New Delhi: India’s esports ecosystem took a decisive step forward with the announcement of the Indian Super Gaming League, the country’s first franchise based national esports competition. The league is scheduled to launch its inaugural season later this year and is designed to introduce long term structure, continuity, and professionalism to competitive gaming in India.
The unveiling marked a high profile moment for the industry, bringing together founders, policymakers, and prominent figures from sports and entertainment. Among those present were ISGL founders Santanu Basu and Gautam Badalia, Andhra Pradesh Sports Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, along with actors and sports franchise stakeholders Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan.
Organised by LetsGameNow, ISGL is built around permanent team ownership and a season based competitive format. This approach moves Indian esports beyond one off tournaments toward a city aligned league system similar to mainstream professional sports. The competition will be preceded by a multi city national qualifier circuit aimed at identifying emerging talent from across the country, culminating in a grand finale in Visakhapatnam.
The league will launch with eight founding teams backed by established sports franchises and organisations, including Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Inter Kashi, Puneri Paltan, Bangalore Bhargavas, and Andhra Agneyas. Their entry into esports represents a major cross sector expansion, extending recognised sporting brands into the digital competitive arena and bringing professional management expertise into gaming.
India already ranks among the world’s largest gaming markets by audience size. With the introduction of ISGL, the country formally adopts a franchise led esports model that promises stable team identities, clear progression pathways for players, and consistency across seasons. The league is positioned to create sustainable opportunities for athletes while aligning Indian esports with global competitive standards.
