Suniel Shetty buys GEPL's Pune e-cricket team says — ‘These players are the future — I want to dive deeper into this world'
Bollywood actor Suniel Shetty, known for his action-packed films, has taken a new step into the world of digital sports. At a recent e-cricket match under the Global E-Cricket Premier League (GEPL), where he owns the Pune franchise, Shetty shared his first-hand experience of the high energy and immersive nature of competitive gaming.
A first taste of e-cricket drama
During the match, Shetty was visibly impressed by the intensity of the game. He mentioned how Sara Tendulkar, owner of the Mumbai Grizzlies, was nervously biting her nails just like any traditional high-stakes sports moment. 'I went backstage just to understand… it's incredible and very hard. And from the corner of my eyes, I saw Sara [Tendulkar], owner of the Mumbai Grizzlies, getting nervous, biting her nails,' Shetty said, adding that the pressure on players and owners alike was no different from a live cricket stadium.
Gaming gets personal: Real faces, real talent
What caught Shetty off guard was the realism of the e-cricket league. The players didn't just operate digital avatars, they were the stars of the screen themselves. 'It's their voices, their faces, their talent,' he said. The performance was about more than gaming; it was about skill, recognition, and personal connection with the audience.
Suniel Shetty buys GEPL's Pune e-cricket team | Credit: X
A new kind of rush
Shetty admitted that trying to follow the players' coordination left him amazed. 'I was just trying to follow their fingers. Unreal,' he shared. For the actor who will next be seen as a warrior in Kesari Veer, the determination he saw in the digital athletes felt familiar. He likened their passion and commitment to the hustle seen in traditional sports and film.
Ready for more in the digital arena
Suniel Shetty's involvement in GEPL signals more than a celebrity endorsement. He sees e-sports as an emerging frontier with huge potential. As an actor, entrepreneur, and now e-cricket team owner, Shetty is ready to learn and grow in this space. For him, this is just the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
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