Riyadh, April 23, 2026: The competitive framework for the highly anticipated Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC) is officially taking shape. The Esports Foundation (EF) confirmed today the appointment of over 700 game coaches representing National Team Partners across more than 100 territories. With the inaugural global nation-based tournament scheduled to debut in Riyadh from November 2 to November 29, 2026, the focus has shifted entirely to roster construction and national strategy.
Steering the ship for India is NODWIN Gaming, the country’s designated National Team Partner. Taking a massive step toward fielding highly competitive rosters on the international stage, the organization has finalized its coaching lineup across nine major titles. As India’s representative, NODWIN Gaming is tasked with establishing direct pathways for domestic players to compete globally, working directly with publishers, clubs, and various stakeholders to foster both grassroots and professional participation.
A Global Shift to National Pride
The ENC aims to introduce a recurring, structured format of nation-based competition to the annual global esports calendar. The EF’s overarching goal is to enable territories to organize teams and develop talent pathways, creating fresh opportunities while bridging local ecosystems with top-tier international play.
Reflecting on the sheer scale of the initiative, Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports Foundation, emphasized the structural importance of these recent appointments.
“The Esports Nations Cup is being built step by step, and appointing team coaches is the next critical layer in that structure,” said Reichert. “If teams are what make esports intuitive for a mainstream audience, coaches are what make them credible for players and fans. They bring identity, direction, and standards to each team. With more than 700 coaches now in place across over 100 National Team Partners, we’re turning the idea of nation-based competition into something people can understand instantly and believe in — a system that is structured, real, and ready to perform on the world stage.”
India’s Elite Coaching Roster
NODWIN Gaming has assembled a diverse mix of domestic veterans and international tactical minds, pulling from a global coaching pool that spans world champions and emerging scene leaders. The lineup covers major mobile titles, PC shooters, and MOBAs.
Mobile Heavyweights: BGMI and PUBG Given the massive audience and talent pool for mobile gaming in South Asia, expectations are incredibly high for the battle royale squads. Rahul (Ayogi) will step in to coach the Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) team. As a manager, analyst, and coach, he has previously directed heavyweight organizations like Team SouL and Blind Esports to major championships, including the BGMI Masters Series Season 3 and BGIS 2026.
For PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, Pratik Mehra (Aurum) takes control. Mehra brings serious pedigree from his time with Fnatic, notably leading them to victory at the PUBG Mobile All Stars India 2019 and securing a runner-up finish at the PUBG Mobile India Series 2020.
Tactical Shooters: VALORANT and Rainbow Six Siege In the tactical shooter division, Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD) has been named the VALORANT coach. Bajaj arrives with a heavy coaching resume, having secured titles with notable regional teams like Velocity Esports, Bleed Esports, Grayfox Esports, and Reckoning Esports.
Meanwhile, Ashrit Goyal (notyAshritB) will direct the Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege squad. Goyal’s strategic experience includes consistent top-seven finishes in Asia Pacific competitions and a second-place finish at the South Asia Nationals 2022.
The MOBA Division: DOTA 2, League of Legends, and International Imports Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) will lead the DOTA 2 initiative, bringing over a decade of competitive experience to the booth. Ejaz famously helped secure a historic bronze medal for India at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 in Birmingham, giving him vital experience in nation-based formats. For League of Legends, Pankaj Upadhyay (KAKA), considered one of India’s premier players with multiple international appearances, will oversee the roster.
NODWIN has also looked beyond India’s borders to secure top-tier talent for specific mobile MOBAs. Steve Vitug (Dale) from the Philippines has been recruited to coach MOBA Legends: 5v5!. Vitug brings immense international clout, having led Omega Esports and Falcon Esports to top-six finishes at the World Championship in 2021 and 2023, respectively.
Similarly, Indonesian coach Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt) will take charge of the Honor of Kings team. He brings top-flight international exposure from coaching Rex Regum Qeon and successfully navigating the grueling qualification circuits for the Honor of Kings World Championship 2024 and the Esports World Cup 2024.
Rounding out the national roster, Nirjhar Mitra (jocse) will manage the Rocket League campaign. Mitra won the Esportz Premier Series 2022 and has previously represented India at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 regional finals.
The Road Ahead: Building the Rosters
With the tacticians firmly in place, the immediate focus is on identifying players, defining core strategies, and constructing the competitive lineups that will fly the Indian flag in Riyadh.
“The appointment of coaches marks a crucial milestone in India’s journey towards the Esports Nations Cup 2026. Each coach has been selected for their deep understanding of the game, competitive experience, and ability to identify and nurture talent within their respective titles. We are confident that this coaching group will lay a solid foundation for India’s campaign on the global stage,” said Nimish Raut, Global Head of Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects at NODWIN Gaming.
The clock is ticking for the newly appointed leaders. Roster submissions are due by May 10, with official player announcements slated to begin rolling out in mid-May. For solo titles and the remaining team games, representatives will be decided through full open qualifiers, with further details expected from organizers in the coming weeks.
