NODWIN Gaming, India’s National Team Partner (NTP) for the upcoming Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has unveiled the country’s official VALORANT roster. The team is set to compete in the global nation-based esports competition, scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026. The VALORANT segment of the tournament will run from November 8 to 15, featuring 32 national teams vying for a prize pool of approximately INR 14 crore (USD 1.5 million).

The announcement marks a significant step for India’s participation in international esports, particularly for the popular tactical shooter VALORANT. NODWIN Gaming (https://nodwingaming.com/), a prominent esports company, has been instrumental in assembling and preparing the national contingent.

Indian VALORANT Squad Details

The Indian VALORANT team will be led by in-game leader (IGL) Sagnik Roy, known by his handle Hellf. The core lineup includes:

* **Sagnik Roy (Hellf)** – In-Game Leader
* **Abhirup Choudhury (Lightningfast)**
* **Aman Yadav (Hoax)**
* **Venkatesh Sharma (Venky)**
* **Norbu Tsering (Karam1L)**
* **Shravana Sahoo (Techno)**
* **Daivik Chauhan (Dc)**

Serving as substitutes for the team are Afaque Shaikh (Envy2K), Jayesh Negi (kibojn), and Rishi Vijayakumar (RvK). Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD) has been appointed as the team’s coach.

Player Profiles and Experience

The selected roster combines seasoned players with a history of competitive success in the Indian VALORANT scene. Sagnik Roy (Hellf) brings extensive experience, having previously competed in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and securing multiple VALORANT titles, including VCC 2022 Stage 1 and Skyesports Championship 3.0.

Abhirup Choudhury (Lightningfast) is another key player, recognized for winning VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2025 with Velocity Gaming and contributing to a top-six finish at VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Ascension Pacific 2025. He also achieved a top-three placement at Convergence 2023 with Global Esports.

The team also features Aman Yadav (Hoax), a versatile flex player, and Venkatesh Sharma (Venky), regarded as a proficient duelist. Karam1L, a former CS:GO player, and Dc, known for consistent performances in domestic competitions, complete the starting lineup. Several members of the squad, including Hellf, Hoax, Venky, and Techno, have previously competed together, notably securing a title at Predator League India 2026 with S8UL Esports, which is expected to foster team chemistry.

Commenting on the roster, Sagnik Roy (Hellf) stated, “A national team requires bringing together top players from diverse backgrounds and aligning them towards a common objective. Fortunately, many of us have prior competitive experience together, providing a solid foundation. Our immediate goal is to leverage this familiarity, refine our teamwork, and position ourselves favorably for qualification to Riyadh.”

Tournament Structure and India’s Qualification Path

The Esports Nations Cup 2026 will distribute 16 direct invitations based on the official ENC Rankings system, which aggregates player points from regional and international VCT competitions up to June 21, 2026. An additional 14 teams will qualify through regional online tournaments, with the final two spots awarded via wildcard entries. India’s qualification campaign for VALORANT is scheduled to commence with the Asia regional qualifiers from June 26 to 28, where two teams will advance to the main event.

Updates on Other Indian National Teams

Beyond VALORANT, India continues its preparations across various other esports titles for ENC 2026.

League of Legends: India’s League of Legends team, comprising Aakash Shandilya (Infi), Akshaj Shenoy (Kat Bot), Rahul Bisht (Bob), Vinayak Gupta (Panda), and Niranjan Prabakaran (Sam), was eliminated in the semifinals of the regional qualifiers by Japan, narrowly missing qualification.
DOTA 2: The DOTA 2 roster includes Krish Gupta (Krish), Vishal Vernekar (HBK), Dhvanit Singh Negi (Negi), Manav Kunte (MnZ), and Yash Thakur (xand3r_^), with Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) as coach. They will compete in regional qualifiers from June 29 to July 1.
Chess: Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Mitrabha Guha have successfully qualified to represent India at the ENC 2026 main event.
MOBA Legends: 5v5!: The team features Gaithanlung Gonmei (Kyle), Susanta Biswas (Kimyy), Abhijeet Katkar (Asuna), Rithik Sohal (Romcom), Evancius A. Sangma (Vann), Mohammad Saad (Apex), and Jay Mehta (J), coached by Steve Vitug (Dale). India is currently ranked 11th in the MOBA Legends: 5v5! ENC rankings and is in contention for a direct invitation. Should they not secure a direct spot, the team will participate in regional qualifiers on August 15-16.
Rocket League: The Rocket League team consists of Abhai Ponna (Abscrazy), Karthik Raghunandan (Karvin), Aditeya Srivastav (Riyal), and substitute Jayanth Engineer (Orjanguse), coached by Nirjhar Mitra (jocse). They will compete in regional qualifiers from July 17 to 19, where three teams from Asia will qualify for the finals.

As the Esports Nations Cup 2026 approaches, the focus remains on India’s performance in the upcoming qualifiers across these various titles, hoping to secure strong representation in Riyadh. For more on the latest esports developments, visit TechnoSports (https://technosports.co.in/).