The Indian Super Gaming League (ISGL), a franchise-based national esports championship, is all set to begin later this year, marking the start of a new chapter in India’s competitive gaming ecosystem.
The inaugural ceremony gathered together ecosystem partners, industry leaders, and dignitaries to share their long-term goals. ISGL Founders Santanu Basu and Gautam Badalia, Andhra Pradesh’s Honourable Sports Minister Sri Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, and renowned actors and sports franchise stakeholders Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan were among the notable attendees.
ISGL, managed by LetsGameNow (LGN), is based on team ownership and a season-led competitive format, and it offers a structured league model to Indian esports, transforming the ecosystem from standalone tournaments to an organised, city-backed competition framework. The league will be preceded by a national qualifying circuit to find budding talent from throughout the country. The qualifiers will be held in their respective locations, with the grand final planned to take place in Vizag.
The league’s first lineup includes individual participation from Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Inter Kashi, Puneri Paltan, Bangalore Bhargavas, and Andhra Agneyas. The arrival of these famous sports teams into esports is one of the most major cross-sector expansions in Indian sport in recent years, bringing well-known team names into competitive gaming.
The clubs’ professional competence and leadership are helping them make the shift to the digital arena. The curtain raiser included the presentation of eight teams that have confirmed their participation in the league.
Gautam Badalia, Co-Founder, LetsGameNow, said, “India has scale, talent, and passion for gaming. What it now requires is structure. ISGL is built to create continuity, professional governance, and sustainable opportunity ensuring Indian esports develops with the same seriousness as mainstream sport.”
Santanu Basu, Co-Founder, LetsGameNow and professional eSports athlete, said, “For Indian players to compete globally, the domestic ecosystem must meet global standards. ISGL is about creating consistent platforms, exposure pathways, and a professional environment that enables talent to rise and sustain.”
India is already one of the world’s largest gaming marketplaces by audience size. With the foundation of ISGL, the country’s esports industry legally adopts a franchise-led league architecture, ensuring consistency across seasons, stable club identities, and established advancement routes for players.
