Interview: KRAFTON India's Karan Pathak on Indian Esports

Karan Pathak, Associate Director at KRAFTON India, spoke to TechnoSports on Day 2 of BMIC 2026, the BGMI International Cup, at the Dome, SVP Indoor Stadium (NSCI) in Mumbai. He talks about what Indian teams need to catch the Koreans, whether Indian esports is becoming sustainable, and what he would change next year.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity. Watch the video for the full conversation.

A Detailed Interview with KRAFTON India’s Associate Director, Karan Pathak

TechnoSports: Hi Karan, welcome, and thanks for having us at such a big gaming event here at BMIC. BMIC brings together teams from India, South Korea and Japan. What do you believe Indian teams need to improve to become consistent contenders on the international stage, and how is KRAFTON working to bridge that gap?

Karan Pathak: I think strategy is the area where Indian teams lack a bit of confidence compared with the Korean teams. To bridge that gap, I think the coaches have to do a better job. A few of them are doing it, and a few aren’t. So the biggest gap is in strategy, and the coaches will have to step up and support the teams better. But that happens over a period of time. We have the firepower. We just need to understand and play with these guys better, and I think tournaments like BMIC help them do that.

TechnoSports: Indian esports has built a passionate audience that keeps growing. But building a sustainable business is still a challenge for Indian teams and organisations. What needs to change for the ecosystem to become financially sustainable in the long term?

Karan Pathak: In the longer term, with players like Google coming in, Monster being there, and a lot of OEM partners stepping in and sponsoring, a lot of brands are coming in. It is becoming more sustainable compared with what it was in, let’s say, 2018. People have figured out how to move forward, but not everybody has. So what I would recommend to new investors and new owners is to understand how the circuit works, and then maybe step in.

TechnoSports: What is the biggest change you would like to introduce to the competitive ecosystem next year?

Karan Pathak: Maybe have a stadium which can accommodate 30,000 people.

Interview: KRAFTON India's Karan Pathak on Indian Esports, a 30,000-Seat Stadium and "Global Trophies"

TechnoSports: BMIC has combined international competition with Alan Walker’s live performance. How important is it for KRAFTON to position esports as a broader entertainment experience, and how would you measure these collaborations in attracting new audiences?

Karan Pathak: I think esports is competitive for us, and it’s not entertainment. Audiences do watch it and they get entertained, but the competition is real. So when we do the official tournaments, our goal is to make sure it is one of the best competitions in the country, and we take it very seriously. While we had Alan there, we were glad to have him on. I think that was, again, an experience for the audiences, and for them to feel that they are part of the game. It was a nostalgic moment for most of us who heard him in the game.

TechnoSports: What would it take for India to become a regular host of major international esports competitions like this?

Karan Pathak: I think with newer partners coming on board, we will be able to see more of this, and it might just continue in the future.

TechnoSports: Last question, about what’s coming for BGMI. What would you have to say on that?

Karan Pathak: There are exciting things coming, for sure, but you guys will have to wait. We’re awaiting confirmation from the venues, and once we have that, we’ll be able to release what we’re doing next.

TechnoSports: Lastly, looking three years ahead, what would you like Indian esports to have achieved that it hasn’t?

Karan Pathak: Global trophies.

The vision of Karan is to make India the global hub for gaming; while the nation is progressing towards that, Krafton’s role in this transformation will be significant. The steps that the government is taking alongside major publishers like Krafton definitely mean India could become the next mecca for gamers.

Key points

Pathak says the gap between Indian and Korean teams is mainly strategy, and that coaches need to step up.
He says Indian teams have the firepower and benefit from tournaments like BMIC.
He calls Indian esports more sustainable than it was in 2018, citing sponsors such as Google and Monster and OEM partners.
His wish for next year is a stadium for 30,000 people.
KRAFTON is waiting for venue confirmation before announcing its next BGMI plans.
His three-year goal: global trophies.

About BMIC 2026

BMIC 2026, the BGMI International Cup, is played from 30 October to 1 November 2026 at the Dome, SVP Indoor Stadium (NSCI), Mumbai. Sixteen teams from India, South Korea and Japan are competing for a ₹1 crore prize pool.

FAQs

What do Indian esports teams need to improve to compete internationally?

Karan Pathak says Indian teams need to improve their strategy and that coaches should better support them. He says tournaments like BMIC help teams learn to compete against international opponents.

Is Indian esports becoming more financially sustainable?

Pathak says the ecosystem is becoming more sustainable than it was in 2018, with brands, sponsors and OEM partners coming in. He advises new investors and owners to understand how the circuit works before joining.

What change would Karan Pathak make to the esports ecosystem next year?

Pathak said he would like to have a stadium that can accommodate 30,000 people.

What does Karan Pathak say about esports and entertainment?

Pathak says esports is competitive for KRAFTON, even though audiences may find it entertaining. He says the goal of official tournaments is to deliver one of the country’s best competitions.