In line with India’s vision to become a global AI hub, Professor Vishal Misra, Vice-Dean of Computing & AI, Department of Engineering at Columbia University and an expert advisor to the FIFS Sports Data Gameathon, launched a white paper titled “Fantasy Sports as a Catalyst for India’s AI Revolution in Sports” at WAVES 2025 (World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit).
The white paper is based on insights from FIFS Sports Data Gameathon, a national-level sports AI challenge launched in partnership with Google Cloud and Dream11. The challenge invited India’s top engineering and technology institutes to leverage data to develop AI/ML models based on real-world sports applications and compete in daily fantasy sports format.
The whitepaper highlights the need for making sports a focus sector for the IndiaAI Mission, role of fantasy sports as a vehicle for democratising AI development, and leveraging initiatives like Gameathon to build indigenous AI solutions for sports & beyond. Fantasy sports has the advantage of widespread adoption and based on its data driven approach, offers a unique opportunity to engage India’s vast pool of technical talent. It will also help in integrating sports analytics with grassroot innovation.
Commenting on the launch, Prof. Vishal Misra said, “Fantasy sports is more than entertainment — they are a powerful, accessible platform for advancing AI in India. By turning sports into a data science playground, we can nurture the next generation of AI talent while unlocking real-world applications in athlete performance, fan engagement, and strategic decision-making. The FIFS Sports Data Gameathon not only supported IndiaAI’s application development and FutureSkills goals but also showed how fantasy platforms can fuel AI-driven innovation beyond elite teams, making sophisticated analytics tools accessible at scale.”
The paper further shared key policy recommendations:
- Establish a national sports data repository under the IndiaAI Datasets Platform
- Develop sports-focused AI curricula in higher education
- Create a dedicated AI-in-sports innovation hub within IndiaAI
- Launch regular, multi-sport data competitions to promote innovation
- Enable real-time data infrastructure for dynamic AI models
- Foster public-private partnerships between fantasy platforms, academia, and sports bodies
- Encourage cross-disciplinary research in AI, sports science, and statistics
As India targets a USD 500 billion GDP boost through AI adoption by 2025, the paper makes a compelling case for sports to be integrated as a formal pillar of the IndiaAI Mission. Through accessible platforms like fantasy sports and initiatives like the Gameathon, India can build a robust, inclusive AI ecosystem with transformative potential for both sports and society.