NODWIN Gaming (https://www.nodwingaming.com/), India’s designated National Team Partner for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has officially revealed the country’s national teams for DOTA 2 and MOBA Legends: 5v5!. The global nation-based esports competition is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026.
The selected rosters feature a blend of experienced players and emerging talent, including athletes who have represented India in previous international tournaments.
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DOTA 2 Squad Features Asian Games Representative
India’s DOTA 2 team for ENC 2026 comprises:
* Krish Gupta (Krish)
* Dhvanit Singh Negi (Negi)
* Vishal Vernekar (HBK)
* Manav Kunte (MnZ)
* Yash Thakur (xand3r_^)
* Substitutes: Khaja Hussain (Pinkman), Harsh Shah (Archmage-)
* Coach: Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3)
Krish Gupta, currently the highest-ranked Indian DOTA 2 player, previously competed at the Hangzhou Asian Games and IESF Asian Championship 2023. Vishal Vernekar was part of India’s bronze medal-winning squad at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022. The roster also includes veteran Dhvanit Singh Negi and Global Esports Games representative Manav Kunte. The team’s coach, Moin Ejaz, will oversee strategy and development.
The DOTA 2 tournament at ENC 2026 runs from November 2 to 9, featuring 32 national teams competing for a prize pool of USD 1.5 million (approximately INR 14.2 crore). The top 16 teams based on ENC Rankings (finalized June 7) will receive direct invitations to the Finals. An additional 14 teams will qualify through online regional qualifiers from June 29 to July 2, with two wildcard invitations completing the lineup.
Krish Gupta, in-game leader (IGL) of the DOTA 2 team, stated, “Representing India is always a special feeling, and the Esports Nations Cup gives us the opportunity to compete against some of the strongest teams in the world under the national flag. We have a roster with a good mix of experience and chemistry, and our focus will be on preparing well and delivering our best on the international stage.”
MOBA Legends: 5v5! Team Aims for Global Stage
The MOBA Legends: 5v5! national team consists of:
* Gaithanlung Gonmei (Kyle)
* Susanta Biswas (Kimyy)
* Abhijeet Katkar (Asuna)
* Rithik Sohal (Romcom)
* Evancius A. Sangma (Vann)
* Reserve Players: Mohammad Saad (Apex), Jay Mehta (J)
* Coach: Steve Vitug (Dale)
Players Kyle, Kimyy, and Asuna recently secured qualification for the Esports World Cup (EWC) 2026 as India’s sole representative in the title through their victory at the MOBA Legends Masters Series (MLMS) with True Rippers. Romcom and Vann, from GodLike Esports, bring further competitive experience, having won Mythic Showdown Season 2 last year. The team will be coached by Steve Vitug.
The MOBA Legends: 5v5! competition at ENC 2026 is scheduled for November 23-29, offering a prize pool of USD 1.5 million (approximately INR 14.2 crore) among 32 national teams. The Esports Foundation (EF) will issue 16 direct invitations based on the official ENC Ranking system (cut-off August 2). Regional online qualifiers will determine 14 additional teams, with two wildcard slots also available. India is currently ranked 11th and is contending for a direct invitation. If not directly invited, the team will compete in regional qualifiers scheduled for August 15-16.
Steve Vitug, coach of the MOBA Legends: 5v5! Team, commented, “India has a strong pool of MOBA Legends talent, and this lineup reflects a good balance of proven performers and players who have earned their place through recent results. Many of these athletes already have experience competing together, which gives us a solid starting point as we work towards representing the country at the Esports Nations Cup.”
India’s Broader Participation in ENC 2026
Beyond DOTA 2 and MOBA Legends, India’s involvement in ENC 2026 extends to other titles. The country’s Rainbow Six Siege campaign concluded in the Asia qualifiers after a 0-2 defeat to Japan in the quarterfinals, placing the team among the top six in the region.
In Chess, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin has directly qualified for the ENC 2026 main event via the Champions Chess Tour (CCT) Leaderboard. Each country is permitted a maximum of two representatives, leaving one additional spot for an Indian player to qualify through regional qualifiers operated by Chess.com on June 6-7 and June 13-14.
India’s Rocket League contingent, comprising Abhai Ponna (Abscrazy), Karthik Raghunandan (Karvin), Aditeya Srivastav (Riyal), and substitute Jayanth Engineer (Orjanguse), will participate in regional qualifiers from July 17 to 19. Three teams from Asia will secure qualification for the ENC 2026 main event in Rocket League.
