Indian esports have come a long way since the early 2010s, when friends gathered to play Counter-Strike in local internet cafés. While the niche saw steady growth through the decade, it wasn’t until 2023, when India’s Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports
recognised esports as a legitimate skill-based sport, that it started reaching its true potential.
India’s esports landscape has transformed from scattered gaming cafe competitions into a structured, professional ecosystem attracting millions of participants and viewers. The country now ranks among the fastest-growing esports regions globally, powered by mobile gaming accessibility and an expanding network of teams and tournament organisers.
What makes India’s rise even more impressive is how it moved away from the traditional need for expensive gaming PCs but instead focused on driving growth through mobile gaming.
The history of Indian esports and how modern players are making their mark on the global gaming scene is fascinating.
India’s competitive gaming environment was born from grassroots passion that thrived for decades before a national framework arrived. It is a testament to how a dedicated community can create a wave of momentum that cannot be ignored.
The Indian esports movement began in metro gaming cafes in the early 2010s. At privately organised Counter-Strike and DOTA LAN events, players competed for modest prizes, but more importantly, they developed fundamental competitive skills through dedicated practice. These early games helped young Indian gamers hone their skills and develop the teamwork-centric mentality that would allow them to thrive in larger competitions.
Café culture saw the emergence of early team rivalries and generated a buzz that drew the attention of thousands of new participants. This surge in popularity helped establish a more organised competitive landscape. The larger cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore soon became esports hubs, with serious competitors seeking out local tournaments. It was this that helped prove to government ministers that esports represented a genuine opportunity for gamers, but also for revenue.
Increased mobile phone adoption and the resulting rise of mobile gaming laid the groundwork for esports growth in India. Mobile gaming infrastructure means players who didn’t have access to high-end gaming PCs still had an esports entry point. Games such as BGMI, Free Fire and Call of Duty Mobile removed barriers by bringing gaming to tier 2 and tier 3 Indian cities.
Widespread 4G coverage meant players could watch tournaments, practice and even enter qualifying events for major tournaments without having to travel. The opportunities that exist within the esports niche showed many Indians that it was more than just gaming. Esports represented a viable pursuit. The changing cultural perception surrounding mobile gaming extended beyond esports. For example, the number of users playing Ganesha Fortune with its Wilds feature confirmed that India had embraced digital entertainment in a massive way.
The esports niche in India is defined by several pivotal titles. Understanding which games have seen the most success reveals the unique characteristics of the competitive Indian esports landscape.
Battlegrounds Mobile India is one of the pillars supporting Indian mobile esports. Formerly known as PUBG Mobile, the game has been downloaded more than 210 million times. This interest led to the creation of two major tournaments, both of which include local qualifications through to national championships. These tournaments often carried substantial prizes, which increased the level of competitiveness among interested players.
The game provides fans a means of playing as a team or in solo mode, increasing accessibility while keeping interest high.
There are two primary BGMI tournaments held annually, each with multiple qualifying rounds. These tournaments regularly have hundreds of applicants register for both team and solo runs. They are also enjoyed by millions of online viewers, with certain teams building dedicated fan followings.
Competition organisers such as Nodwin Gaming have created a true competition schedule. This provides a clear oversight for players while also offering stable sponsorship opportunities. The game’s popularity is so great that it has attracted sponsors from notable brands in the tech, food and apparel niches.
Valorant launched in 2020 and immediately gave Indian PC gamers a way into competitive gaming. Riot Games’ commitment to regional qualifiers gave Indian teams the opportunity to test themselves against global opponents. This international exposure raised competitive standards and pushed Indian organisations to invest in better equipment and proper coaching. With more worldly opponents, Indian teams were forced to step out of their competitive comfort zone. The increase in competitive standards meant that Indian esports organisations had to increase their investment in equipment and proper coaching. This included the inclusion of analysts, given the strategic nature of competitive Valorant.
Many Counter-Strike players moved over to Valorant, seeing it as a new gaming experience with enough baseline familiarity. This also drove up the skill level needed for Indian teams to compete on the international stage.
Successful players and well-organised teams soon became the public face of Indian esports. The images were used to inspire new players, demonstrating what professional dedication can achieve.
Several teams soon emerged as Orangutan, GodLike Esports and Velocity Gaming became known for being consistent high-level performers in both BGMI and Valorant. Success also saw the teams develop their social media presence, growing their fan base outside of tournament play.
Individual players such as Jonathan, Sc0utOP and Mortal have become household names to fans of Indian esports. Their achievements in competitive matches are seen as an inspiration to younger gamers who harbour dreams of playing competitively.
Both teams and individual players put in the time to help educate younger players on the tactical side of professional gaming while also pushing to change the outdated view of gaming and highlighting it as a viable career path.
Content creation is another important component in the right of Indian esports. Creators have formed a solid link between competitive pay and supporter engagement. Many of India’s biggest esports stars maintain a regular streaming schedule. The atmosphere in a stream is often more relaxed, and the players are happier to sit and talk tactics. They frequently offer advice and unofficial coaching tips to anybody watching.
With India being such a digitally literate country, a dual career as a streamer and esports star helps further elevate the country’s reputation and promote upcoming tournaments and teams. It also provides players with a revenue source during the competitive off-season.
India’s esports infrastructure is under development. Separation of recreation and competitive play lies behind professional support systems. The structure is not perfect, but regular improvements are being made.
Team housing is the current trend in Indian esports, with organizations offering team players a place to live together. This setup allows them to bond both on and off screen, follow a dedicated training regime and be more accessible for specialised training sessions.
From a tactical perspective, players who live together have instant access to high-quality opposition and can play games in a truly distraction-free environment. Match preparation is also made easier with the whole team able to sit together and study opposition footage.
This style of team building is concentrated in and around major Indian cities, which renders it largely inaccessible to those who live further afield. The downside is an uneven rate of player development, with location being the primary separator.
While there is a gap appearing between the top-tier and lower-tier organizations as a result, the overall statistics show improvements in all areas.
The future of Indian esports rests on the country’s ability to build a stronger training infrastructure in order to help existing players strengthen their abilities and to ensure the next generation of esports stars have the necessary tools and facilities needed to thrive.
The nation also needs to establish a clear regulatory framework so that companies interested in investing in the niche understand what is needed from them.
There is already a steadily growing interest from international brands, with their increased presence providing a financial boost and a degree of financial stability to competitive teams.
India has the player base to become a major force in the world of online games. While the baseline has been established and a strong foundation exists, it will take a concerted effort from all levels in order for professional gaming to reach its peak in the country.
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