India's campaign for the inaugural Esports Nations Cup has moved into its selection phase, with a nine-member coaching group finalised across major titles. The coaching panel is headlined by Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Moin Ejaz, who will lead the DOTA 2 setup.
Coaching Appointments and Responsibilities
The appointments, confirmed ahead of the November 2–29 event in Riyadh, effectively hand over the responsibility of building India’s squads to a mix of domestic and international coaches. Player trials and selections will now follow, with the first roster deadline set for May 10.
Ejaz, who won bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Esports Championships, brings over a decade of competitive experience to the DOTA 2 team. In BGMI, Rahul ‘Ayogi’ takes charge after a run of domestic success with teams such as Team SouL and Blind Esports, including titles across multiple BGMI circuits over the past three years.
Coaching Lineup Across Titles
Abhishek Bajaj has been named VALORANT coach, having worked with teams like Velocity and Reckoning, while Pankaj Upadhyay will oversee League of Legends. The line-up also includes Pratik Mehra (PUBG: Battlegrounds), Ashrit Goyal (Rainbow Six Siege), Nirjhar Mitra (Rocket League), and Indonesia’s Gradyano Valendy (Honor of Kings). One of the few overseas inclusions is Steve Vitug, who will handle MLBB duties, bringing prior World Championship experience with teams from Southeast Asia.
Selection Process and Timeline
The coaching group has been put in place by NODWIN Gaming, India’s designated National Team Partner for the event, and will be tasked with shortlisting players, shaping team structures, and preparing squads for international competition. The Esports Nations Cup itself is being positioned as a nation-based format, with more than 100 countries involved and over 700 coaches appointed globally. For India, however, the immediate focus is narrower—identifying competitive rosters within a tight window before qualifiers begin.
Announcements for selected players are expected from mid-May, with open qualification routes also set to be rolled out for certain titles. Stay updated with the latest developments in esports and other sports news.
