NODWIN Gaming, India’s National Team Partner for the Esports Nations Cup 2026, has officially announced the country’s Honor of Kings roster for the inaugural global nation-based tournament. The competition is scheduled to run from November 2 to 29, 2026, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the Honor of Kings main event specifically taking place from November 24 to 29. Alongside the rosterreveal, tournament organizers awarded India a Special Invite directly to the main stage.
The global showcase will feature 24 national teams vying for a prize pool of USD 1.32 million, roughly equivalent to INR 12.5 crore. A total of 64 national rosters representing 64 countries and territories have secured confirmation for the tournament.
The Esports Foundation structured the qualification path through a combination of regional tournaments, wildcard slots, and an ENC Ranking system that aggregated points earned by players in official competitions until July 5, 2026. While India secured its berth via a Special Invite, 12 other nations earned direct invitations through the ranking framework. Remaining slots were filled through online regional qualifiers held between July 18 and 19, alongside two wildcard berths designated for a host region slot and a solidarity slot.
Team India Roster and Coaching Staff
India’s official Honor of Kings lineup brings together proven talent from several top-tier esports organizations. The starting five features Rahul Lavhate (Kyurem), Aashish Chouhan (Deadshot), Ainul Haidery (Senpai), Saurabh Jagadale (Kael), and Bezalel Hmar (Eto). To ensure strategic depth and flexibility, NODWIN Gaming named Aryan Gulati (TT) and Saad Sardar (Darkness) as the team’s substitutes.
Guiding the roster from the bench is head coach Gradyano Valendy (Rinnqt), who was previously appointed by NODWIN Gaming to oversee national team preparations. Ainul Haidery, better known as Senpai and representing Revenant Xspark, will serve as the team’s in-game leader. Senpai and teammate Deadshot recently captured the Bengaluru leg of the Kings Arise India City Tour and are also slated to represent India at the Honor of Kings World Cup during the Esports World Cup 2026 in Paris.
Joining them in the starting lineup are S8UL Esports players Kyurem and Kael. The duo secured victory at the Mumbai leg of the Kings Arise India City Tour and share international competition experience alongside Senpai and Deadshot. GodLike Esports standout Eto rounds out the starting five as one of the country’s rising competitive prospects, supported by substitutes TT and Darkness.
Presenting the official Team India Honor of Kings roster for ENC 2026. Let's stand behind our heroes as they take on the world's best.
#EsportsNationsCup #HOK #PlayForTheFlag #DeshKeLiye pic.twitter.com/l73P8NmJO1— NODWIN Gaming (@NodwinGaming) July 20, 2026
Reflecting on the milestone, team captain Ainul Haidery noted that the selection mirrors the competitive maturity of the domestic ecosystem. “The Honor of Kings esports scene in India has grown tremendously in a short span of time, and this roster reflects the depth of talent that has emerged across different organizations,” Haidery stated regarding the selection.
Expanding National Representation in Riyadh
With this announcement, India has locked in official representation across five distinct titles at the Esports Nations Cup 2026. Alongside Honor of Kings, the nation secured a Special Invite for Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI). In Chess, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin earned a direct invite through ENC rankings, while Mitrabha Guha advanced via regional qualifiers. India’s VALORANT roster qualified through the Asia regional bracket, and Trackmania competitor Kunal Upreti (Spark) booked his ticket after succeeding in the Asia regional qualifier.
Other national campaigns experienced mixed fortunes during the preliminary phase. India’s DOTA 2 roster concluded its run following a narrow defeat against Pakistan in the Lower Bracket Final of the South and East Asia Qualifier. Meanwhile, the PUBG: Battlegrounds squad finished sixth in the Asia Pacific regional qualifier, narrowly missing out on the main event in Riyadh.
Attention now shifts to the remaining disciplines on the ENC 2026 calendar. India’s MOBA Legends: 5v5! squad remains in contention for a direct invite to the main tournament, with regional online qualifiers slated for August 15 to 16 if direct placement is not awarded.
Preparations for Team India’s Honor of Kings division will continue over the coming months ahead of the tournament’s November launch.
Keep reading