NODWIN Gaming, India’s designated partner for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has revealed the country’s Honor of Kings roster for the global competition. The Indian squad has also been granted a special invitation to the main event, scheduled to take place in Riyadh from November 24 to 29, 2026.

The Honor of Kings tournament at ENC 2026 will feature 24 national teams vying for a prize pool exceeding USD 1.32 million (approximately INR 12.5 crore). India’s direct entry adds to the 12 teams invited through the ENC Ranking system and 9 qualification spots from regional online qualifiers. Two additional wildcard slots, one for the host region and one solidarity slot, will complete the participant list.

Esports Nations Cup: Indian Roster and Coaching Staff

The seven-player roster comprises a mix of established figures and emerging talents from the Indian Honor of Kings scene:

Rahul Lavhate (Kyurem)
Aashish Chouhan (Deadshot)
Ainul Haidery (Senpai)
Saurabh Jagadale (Kael)
Bezalel Hmar (Eto)
Aryan Gulati (TT) – Substitute
Saad Sardar (Darkness) – Substitute

Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt) has been appointed as the team’s head coach, tasked with overseeing India’s preparations for the international event.

Player Profiles and Background

The selected players bring experience from various top-tier Indian esports organizations. Ainul Haidery (Senpai) of Revenant Xspark will serve as the in-game leader (IGL). Senpai, recognized as a leading Jungler, along with teammate Aashish Chouhan (Deadshot), a Clash Lane player, recently won the Bengaluru leg of the Kings Arise India City Tour. Both are also slated to represent India at the Honor of Kings World Cup (KWC) at the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 in Paris.

S8UL Esports teammates Rahul Lavhate (Kyurem) and Saurabh Jagadale (Kael) also secured victories at the Mumbai leg of the Kings Arise India City Tour and are part of India’s KWC 2026 contingent. Completing the starting lineup is Bezalel Hmar (Eto) from GodLike Esports.

Ainul Haidery (Senpai) commented on the team’s selection, stating, “The Honor of Kings esports scene in India has grown significantly. This roster reflects the depth of talent that has emerged. Representing India at the Esports Nations Cup is both an honor and a responsibility, and every player understands what this opportunity means. We aim to deliver performances the community can be proud of, establish India as a strong competitor on the global Honor of Kings stage, and inspire more players to pursue the game competitively.”

India’s Presence at ENC 2026 Across Titles

With the Honor of Kings announcement, India now has representation in five titles at the ENC 2026. The country previously secured a special invite for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). In Chess, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin received a direct invitation, while Mitrabha Guha advanced through regional qualifiers. India’s VALORANT team qualified via the Asia regional qualifiers, and Trackmania player Kunal Upreti (Spark) earned his spot through the Asia regional qualifier.

However, India’s campaigns in DOTA 2 and PUBG: Battlegrounds concluded in the qualification stages. The DOTA 2 team narrowly lost to Pakistan in the South & East Asia Qualifier’s Lower Bracket Final, and the PUBG: Battlegrounds team finished sixth in the Asia Pacific regional qualifier, falling short of a main event slot.

Attention now shifts to the MOBA Legends: 5v5! squad, which remains in contention for a direct invitation to the main event. If required, the team will compete in regional qualifiers scheduled for August 15-16. For more information on recent esports developments, you can visit our esports coverage (https://technosports.co.in/).

The Esports Foundation (EF), a non-profit organization based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, oversees the advancement and professionalization of the global esports industry, including events like the ENC 2026. NODWIN Gaming(https://nodwingaming.com/), as India’s partner, plays a role in facilitating the country’s participation in these global tournaments.