NODWIN Gaming, India’s National Team Partner (NTP) for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has officially announced the country’s national teams for DOTA 2 ahead of the global nation-based esports competition set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026.

India’s DOTA 2 team for Esports Nations Cup 2026

  • Krish Gupta (Krish)

  • Dhvanit Singh Negi (Negi)

  • Vishal Vernekar (HBK)

  • Manav Kunte (MnZ)

  • Yash Thakur (xand3r_^)

  • Khaja Hussain (Pinkman) - Sub

  • Harsh Shah (Archmage-) Sub

Krish, currently the highest-ranked Indian DOTA 2 player, has previously represented the country at the Hangzhou Asian Games and IESF Asian Championship 2023 while also competing for Tier 1 Southeast Asian teams. Renowned for his strong mid-lane impact, game knowledge, and ability to perform under pressure, he forms the core of a lineup built around experience and leadership.

Veteran player Negi brings years of competitive experience, strong communication, and a calming presence, while HBK, a member of India's bronze medal-winning squad at the Commonwealth Esports Championships 2022, is regarded as one of the country's leading Position 5 players thanks to his leadership, game understanding, and international experience.

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The lineup is further strengthened by Global Esports Games representative MnZ, whose experience, map awareness, and positioning add stability to the squad. Joining him is xand3r_^, a player known for his strong game sense, decision-making, and composure under pressure. The substitutes add valuable depth, with Pinkman bringing extensive competitive experience and strong game knowledge, while Archmage- provides a dependable backup option.

The roster also benefits from existing chemistry, with Krish, MnZ, HBK, and Pinkman having competed alongside each other across multiple teams and tournaments in the past. Moin Ejaz (NO_Chanc3) will lead India’s DOTA 2 campaign as coach, overseeing player selection, team strategy, and roster development for the tournament.

DOTA 2 at ENC 2026 will take place from November 2 to 9, featuring 32 national teams competing for a prize pool of USD 1.5 million (~INR 14.2 crore). The ENC Rankings for submitted DOTA 2 rosters will be finalized on June 7, with the top 16 teams receiving direct invitations to the Finals. An additional 14 teams will qualify through online regional qualifiers scheduled from June 29 to July 2, while the final two slots will be awarded through wildcard invitations.