Dream Sports, the parent firm behind India's top fantasy sports platform Dream11, is set to invest $50 million in Cricbuzz and Willow TV, acquiring a minority stake in both. The investment, announced on May 14, aims to enhance fan engagement through innovations in content, commerce, and personalization.
This strategic collaboration is a part of Dream Sports’ broader vision to expand its sports tech ecosystem by integrating AI-powered features, interactive streaming, and real-time statistics into its platforms.
According to a joint statement by Dream Sports and Times Internet, the two companies will collaborate to offer advanced features like:
Live statistics and real-time analysis
Interactive fan engagement tools
Commerce integrations
AI-driven predictions and personalization
Times Internet is the current owner of Cricbuzz and Willow TV, which collectively serve cricket content to over 185 million fans monthly in more than 150 countries.
"Dream Sports’ mission is to ‘Make Sports Better’ for Indian sports fans. Cricbuzz and Dream11 have worked together for over a decade, and with this investment, all cricket fans can expect much more fan engagement, interactive streams, and integrated commerce experiences that will bring them closer to the action and to each other,"
— Harsh Jain, Co-founder, Dream Sports
Willow TV holds exclusive broadcasting rights for International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments in the United States and Canada until 2027. This includes a lineup of 14 international events, ranging from the men’s and women’s World Cups to the Under-19 tournaments.
The platform streams over 1,500 live matches annually and is now expanding into the Middle East and Southeast Asia, strengthening its global cricket footprint.
Times Internet acquired:
Cricbuzz in 2014
Willow TV in 2016
Together, these platforms deliver live matches, scores, analysis, and highlights to cricket fans worldwide.
"We’re excited to work with Dream Sports to reimagine and develop new ways to collaboratively create new experiences for cricket fans,"
— Satyan Gajwani, Vice Chairman, Times Internet
The $50 million move follows Dream Sports’ entry into football. The company recently joined the ownership group of Salford City Football Club, a League Two English club. The ownership includes sports legends like David Beckham and Gary Neville, along with investors Declan Kelly and Lord Mervyn Davies, who now co-chair the club’s board.
In a strategic shift, Dream Sports moved its domicile from Delaware, USA to India in March 2025, joining a trend among Indian tech startups relocating back to their home turf.
Apart from Dream11, the company also operates:
FanCode – Sports content & commerce
DreamSetGo – Sports travel & experiences
Dream Game Studios – Mobile game development
Sixer – Sports-based virtual trading
Dream Sports currently boasts a user base of 250 million.
Dream Sports, established in 2008 by Harsh Jain and Bhavit Sheth, reached a valuation of $8 billion following a $840 million funding round in November 2021. The investment was backed by prominent global investors such as Falcon Edge, DST Global, D1 Capital, Redbird Capital, Tiger Global, TPG, and Footpath Ventures.
Dream Sports’ $50 million investment in Cricbuzz and Willow TV marks a strategic move to strengthen its global footprint and deepen fan engagement in the cricket ecosystem. By partnering with Times Internet, the company aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, real-time analytics, and interactive commerce tools to deliver an immersive sports experience.
The deal also reflects Dream Sports’ intent to integrate content, technology, and commerce across platforms, bringing fans closer to the action. With 250 million users and an expanding portfolio that spans fantasy gaming, live sports streaming, travel experiences, and mobile gaming, Dream Sports is positioning itself as a comprehensive sports tech powerhouse.
This investment, alongside its recent entry into football with Salford City FC and its strategic relocation to India, showcases the company’s long-term commitment to scaling sports innovation both in India and internationally. The collaboration promises to redefine how cricket content is consumed and monetized.