News18 has introduced a digital version of the popular classroom pastime ‘Book Cricket’, tapping into nostalgia while celebrating the excitement around the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The interactive game has been launched on News18.com, offering users a modern, mobile-friendly version of a game once widely played by students during school breaks.

According to the company, the initiative aims to recreate the familiar experience of flipping through textbooks to score runs, now reimagined as a seamless digital experience accessible on smartphones. The launch reflects News18’s broader strategy to blend entertainment with engagement at a time when cricket fever continues to dominate audience attention.

The game is currently available in English, Hindi and Telugu, with plans to expand to all languages in which News18 operates. It forms part of the network’s growing gaming portfolio, which now includes more than 20 titles developed in-house to enhance audience interaction across its web and app platforms.

Commenting on the launch, Mitul Sangani, CEO of News18 Digital, said gaming has become a core component of the company’s engagement strategy. He noted that the platform combines newsroom agility with immersive formats to create meaningful user experiences, particularly as digital consumption habits continue to evolve and audience attention spans shrink.

News18 has been steadily expanding its event-based gaming initiatives in recent years. During the 2025 Bihar Assembly Elections, the platform launched interactive titles such as ‘Kursi Catcher’ and ‘Result Rewind’, which saw significant user participation. The network has also introduced festival-themed games including ‘Durga’s Astras’ during Durga Puja and ‘Mouse Modak’ for Ganesh Chaturthi, demonstrating its focus on integrating cultural moments with digital entertainment.

The rising popularity of News18 Games has further enabled the company to expand its presence beyond its primary platform. Select titles are now available on CNBC-TV18 and Firstpost, strengthening its digital ecosystem and broadening reach among diverse audiences.

With the launch of Book Cricket, News18 aims to bridge nostalgia with innovation, turning moments of national excitement into interactive experiences and reinforcing its push toward deeper user engagement in the digital space.