Hyderabad, India — Across India’s cities and towns, a new form of sports entrepreneurship is quietly gaining momentum. From indoor cricket nets and box cricket arenas to outdoor pay-and-play centres, young entrepreneurs are building profitable cricket businesses-often starting small, with just one cricket bowling machine. What was once limited to professional academies has now become accessible to everyone. Commercial cricket centres allow players to book short sessions and play without long-term commitments, large grounds, or expensive gear. This simple pay-and-play model has created a strong and repeatable business opportunity, especially for first-time founders. A Business Model Young Entrepreneurs Are Choosing: Many commercial cricket centres across India have been started with an initial investment of ₹5–10 lakh, typically covering the cricket bowling machine, nets, sport flooring and basic setup. Operators report steady monthly incomes ranging from ₹50,000 to ₹3 lakh after expenses, depending on location and utilisation. In most cases, entrepreneurs recover their investment in less than a year. The model has proven effective not only in metro cities but also in tier-2 and tier-3 towns, where access to organised recreational sports is limited but demand is strong. Real Stories, Real Outcomes: Prabhakar from Hyderabad began by gradually arranging funds over several months to buy his first cricket bowling machine. He started small and managed operations himself. Today, he owns multiple commercial cricket centres and has expanded into cricket infrastructure development. Sai from Mahabubnagar wanted to build something on his own without relying on family support. He started a pay-and-play cricket centre that quickly became popular among local youth and working professionals—giving him both financial independence and confidence. Nikhil from Gurugram began with a single commercial cricket net. Consistent bookings encouraged him to expand, and he now operates multiple nets using the same repeatable model. There are many such stories…Most of them are success stories! Technology That Enables Scale: At the centre of these businesses is reliable cricket technology. Leverage Science and Technologies Limited, a Hyderabad-based sports technology company, is a pioneer and market leader in cricket bowling machines. Today, commercial cricket zones using Leverage machines can be seen in virtually every notable town across India. The company’s Master Digi Cricket Bowling Machine, designed for long operating hours and consistent performance, is widely used in indoor cricket, box cricket, and outdoor commercial setups. Many centres also use auto feeders to improve session flow and reduce manpower needs. Beyond commercial centres, Leverage’s professional cricket bowling machines are used by lakhs of cricketers across training academies. The company also supplies advanced cricket simulators installed in high-end game zones and amusement centres across India. Guiding First-Time Founders: Leverage’s involvement goes beyond equipment. The company actively guides aspiring entrepreneurs on choosing the right machine configuration, planning layouts, understanding utilisation patterns, and learning from insights gathered across hundreds of operational centres. For more details: https://bowlingmachine.co.in Founder’s View: “We’ve seen young people start with one cricket bowling machine and build stable, profitable businesses around it,” said Partha Pemmaraju, Managing Director of Leverage Science and Technologies Limited. “When commercial cricket centres using our machines appear in almost every town across India, it shows this is not a fad—it’s a practical, repeatable opportunity. Our role is to help entrepreneurs get it right from day one.” About Leverage Science and Technologies Limited: Leverage Science and Technologies Limited is an Indian sports technology company specialising in cricket bowling machines and advanced cricket simulators. Its products are used across commercial cricket centres, indoor and box cricket setups, outdoor pay-and-play nets, professional academies, and premium game zones across India. (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with NRDPL and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI