BGMI teams up with Chennai Super Kings and KKR as IPL fever hits mobile gaming
The CSK content goes live on March 21, two days after the 4.3 update rolls out on March 19. KKR gets its turn on March 25, three days before the IPL 2026 opener in Bengaluru. The timing is no accident. KRAFTON wants BGMI players thinking about cricket before the first ball is bowled.
What the CSK collaboration includes
Players will be able to pick up the "Thala Legacy Set" outfit and the "Thala Monster Truck" vehicle skin, both styled in CSK's trademark yellow. The bigger addition is a set of Chennai Super Kings Photo Booth Points of Interest scattered across the Erangel and Livik maps. These are the first Photo Booth POIs to appear in BGMI, giving players a way to grab screenshots alongside franchise branding while they loot.
KKR's collaboration follows the same template, with its own exclusive collectibles and Photo Booth locations going live on March 25.
More than cosmetics in the 4.3 update
The update also introduces gameplay changes under the "Evolving Universe" theme. Dynamic slide rails let players move faster across terrain, energy shields add a new defensive option, and vehicles get a nitrous boost system. These mechanics apply to all maps regardless of the IPL partnership content.
Cricket and gaming keep merging in India
This is not the first time IPL franchises have shown up inside video games, but the depth of integration is new for BGMI. Branded POIs on core maps go beyond the usual themed lobby or limited-time loading screen. With India's mobile gaming audience overlapping heavily with its cricket fanbase, KRAFTON is betting that IPL season is the right moment to drive engagement.
The BGMI Grand Finals for the 2026 season are also approaching, with sixteen teams set to compete in Chennai following the semi-finals in Hyderabad. Between the esports competition and the IPL crossover, March is shaping up as a packed month for BGMI.
