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New Delhi: NODWIN Gaming has confirmed India’s coaching line-up for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, setting the first major step in the country’s team-building process for the global event. The tournament will debut in Riyadh from November 2 to November 29, 2026, with national teams from across the world competing under a country-based esports format.

The Esports Foundation said more than 700 coaches have been appointed across over 100 nations and territories. For India, NODWIN Gaming is the designated National Team Partner, which means it will help form teams, work with the esports ecosystem, and support player selection across multiple titles. For Indian esports fans, this is where things start feeling serious. The names are out. The roster hunt begins.

India’s road to Esports Nations Cup 2026 begins with coach line-up | Source: Nodwin Gaming

India confirms coaches for Esports Nations Cup 2026

NODWIN Gaming has appointed coaches across BGMI, DOTA 2, VALORANT, League of Legends, Honor of Kings, MOBA Legends: 5v5!, PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, Rainbow Six Siege, and Rocket League.

The list includes well-known Indian esports names and international coaches with global experience. Moin Ejaz, known as NO_Chanc3, will lead India’s DOTA 2 campaign. He brings more than a decade of competitive experience and was part of India’s historic bronze medal run at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 in Birmingham.

Rahul, known as Ayogi, has been named BGMI coach. He has worked as an analyst, manager, and coach with teams such as Blind Esports and Team SouL. His past titles include BGMI Pro Series 2023, BGMI Masters Series Season 3, Chennai Esports Global Championship 2025, and BGIS 2026.

Full India coaching line-up

Abhishek Bajaj, known as GodspeedxD, will coach India’s VALORANT team. He has previously worked with Reckoning Esports, Bleed Esports, Grayfox Esports, and Velocity Esports. Pankaj Upadhyay, known as KAKA, will handle League of Legends, bringing his own experience as one of India’s top players who has represented the country internationally.

Player selection is now the big focus

NODWIN Gaming said the announcement marks the start of team selection. Coaches will now identify players, define team plans, and build competitive line-ups.

Nimish Raut, Global Head of Esports: Partnerships & Special Projects at NODWIN Gaming, said, “The appointment of coaches marks a crucial milestone in India’s journey towards the Esports Nations Cup 2026. Each coach has been selected for their deep understanding of the game, competitive experience, and ability to identify and nurture talent within their respective titles.”

The roster submission date is May 10, and announcements are expected to begin in mid-May. Players for solo games and remaining team-based titles will be chosen through open qualifiers, with more details expected in the coming weeks.