What started as a hobby has now grown into a full-fledged billion-dollar industry. The early days of esports were quite humble, but the last decade has seen an exponential growth, offering a lucrative career opportunities for aspirants and exposure to gigantic audience across the globe.

Although India had been relatively lackluster in esports and gaming at the early stage, it is catching up with the competition. And by the looks of it, India is catching up really well with the global competition. However, a little work needs to be done to fill in the gap. What has drastically improved India’s position in the esports industry is the rapid growth of internet, mobile gaming, and streaming platforms. This growth was further propelled by the easy availability of smartphones, internet, and video platforms like YouTube, Twitch, and Loco.

But at the center of the whole industry are the players themselves—skilled individuals who have given esports a new meaning in terms of skill, determination, and innovative gameplay. These athletes compete at the highest level and have become the ambassadors for the Indian gaming community. This article will feature five of India’s most accomplished esports players, whose careers and accomplishments serve as inspiration for coming esports athletes.

5. Charanjot Singh

• Games: FIFA
• Background: Charanjot Singh is considered one of the most successful FIFA players from India. Charanjot created history as the first Indian to qualify into the FC Pro World Championship. His results raise global attention toward Indian esports, especially in non-battle royale games.
• Key Achievements:
  • Won the eISL Season 3
  • Top 32 placement in the FIFA 22 Global Series.
  • Represented India in the FIFAe Nations Cup, placing in the top 20.
  • Runner-up in the eISL Season 2.
• Recognition: Charanjot’s skill has placed him among the best FIFA players globally. He serves as an example of the diversity of talent in Indian esports, breaking the dominance of mobile games.

4. Jash “Learn” Shah

• Primary Games: Call of Duty Mobile (CODM).
• Background: Learn is a prominent figure in the Indian CODM scene, playing as an in-game leader (IGL) for GodLike Esports. He gained recognition for leading his team to victory in national tournaments and securing impressive positions in global competitions. Time and time again, Learn has proved that he is the best CODM esports athletes in India and one of the best athletes across the globe.
• Key Achievements:
  • #1 – Skyesports Grand Slam
  • #1 – Call of Duty Mobile World Championship 2020 – Eastern Europe & Asia
  • #1 – Call of Duty: Mobile India Challenge – Multiplayer
  • #1 – Call Of Duty: Mobile India Cup – Pro
  • #1 – CODM World Championship 2021 – SA & ME Finals
  • #1 – Call of Duty: Mobile India Invitational 2022
  • #1 – Call of Duty: Mobile India Challenge: Multiplayer – Season 1
  • #1 – CODM World Championship 2022 – India Finals
  • #1 – Snapdragon Pro Series Season 3 – India
  • #1 – Snapdragon Pro Series: DreamHack Invitational Hyderabad
  • #1 – Snapdragon Pro Series Season 4 – India
  • #1 – Snapdragon Pro Series Season 6 – India
• Impact: Learn’s performances have elevated the reputation of Indian players in FPS games across the globe. His ability to adapt to high-pressure situations makes him one of the most respected players in his field.

3. Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar

Primary Games: Valorant
Background:Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, born on October 12, 1997, is one of India’s most celebrated esports players, currently playing for Revenant Esports. He initially gained experience in CS:GO before transitioning to Valorant in 2020, where he established himself as a top-tier duelist specializing in agents like Jett and Reyna. Known for his pinpoint accuracy, aggressive playstyle, and ability to perform under immense pressure, SkRossi has become a key player in the Indian and Asian esports scenes.

From 2020 to late 2023, SkRossi was a standout performer for Global Esports, leading the team to several notable victories. Notably, he played a crucial role in securing the franchise slot for the organization in VCT. In 2024, he joined Revenant Esports, further showcasing his skills in domestic and international tournaments, including the VCT Ascension Pacific 2024. 

Key Achievements:

• Tournament Standings:
  • #1 – Valorant Conquerors Championship 2021
  • #2 – VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) South Asia 2021
  • #2 -Skyesports Valorant Championship 2022
  • #3 -VCT India Stage 2 Challengers 2021
  • #1 – Loco War of Glory 2022
  • Finalist at the VCT 2021: Stage 3 – Challengers East
• MVPs:
  • Valorant Conquerors Championship 2021
  • Skyesports Valorant Championship 2022
  • VCT India Stage 2

Influence: SkRossi has become one of the biggest influencers in the Indian PC esports community. With over 157K subscribers on YouTube and over 60k followers on Instagram, SkRossi’s influence goes beyond just esports competitions. His content, which includes highlights, tutorials, and live streams, attracts millions of fans.

2. Harmandeep “MAVI” Singh

Primary Games: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), PUBG Mobile
Background: Mavi is widely regarded as one of India’s most respected esports athletes in BGMI and previously PUBG Mobile. He has been an integral part of the Indian esports community since the early days of PUBG Mobile Esports in India. 

Known for his tactical acumen and leadership, Mavi’s gaming journey began in 2019 with Indian Tigers. However, he rose to prominence during his stint as the IGL of Orange Rock Esports. His career-defining moment came with a 2nd-place finish at the PUBG Mobile World League: East, earning him a reputation as one of India’s most skilled and consistent IGLs.

Since then, Mavi has represented some of India’s most prestigious esports organizations, including Team SouL, Team XSpark, and Global Esports. As a leader and player, he has been instrumental in his teams’ successes, earning multiple top finishes in national and international tournaments. Recently, he also led Global Esports to secure a runner-up position in Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2024. 

Key Achievements:

• Tournament Standings:
  • #2 – PUBG Mobile World League: East
  • #1 – Skyesports Mobile Open 2024
  • #1 – ESL India Premiership 2020 (with Orange Rock)
  • #1 – THUG Invitational: Season 4
  • #2 – Battlegrounds Mobile India Series 2024
  • #2 – ESL Snapdragon Pro Series: BGMI

Influence: Mavi’s influence extends beyond just his competitive success. With over 1.2 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Mavi is one of India’s top gaming content creators. Additionally, Mavi’s boasts a massive fan following of over 526k on Instagram.

1. Jonathan “JONATHAN” Amaral

• Primary Games: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), PUBG Mobile.
• Background: 

Jonathan, one of India’s most skilled esports athletes, is renowned for his impeccable aim and movement in PUBG Mobile and BGMI. He currently plays for GodLike Esports and is considered one of the best esports players India has ever produced. He has repeatedly proved himself and stood the test of time.

Jonathan’s hallmark is his ability to consistently perform in high-pressure situations, often securing crucial wins for his team with his sharp aim and gameplay. His game style, based on flawless aim, fast decision-making, and an impeccable sense of the game mechanics, makes him one of the stars in the competitive BGMI scene.

Key Achievements:

Tournament Standings:

• #1 – PUBG Mobile Club Open – Fall Split: South Asia
• #1 – PUBG Mobile India Series 2020
• #1 – Skyesports Championship 3.0
• #1 – LOCO War of Glory
• #5 – PUBG Mobile Club Open – Fall Split Global Finals
• #6 – PUBG Mobile World League 2020: East
• #13 – PUBG Mobile Global Championship 2021: Grand Finals

MVPs:

• BGMI EWar Mahayudh Season 2
• Skyesports Championship 3.0
• OneShot Showdown Season 2: Grand Finals
• Red Bull M.E.O. Season 4: India
• Skyesports Grand Slam 2022
• VE Winter Masters 2022
• BGMI Masters Series
• IQOO Pro Series
• Upthrust Esports – The Multiverse Series 2024
• Upthrust Esports Challengers Showdown Season 2

Influence: JONATHAN is one of the most popular esports athletes in India. He boasts a massive 6.5 million subscriber base on his YouTube channel as of writing this article. Furthermore, he has over 3.8 million followers on Instagram.

India’s esports industry is thriving, fueled by a young population and the rise of mobile gaming. Players like Jonathan, ScoutOP, and Charanjot are not only earning accolades but also inspiring a new generation of gamers. With government recognition and increasing prize pools, Indian esports is poised for greater heights globally.

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