NODWIN Gaming, India’s National Team Partner (NTP) for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has officially announced the country’s League of Legends 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 Indian contingent will commence its journey in the regional qualifiers from June 19 to 21, aiming to secure a spot at the main event. The League of Legends tournament within ENC 2026 will feature 32 national teams vying for a prize pool exceeding USD 1.5 million (approximately INR 14 crore).
Team India’s League of Legends Lineup
The national team will be captained by Aakash Shandilya, known in-game as “Infi.” The starting roster includes Akshaj Shenoy (“Kat Bot”), Rahul Bisht (“Bob”), Vinayak Gupta (“Panda”), and Niranjan Prabakaran (“Sam”). Sharavan Kumar (“DoubleYou”) and Manoj Ravish (“Shockya”) will serve as substitutes, with Pankaj Upadhyay (“KAKA”) taking on the role of team coach.
The selection brings together a blend of accomplished players within the Indian League of Legends ecosystem. Captain Infi is recognized for his extensive competitive history, boasting over 35 tournament victories and considered one of Asia’s stronger junglers. Kat Bot has consistently ranked among India’s top performers, while Bob is noted as one of the country’s highest-ranked League of Legends players and a prominent support.
Infi and Kat Bot were part of India’s League of Legends delegation at the Hangzhou Asian Games 2023, where the team achieved a fifth-place finish. This duo, alongside Bob, currently represents S8UL Esports and has also qualified to represent India at the forthcoming 20th Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. This core provides the national team with established synergy and high-level competitive experience.
Panda, widely regarded as India’s premier top laner, further strengthens the roster. He previously competed with Kat Bot and Infi for S8UL at the League of Legends Championship Pacific (LCP) 2026 Promotion Wild Card Playoffs. Completing the starting five, Sam is known for his consistent performance and strategic game sense. Substitutes DoubleYou and Shockya offer additional depth; DoubleYou is valued for his versatility, and Shockya is a recognized bot laner.
Team captain Aakash Shandilya (“Infi”) stated, “Representing India is a significant responsibility. This roster comprises players who have competed together for years, fostering a strong understanding of each other’s strengths. We possess a robust blend of experience, individual skill, and synergy. Our immediate objective is thorough preparation for the qualifiers to secure our place at the Esports Nations Cup.”
Esports Nations Cup 2026 Details
The League of Legends segment of ENC 2026 will specifically run from November 21 to 29. The Esports Foundation, a non-profit organization based in Riyadh dedicated to advancing the global esports industry, will allocate 16 direct invitations based on official ENC 2026 Rankings, which compile player performances from Riot Games competitions up to June 14, 2026. An additional 14 teams will qualify through online regional qualifiers scheduled from June 19 to 21, with two teams advancing from each of seven regions: Asia, North America, South America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia & Oceania, and Middle East & Africa. The final two spots will be awarded via wildcard slots.
This announcement reflects the growing prominence of Indian esports on the international stage. For more information on competitive gaming and NODWIN Gamin (https://nodwingaming.com/), a key player in the Indian esports landscape, readers can visit their official channels. To stay updated on the latest developments in the Indian esports sector (https://technosports.co.in/), continue following our coverage.
Other Indian Rosters for ENC 2026
India’s preparations for ENC 2026 extend beyond League of Legends, with rosters announced across several titles:
* **DOTA 2:** Krish Gupta (“Krish”), Vishal Vernekar (“HBK”), Dhvanit Singh Negi (“Negi”), Manav Kunte (“MnZ”), and Yash Thakur (“xand3r_^”). Moin Ejaz (“NO_Chanc3”) serves as coach. This team will participate in regional qualifiers from June 29 to July 1.
* **Chess:** Grandmasters Nihal Sarin and Mitrabha Guha have directly qualified to represent India at the ENC 2026 main event.
* **MOBA Legends: 5v5!:** Gaithanlung Gonmei (“Kyle”), Susanta Biswas (“Kimyy”), Abhijeet Katkar (“Asuna”), Rithik Sohal (“Romcom”), Evancius A. Sangma (“Vann”), Mohammad Saad (“Apex”), and Jay Mehta (“J”). Steve Vitug (“Dale”) is the coach. India is currently ranked 11th in the ENC rankings for this title and aims for a direct invitation; otherwise, they will compete in qualifiers on August 15-16.
* **Rocket League:** Abhai Ponna (“Abscrazy”), Karthik Raghunandan (“Karvin”), Aditeya Srivastav (“Riyal”), and substitute Jayanth Engineer (“Orjanguse”). Nirjhar Mitra (“jocse”) is the coach. Their regional qualifiers are slated for July 17-19.
