The Esports Foundation (EF) confirmed the appointment of over 700 Game Coaches representing the National Team Partners (NTPs) from more than 100 nations and territories for the Esports Nations Cup 2026 (ENC). The global nation-based esports competition is set to debut in Riyadh from November 2-29, 2026.
All Indian coaches for Esports Nations Cup 2026
Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) will lead India’s DOTA 2 efforts, bringing more than a decade of competitive experience, which includes a historic bronze medal for India at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 in Birmingham.
Rahul (Ayogi) has been appointed as the coach for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). Over the years, as an analyst, manager, and coach, he has guided teams like Blind Esports and Team SouL to major titles, including BGMI Pro Series 2023, BGMI Masters Series Season 3, Chennai Esports Global Championship 2025, and BGIS 2026.
Abhishek Bajaj (GodspeedxD) steps in as the VALORANT coach, backed by a strong coaching resume of winning titles with teams such as Reckoning Esports, Bleed Esports, Grayfox Esports, and Velocity Esports.
In League of Legends, Pankaj Upadhyay (KAKA) will oversee the team, widely regarded as one of India’s top players having represented the country multiple times on the international stage.
For MOBA Legends: 5v5!, Steve Vitug (Dale) from the Philippines brings significant international experience, having led teams to top-six finishes at the World Championship with Omega Esports in 2021 and Falcon Esports in 2023.
Pratik Mehra (Aurum) takes on the role of coach for PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS, known for his stint with Fnatic where he led the team to a win at PUBG Mobile All Stars India 2019, followed by a runner-up finish at PUBG Mobile India Series 2020 and a top-eight finish at the Peacekeeper Elite Championship 2019.
Ashrit Goyal (notyAshritB) has been named coach for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, with experience that includes a second-place finish at South Asia Nationals 2022 and consistent top-seven finishes across Asia Pacific competitions.
Nirjhar Mitra (jocse) will guide India’s Rocket League campaign, having represented India at the Asian Nations Cup qualifiers and the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022 regional finals, along with winning the Esportz Premier Series 2022.
Rounding out the line-up, Indonesian coach Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt) has been brought in for Honor of Kings. He brings international exposure from coaching Rex Regum Qeon and competing in qualification pathways for both the Esports World Cup 2024 and the Honor of Kings World Championship 2024.
The announcement marks the start of team selection, with coaches now responsible for identifying players, defining team strategy, and building competitive lineups.
The roster submission date is May 10, with announcements beginning mid-May. Competitors in solo-player games as well as in the remaining team-based titles will be identified through full open qualifiers, with details to be announced in the coming weeks.
