Can India become a global Esports powerhouse?
India has over half a billion gamers yet still struggles to find its place among global esports giants. In this episode hosts Rahul, Kailash, and Arvind explore how a nation that leads in mobile downloads of games continues to lag behind in professional gaming culture. From the early excitement around online cafés to mobile gaming tournaments, the story of Indian esports is one of scale without structure.
Ram Seshadri, Producer and Gamer, joins to unpack what esports really means: fighter games, first person shooter games, battle royales, sports games, multiplayer online battle arena (MUBA), and real-time strategy games. He goes on to explain why India’s fragmented digital infrastructure and low per-user spending make sustainability of this industry difficult in India.
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The episode also revisits the Waves OTT summit by Prasar Bharati, where esports finally found space, and traces how gaming became one of India’s biggest cultural exports without yet becoming a sport.
Sudhen Wahengbam, Esports Commentator, reflects on how perception is slowly changing — from hobby to potential career — even as India still looks abroad for examples of stability. In Denmark and Brazil, gaming is already woven into sporting identity; players like Brazil’s FalleN have fan followings comparable to footballers, while Korea’s KeSPA offers a blueprint for how state-led regulation helped esports grow into a national industry.
Across these conversations, a pattern emerges. India has the talent, the numbers, and the passion, but lacks the coordinated ecosystem to turn them into professional opportunity.
The guests discuss the need for better digital infrastructure, transparent league governance, parental education, and investment in youth development. With over 8 billion game downloads a year and nearly 200 million BGMI installs, mobile gaming remains India’s strongest bridge to the future; one that could make esports as accessible as cricket once was.
Can India become a global esports powerhouse? This episode doesn’t just ask the question. It follows the story from the policy table to the gaming café, from the Prime Minister meeting esports athletes to young players chasing careers in virtual arenas. It’s a reflection on ambition, access, and the next big shift in how India plays, competes, and dreams.
Credits
Akshay Ramuhalli, Bruce Lee Mani, Gorveck Thokchom, Kishor Mandal, Kruthika Rao, Narayan Krishnaswamy, Prashant Vasudevan, Ram Sheshadri, Sananda Dasgupta, Seema Seth, Shraddha Gautam, Supriya Joshi, and Velu Shankar.
Special thanks to Ram Seshadri and Sudhen Wahengbam for being part of the episode.