NODWIN GAMING, India’s National Team Partner (NTP) for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) 2026, has officially announced the country’s roster for PUBG: Battlegrounds at the global nation-based esports competition set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from November 2 to 29, 2026.
The Indian contingent will feature Anirban Paul (Snipaul), Tejasvi Vashist (Unforgiven), Rishi Singh (Ryzn), Vedang Chavan (Vedzz), with Rupesh Kumar (Rupesh) and Shaikh Abuzar (Illmindd) serving as substitutes. The team will be coached by Pratik Mehra (Aurum), who was appointed by NODWIN Gaming as India’s national coach for PUBG: Battlegrounds and will oversee player selection, team strategy, and competitive preparation, a media release said.
PUBG: Battlegrounds at ENC 2026 will take place from November 11 to 15, featuring 24 national teams competing for a prize pool of USD 1.12 million (~INR 10.6 crore). The tournament will allocate 12 direct invitations through the ENC Ranking system, which aggregates points earned in official PUBG competitions between February 1 and June 7, 2026. A further 10 teams will qualify through regional online qualifiers scheduled from July 10 to 12, while the final two places will be awarded through wildcard invitations.
Elsewhere, India has now secured qualification in three titles at ENC 2026: Chess, VALORANT, and Trackmania. In Chess, Grandmaster Nihal Sarin earned a direct invitation through the official ENC Rankings, while Mitrabha Guha progressed via the regional qualifiers. The VALORANT squad comprising Sagnik Roy (Hellf), Abhirup Choudhury (Lightningfast), Aman Yadav (Hoax), Venkatesh Sharma (Venky), Daivik Chauhan (Dc), Norbu Tsering (Karam1L), and Shravana Sahoo (Techno) secured its place through the Asia regional qualifiers. Trackmania star Kunal Upreti (Spark) also booked his place at the global event after progressing through the Asia regional qualifier.
The roster combines experienced international representatives and some of the country’s most consistent performers. In-game leader (IGL) Snipaul enters the lineup after leading Team Newbies to qualification for the PUBG Master Series (PMS) APAC Finals and helping the team reach the Esports World Cup (EWC) playoffs last year. Known for his leadership and in-game calling, he will once again represent India at the upcoming PUBG Nations Cup (PNC) 2026 alongside teammate Unforgiven. Having previously represented the nation at PNC 2023, Unforgiven’s composure, mechanical skill, and ability to react quickly in high-pressure situations have made him one of the country’s most dependable assaulters.
Ryzn joins the squad after representing India at PNC 2025 and is widely regarded for his aggressive playstyle, strong gunplay, and ability to create opportunities in crucial moments. Vedzz adds further international experience, having represented India at the Asia Pacific Predator League 2022, where he finished as his team’s leading fragger. Known for his game sense, map awareness, and decision-making, he also provides additional leadership flexibility within the lineup, the release added.
