Metasports Appoints Dream11 Veteran Manoj Kadarla as Head of Marketing to Fuel Global Growth for Strategy Cricket Game Hitwicket

Manoj Kadarla just stepped in as Metasports’ Head of Marketing—a big move for a company that’s looking to turn its fast-growing gaming startup into a global brand. This isn’t one of those generic hires; it’s a signal that Metasports is getting serious about scaling, sharpening its marketing game, and building a real foundation for growth.

Manoj’s arrival comes at a time when sports gaming is changing fast. Players expect deeper engagement, smarter gameplay, and marketing has become all about data and targeting. Metasports’ cricket strategy game, Hitwicket, keeps picking up steam in new markets, so the team needs steady hands to guide international growth and set the brand apart.

Metasports doesn’t just make casual games with lots of ads. They’re known for strategy and skill-based play—think classic cricket competition but more cerebral, hands-on, and connected. As the player base spreads across the globe, marketing gets trickier. Growing internationally means more than blasting ads—it takes smart systems, consistent branding, and retention plans that actually work. That’s where Manoj comes in: he’s here to take marketing from a scrappy hustle to a measured, scalable operation.

Manoj’s role covers the whole marketing spectrum: strategy, user acquisition, building the brand, partnerships, growing the community, and positioning for the long run. This is a real pivot—from chasing quick wins to setting up for sustainable growth.

He brings serious pedigree. Before Metasports, Manoj spent eight years at Dream11—you know, the fantasy sports juggernaut in India. He helped Dream11 dominate the market, running complex digital campaigns, managing huge budgets, and spearheading user acquisition. His strengths? Performance marketing, analytics, audience segmentation, campaign management—you name it. He knows how to build and scale digital platforms, keeping users hooked during big tournaments and tapping into what sports fans actually care about.

That experience matters. Manoj understands digital consumer habits, especially in mobile-first markets. He’s always focused on structured, long-term growth—not random marketing stunts. That’s exactly the mindset Metasports wants.

Marketing is central in sports gaming—not just a side project. You need:

• Efficient user acquisition: not just cheap signups, but quality players.
• Retention and engagement: campaigns that turn first-time users into loyal fans.
• Community building: getting people to compete, interact, and come back.
• Brand authority: making the game feel credible and different.
• Global localization: fine-tuning messages for new markets.

With Manoj on board, Metasports is saying marketing is a building block, not just window dressing.

Hitwicket isn’t your average cricket game; it’s all about skill, strategy, and progress. Communicating that takes more than ads—it’s real storytelling that teaches and connects emotionally. Millions of players in over 100 countries already play, but breaking into new markets brings hurdles: different cricket cultures, ad networks, compliance rules, platform quirks, and tough competition.

Manoj’s job is to build a global playbook. He’ll set up scalable acquisition, leverage performance data, and build campaigns that focus on long-term value—not just chasing big spikes.

Consistency matters, especially as Metasports spreads out. The brand has to feel relevant in both established and emerging cricket nations, so Manoj will make sure messaging fits each region without losing the core personality.

One big goal: building a marketing engine that runs on data. Marketing should mesh smoothly with analytics and product teams. Think advanced attribution, smart cohort analysis, creative optimization, automated scaling, integrated CRM—these systems help analyze not just who joins, but who sticks around and spends. It’s about predictable, repeatable growth, moving beyond campaign-driven peaks.

Cross-team collaboration is huge in gaming. Product, analytics, design, engineering, and marketing all have to sync. Manoj knows how to break down those silos: aligning launches with features, amplifying in-game events, marketing tournaments, working with influencers, and supporting community storytelling.

Metasports isn’t just backed by top investors like Prime Venture Partners and Horizon Ventures for fun. They expect disciplined, scalable growth. Marketing investments need to show real returns. Bringing Manoj on board is a maturity signal—not just to investors, but to everyone watching.

Performance marketing gets downloads, but real brand-building drives organic growth, referrals, influencer partnerships, and media buzz. Manoj’s task includes strengthening Hitwicket’s story: highlighting gameplay mastery, competitive spirit, cricket intelligence, and long-term progress. It’s about real engagement, not just traffic.

The competition in sports gaming is fierce. Fantasy sports, simulations, hyper-casual apps—they all fight for the same users. Metasports stands out because it’s strategy-focused, not just click-and-play. Manoj knows how to communicate those differences and keep marketing aligned with in-game experiences. Authenticity matters—a mismatch will drive users away.

From the outset, Manoj shares Metasports’ focus on structured, sustainable growth. He’s not interested in vanity metrics. He looks at retention, quality, and lifetime value. His leadership is grounded in analytics and teamwork—spot-on for handling complex, multi-market challenges.

Internally, hiring a marketing chief like Manoj sets the tone. Now, Metasports can push for data accountability, disciplined experimentation, and long-term planning. Marketing teams will get clearer frameworks, tighter KPIs, and closer ties with analytics. Culture becomes more resilient as the company moves from startup chaos to mature scaling.

In short, Manoj Kadarla’s arrival marks an important step for Metasports. With his Dream11 experience, he’s primed to lead Metasports through ambitious global growth. He’ll drive marketing strategy, user acquisition, brand development, and cross-team harmony, all as Hitwicket takes on new markets.

Metasports knows that lasting success needs more than good games—it takes smart scaling, strong storytelling, sharp execution, and deep engagement. With Manoj leading marketing, the company signals it’s ready to take the next big leap forward, with clarity and discipline.