State of Esports in India

India has emerged as one of the world's largest gaming and esports markets, driven by its expansive youth population. Affordable internet access and smartphone adoption have transformed the country into a mobile-first gaming market. With more than 591 million gamers in 2025, according to a joint report by real money gaming platform WinZO Games and IEIC, India has the potential to become the world's largest gaming market.

From casual mobile titles such as Ludo King and Coin Master to competitive esports titles like Free Fire Max and Battlegrounds Mobile India, India's gaming culture flourishes in major cities including Mumbai, Bengaluru and Delhi, where events such as the India Gaming Show draw thousands of attendees. Esports has gained considerable momentum, with strong followings for titles including Battlegrounds Mobile India, Valorant and Free Fire Max. The Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2025 Grand Finale achieved over 500,000 peak concurrent viewers, while regional Valorant tournaments also attract decent viewership nationwide.

India has developed a rapidly growing talent base in gaming and esports, establishing itself as a rising force in the global competitive gaming scene. With a tech-savvy youth population and widespread smartphone penetration, especially in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, mobile gaming has become the cornerstone of Indian esports.

In Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), personalities such as Naman "Mortal" Mathur and Tanmay "Sc0utOP" Singh have emerged as pioneers of Indian gaming. Mortal, co-founder of S8UL, boasts over 7 million subscribers on YouTube and has helped inspire a generation of gamers with his ethic of professional play and content creation. Sc0utOP, known for his aggressive gameplay and consistent performances in numerous tournaments, has over 4 million YouTube subscribers and has represented India internationally at events such as the PUBG Mobile Star Challenge and PMCO Global Finals.

In Valorant, a tactical PC-based FPS by Riot Games, India has made impressive strides largely due to players like Ganesh "SkRossi" Gangadhar. A former CS:GO pro, SkRossi gained recognition as the star Duelist for Global Esports, one of the first Indian teams to compete in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Pacific League 2023. Global Esports became the first South Asian organization to join Riot Games' franchised VCT system, signaling global validation of India's esports prowess and infrastructure.

Indian teams have excelled particularly in mobile esports due to infrastructural advantages and user demographics. BGMI continues to dominate the local scene with high viewership tournaments such as the BGMI Pro Series and BGMI Masters Series, the latter airing on mainstream television channels like Star Sports, a first for any mobile esports event in India. Teams like S8UL, GodLike Esports, OR Esports, and Revenant XSpark regularly feature as top contenders. Team SouL, for example, won the BMPS Season 1 in 2022 and went on to represent India at the PUBG Mobile World Invitational 2022.

Beyond BGMI, India’s mobile esports presence is expanding to other titles. In Call of Duty Mobile (CODM), teams like GodLike Esports and Revenant Esports have represented India at events such as the CODM World Championship. In Pokémon Unite, an emerging MOBA title on mobile and Nintendo Switch, Indian teams like S8UL and Revenant participated in the Pokémon Unite World Championship 2023, marking the country's growing presence in new international competitive formats.

With youth engagement, brand sponsorship, and government recognition converging, India’s esports scene is no longer just emerging, it's accelerating into a new phase of global participation and influence.

Industry Investment and Infrastructure

India is at the forefront of mobile gaming innovation, propelled by substantial investments in esports infrastructure and a vibrant, growing player base. In 2022, Krafton made a $100 million commitment to India’s gaming and esports ecosystem, with a focus on strengthening the BGMI competitive scene, supporting Indian startups, and building a development pipeline for new games. Key to Krafton’s strategy is the planned launch of a BGMI franchise league, signaling an intent to create a sustainable, mainstream esports ecosystem similar to global franchise leagues in Overwatch or Valorant. While details are still emerging, such a league would structure top-tier competition, offer career opportunities for players, and attract major brand sponsorships, mirroring the trajectory of established international esports.

On the organizational side, NODWIN Gaming remains a heavyweight in Indian esports, orchestrating major tournaments like the BGMI Masters Series (broadcast nationally by Star Sports) and establishing partnerships with global brands and advertisers. Their efforts have helped elevate the scale and professionalism of Indian esports events, driving both viewer engagement and commercial opportunities.

While streaming platforms Rooter and Loco once played prominent roles in India’s gaming culture, their influence has waned significantly. Rooter has pivoted to other business models, and neither platform commands the market presence they once did. With this shift, the focus of India’s gaming culture is increasingly on live tournaments, creator-led content, and platform-agnostic community engagement.

The Indian government’s move to recognize esports as a “multi-sport event” and the growing injection of VC funding into gaming startups are further enabling this sector’s evolution. As mobile internet penetration expands and gaming becomes more mainstream, India’s esports ecosystem is maturing from an enthusiast-driven hobby into a professionalized industry, with clear pathways for players, team owners, and brands to thrive. Krafton’s franchise league initiative could mark a pivotal next step in this journey, providing a structured platform for India’s top mobile gaming talent to compete on a recurring, financially sustainable basis.

Government Support

While India currently lacks robust centralized federal support for esports, significant progress is unfolding through state-level actions and policy shifts. In December 2022, the Indian government officially recognized esports as a multisport event under the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports—separating it from iGaming, legitimizing esports alongside traditional disciplines, and opening new investment opportunities for infrastructure and athlete training.

States such as Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan have actively included esports programs in school curricula and sports calendars, aiming to cultivate digital literacy and competitive talent among youth. The Rajasthan State Esports Championship 2025, for example, now spans 41 districts and 200+ colleges, targeting mainstream integration of gaming and education.

In 2023, regulatory momentum grew as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Electronics and IT released guidelines emphasizing player safety, transparency, and clear distinctions between esports and gaming-for-wagering platforms. These rules outlined due diligence obligations for gaming intermediaries and set frameworks for fair competition.

Tax policy is also evolving. While a high 28% GST applies to online tournaments involving entry fees, there are calls for targeted relief and incentives for esports events. Such tax benefits and the inclusion of esports in government cash incentive programs for international medalists have helped the industry scale.

Educational Programs

Despite the absence of centralized national government initiatives, India’s esports education ecosystem is rapidly advancing due to private sector and organizational initiatives. For instance, NoScope Gaming, in partnership with the Network of Academic and Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF), launched structured esports programs across Indian middle and high schools. These initiatives combine gaming with educational and career development, offering students the chance to develop life skills, explore industry careers, and gain practical experience. Schools gain access to learning resources, tournaments, and workshops aligned with academic goals.

Major Esports Tournaments Hosted in India

India has emerged as a major hub for competitive esports, hosting prominent tournaments across top titles such as BGMI, Call of Duty Mobile, Valorant, and multi-game events. Below are the leading national and international events in the Indian esports calendar for 2025:

Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)

• Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS) 2025

  • Organized by KRAFTON, the BGIS 2025 Grand Finals were held at Biswa Bangla Mela Prangan, Kolkata with a prize pool of INR 3,21,00,000 (~$375,000).
    

• Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2025

  • A top-tier tournament by KRAFTON and NODWIN Gaming, with its Grand Finals at Yashobhoomi Convention Centre, New Delhi and a prize pool of INR 4,00,00,000 (~$466,000).
    

• Esports College Campus Tour

  • An initiative for campus-level esports, expanding nationwide and engaging students from premier colleges.

Call of Duty Mobile (CODM)

• Call of Duty Mobile World Championship 2025

  • Regional qualifiers and finals hosted in India; the national stage welcomes India's top 8 teams to compete for international spots.
    

• Call of Duty Mobile 2025 Major

  • Featuring leading teams from India, China, and Japan, this event offers a prize pool of $307,000. Indian teams like S8UL and GodLike are regular competitors.

Valorant

• VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2025

  • Grand Final held in Gurugram, India, with a INR 50,00,000 prize pool. This event determines qualification for international VCT Ascension Pacific.
    

• Predator League India - Valorant

  • One of India’s major Valorant events, it features a sizable prize pool and draws top regional teams.

• WAVES Esports Championship (WESC) 2025

  • Organized by the Esports Federation of India as part of the World Audio Visual & Entertainment Summit, covering games like eFootball and World Cricket Championship with thousands of participants.
    

• Global Esports Tour Mumbai 2025

  • India’s first event under the Global Esports Federation, inviting international teams and promoting India’s profile in global esports.
    

• International Esports Masters 2025

  • Bringing competitors from over 150 countries, further integrating India into the world esports stage.

• Skyesports Championship and Skyesports Masters

  • Although not the primary focus, these tournaments continue to be among India’s highest-prize-pool esports events, especially for PC games like Counter-Strike.

These tournaments highlight India’s growing status as a vibrant and competitive esports destination, with robust participation, large prize pools, and increasing international exposure.

Leading Esports Organizations in India

India is home to several prominent esports organizations driving the country's competitive scene. Leading teams include:

• S8UL Esports– Renowned for dominance in BGMI, with numerous national titles and a strong fan base. The only Indian organization to be included as part of the Esports World Cup 2025 club partner program.
  

• GodLike Esports – Consistently among India's top performers in COD Mobile and BGMI. Along with S8UL, they’re amongst the most popular organizations in India.
  

• Global Esports – Pioneers in Valorant, representing India in international leagues and responsible for elevating the country's PC esports presence.
  

• Revenant Esports– Competing across BGMI, Valorant, and Pokémon Unite, known for their multi-vertical approach to esports and talent management.
  

• Velocity Gaming – Founded in 2017, excels in Valorant and previously supported a variety of esports titles with top-tier rosters.

National Associations

The Esports Federation of India (ESFI) is the country’s official governing body for esports, affiliating with organizations like the Asian Electronic Sports Federation and International Esports Federation. ESFI conducts national championships, selects teams for global events such as the Asian Games, and advocates for player welfare and regulatory standards.