding is often the most overlooked aspect of cricket video games, but Indian Cricket Champs 19 made it a priority, recognizing that fielding has become a crucial part of modern Indian cricket. The game featured responsive fielding controls that allowed players to dive for catches, stop boundaries with quick reflexes, and execute accurate throws to the stumps for run-outs – a skill that Indian fielders have mastered in recent years.

The fielding AI in Indian Cricket Champs 19 was designed to reflect the strengths of Indian fielders. Outfielders like Suresh Raina and Ravindra Jadeja (who were included in the game’s player roster) had exceptional speed and accuracy, while infielders like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were quick to react to shots and execute sharp throws to the stumps. The game also included realistic run-out scenarios, with close calls decided by the third umpire – a feature that added to the authenticity and excitement of the gameplay.

Players could customize their field placements in real-time, adjusting to the batsman’s strengths and the match situation. For example, against a left-handed batsman from Bengal (who typically plays well to the leg side), players could shift the field to cover that area, while against a right-handed power hitter from Punjab (who favors the off side), the field could be adjusted accordingly. This level of customization allowed players to implement real-life Indian fielding strategies, making the gameplay more strategic and engaging.

Another unique feature of the fielding system was the "Local Ground Advantage" – a mechanic that gave fielders an edge when playing on their home ground. For example, a Mumbai fielding team at Wankhede Stadium would have better reflexes and accuracy, as they were familiar with the ground’s dimensions and surface, while a visiting team would struggle slightly – a detail that added a layer of realism and reflected the home advantage that is so prevalent in Indian domestic cricket.

Gameplay Aspect Key Features Indian Cricket Nuance Captured
Batting Desi Shot Meter, regional batting styles, pitch adaptation Helicopter shot, scoop, reverse sweep, spin play on dusty pitches
Bowling Spin variations, Captain’s Strategy fielding, fatigue system Doosra, googly, carrom ball, swing on green pitches in East India
Fielding Home ground advantage, realistic run-outs, regional fielding strengths Quick reflexes in small grounds, accurate throws from the deep in large stadiums
AI Behavior Situation awareness, regional player tendencies Aggressive batting in IPL, patient play in Ranji Trophy, spin dominance in South India

Key Features of Indian Cricket Champs 19 – What Made It a Desi Classic

Indian Cricket Champs 19 was packed with features that catered specifically to the Indian cricket fan, making it more than just a game – it was a complete cricket experience that celebrated every aspect of Indian cricket, from gully cricket to international matches. The game’s developers left no stone unturned in their quest to create the ultimate desi cricket game, and the result was a title that featured over 50 unique gameplay modes, authentic Indian content, and extensive customization options – all designed to resonate with the Indian audience.

1. Comprehensive Game Modes 🎮 – For Every Type of Desi Cricket Fan

One of the biggest strengths of Indian Cricket Champs 19 was its wide range of game modes, each designed to cater to a different aspect of Indian cricket culture:

2. Authentic Indian Cricket Content 📸 – From Village to International Level

Indian Cricket Champs 19 spared no expense in ensuring that every piece of content in the game was authentic to Indian cricket:

Collection of authentic Indian stadiums in Indian Cricket Champs 19 including Wankhede, Eden Gardens, and Chepauk

3. Customization Options ⚙️ – Make It Your Own Desi Cricket Experience

Recognizing that Indian cricket fans love to personalize their experience, Indian Cricket Champs 19 offered extensive customization options that allowed players to create their own unique cricket experience:

4. Multiplayer Features 👥 – Play with Friends Across India

Indian Cricket Champs 19 didn’t limit the fun to single-player mode – it offered robust multiplayer options that allowed players to compete against friends and other players across India:

5. Accessibility Features ♿ – Cricket for Everyone in India

The developers of Indian Cricket Champs 19 were committed to making the game accessible to all players across India, regardless of their device, location, or ability:

Teams & Stadiums – The Heart of Indian Cricket Champs 19

A core component of Indian Cricket Champs 19’s appeal was its extensive roster of teams and authentic representation of Indian cricket stadiums. Unlike international cricket games that often treated Indian domestic cricket as an afterthought, Indian Cricket Champs 19 placed equal importance on international, IPL, and domestic teams – reflecting the fact that for Indian cricket fans, domestic cricket is just as important as international cricket.

International Teams 🌍 – India at the Center Stage

The game included all 12 full members of the ICC as of 2019, with a special focus on the Indian national team (Men’s and Women’s):

Each international team featured its full 2019 roster, with realistic attributes based on their form and statistics from that year. The Indian team was particularly detailed, with player attributes that reflected their real-life strengths: Virat Kohli’s consistency in ODIs, Rohit Sharma’s ability to score centuries, MS Dhoni’s finishing skills, Jasprit Bumrah’s yorkers, and Ravindra Jadeja’s all-round abilities. The game also included "Legend Players" for each international team – retired greats who could be unlocked and added to the roster for a nostalgic experience.

IPL Teams 🏆 – The Glitz and Glamour of Indian T20 Cricket

The IPL mode in Indian Cricket Champs 19 featured all 8 IPL franchises from the 2019 season, with authentic rosters, kits, and stadiums:

The IPL mode included the complete 2019 IPL experience: the auction (where players could build their dream team by bidding on stars), the group stage (with home and away matches), the playoffs (qualifier 1, eliminator, qualifier 2, and final), and the award ceremony (where players could win awards like Orange Cap for the highest run-scorer, Purple Cap for the highest wicket-taker, and MVP of the tournament). The mode also featured authentic IPL traditions like the opening ceremony, cheerleaders, and team anthems – all of which added to the excitement of the IPL experience in Indian Cricket Champs 19.

Domestic Teams 🇮🇳 – The Backbone of Indian Cricket

This was where Indian Cricket Champs 19 truly shined – its extensive coverage of Indian domestic cricket, which is often overlooked in international cricket games but is the lifeblood of Indian cricket. The game included all 38 Ranji Trophy teams from the 2018-19 season, grouped into five zones:

Each domestic team featured its full 2018-19 roster, including both established stars and up-and-coming talent. For example: What made the domestic teams truly special was their authenticity: each team had its home ground (e.g., Wankhede for Mumbai, Chinnaswamy for Karnataka, Chepauk for Tamil Nadu), its traditional kit (with state colors and symbols), and even its own team song (recorded by local artists). The game also included domestic rivalries – like Mumbai vs Delhi, Karnataka vs Tamil Nadu, and Bengal vs Punjab – with special commentary and crowd reactions for these matches, reflecting the passion of domestic cricket in India.

Iconic Indian Stadiums 🏟️ – From Wankhede to Wagon Wheel

Indian Cricket Champs 19 featured 30 authentic Indian cricket stadiums, each recreated with meticulous attention to detail:

Each stadium in Indian Cricket Champs 19 had its unique characteristics that affected gameplay: The developers of Indian Cricket Champs 19 visited each of these stadiums in person to capture accurate measurements, photographs, and crowd sounds. They even recorded the unique sounds of each stadium – the sea breeze at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium, the honking of auto-rickshaws near Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, and the chanting of fans at Kolkata’s Eden Gardens – to create the most realistic stadium experience possible in the game.
📍 Fun Fact: The developers of Indian Cricket Champs 19 spent over 6 months traveling across India to document each stadium, interviewing groundsmen, local players, and stadium officials to understand the unique characteristics of each venue. This attention to detail is what made the stadiums in the game feel so authentic to Indian players.

Development & Release – A Journey of Creating Desi Cricket

The development of Indian Cricket Champs 19 began in early 2017, at a time when Indian cricket fans were growing frustrated with international cricket games that failed to capture the essence of Indian cricket. Indian Game Studios Pvt. Ltd., a Mumbai-based game development company founded by cricket enthusiasts, recognized this gap in the market and set out to create a cricket game that was by Indians, for Indians.

The initial concept for Indian Cricket Champs 19 was simple: to create a cricket game that reflected the way cricket is played and experienced in India. This meant going beyond just including Indian teams and stadiums – it meant understanding the unique culture, traditions, and nuances of Indian cricket and incorporating them into every aspect of the game. The development team consisted of over 60 people, including game developers, cricket experts, motion capture artists, and local cricket players – many of whom were passionate cricket fans themselves.

One of the first challenges the team faced was securing funding for the project. While international cricket games had large budgets, a homegrown Indian cricket game was a risky investment for many investors. However, after pitching the concept to several gaming companies and investors, the team secured funding from Daman Games – a company that recognized the potential of a cricket game tailored to the Indian market. Daman Games not only provided financial support but also became the game’s publisher, helping with marketing, distribution, and post-launch support.

The development process was divided into several phases:

One of the biggest challenges during development was securing licensing agreements with the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and IPL franchises. While international cricket games often have large budgets for licensing, Indian Cricket Champs 19 had a more modest budget, making it difficult to secure full licensing rights. However, after months of negotiations, the team secured partial licensing rights – enough to use team names, stadiums, and some player likenesses. For players who were not licensed, the game included generic versions with editable names and appearances, allowing players to customize them to match real players if they wished.

The game was officially announced on 15th March 2019 at a press conference in Mumbai, attended by former Indian cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar and Harsha Bhogle (who also provided commentary for the game), as well as representatives from Daman Games and Indian Game Studios. A teaser trailer was released on YouTube, which garnered over 3 million views in its first week – a sign of the high anticipation among Indian cricket fans.

Indian Cricket Champs 19 was released on 28th September 2019 across three platforms:

The mobile versions were designed to be free-to-play to reach the widest possible audience, while the PC version was a paid game with no in-app purchases – a model that was well-received by Indian gamers who often criticize pay-to-win mechanics in free-to-play games.

At launch, Indian Cricket Champs 19 was an instant success:

The launch was accompanied by a marketing campaign that focused on the game’s "Indianness" – featuring ads with real Indian cricket fans, local cricketers, and former international players. The campaign included TV ads, social media promotions, and partnerships with Indian gaming influencers – all of which helped to build excitement and awareness for the game across India.
📈 Launch Success: Indian Cricket Champs 19 became the fastest-downloaded Indian cricket game of all time, crossing 10 million downloads on Android within 3 months of launch. The game was also the top-grossing sports game on the Google Play Store in India for 6 consecutive months.

Post-launch, the development team continued to support Indian Cricket Champs 19 with regular updates, fixing bugs, adding new features, and updating player rosters to reflect real-world changes in Indian cricket. The team also maintained an active presence on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube) and gaming forums, engaging with the community and collecting feedback for future updates. This ongoing support was crucial in maintaining the game’s popularity and ensuring that it remained relevant to Indian cricket fans.

Reviews, Ratings & Cultural Impact – A Desi Gaming Phenomenon

Indian Cricket Champs 19 received overwhelmingly positive reviews from both gaming critics and cricket fans in India, with many praising its authentic representation of Indian cricket and engaging gameplay mechanics. The game’s focus on domestic cricket and gully cricket was particularly lauded, as it filled a long-standing gap in cricket video games for Indian audiences.

Critical Reception 📰 – Indian Critics Love Their Cricket Game

Indian gaming publications gave Indian Cricket Champs 19 some of the highest ratings of any cricket game in recent years: