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Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor unveiled in Mumbai a new esports league aiming to turn India into a global competitive gaming powerhouse.
When esports becomes Bollywood’s business
The first day of spring 2026 was marked by an event at the intersection of two worlds. A major presentation of the Indian Super Gaming League (ISGL) took place in Mumbai, bringing together on the same stage stars of Indian cinema and leading figures in the country’s gaming industry. The appearance of Abhishek Bachchan and Ranbir Kapoor as the faces of the new project instantly pushed the conversation about competitive gaming from a niche format into the mainstream.
The participation of such recognizable personalities in itself raises the event’s profile. When esports is discussed not only by streamers but also by actors with multimillion audiences, the industry receives a major boost to professionalization. It is precisely this effect that the ISGL organizers, it seems, built into the launch strategy.
The league’s mission and its global ambitions
ISGL is designed not as just another tournament, but as a structured platform. The league’s stated objectives cover several areas:
- building a structured ecosystem to develop and “nurture” esports athletes from scratch;
- shaping career pathways in which a passion for games turns into a full-fledged profession;
- preparing athletes for international competitions, including the Asian Games and potentially the Olympic Games;
- building infrastructure and standards for recognition on par with traditional sports.
The ambitions are substantial, although implementing such a program will require time and resources, the scale of which has not yet been disclosed. Nevertheless, the very fact that a league has emerged with such a clearly stated mission speaks to the market’s maturity.
From the football pitch to the virtual arena
In their conversation with the audience, Bachchan and Kapoor emphasized their journey as sports entrepreneurs. Both have been connected with the Indian Super League (ISL) since 2014, and over more than a decade of work in football they have accumulated experience that they are now bringing into the digital arena. According to them, the logic of the transition is simple: competitive gaming represents the future of entertainment in India, and the principles of building sports leagues are universal. Knowledge of the mechanisms of working with teams, sponsors, and a fan base, honed in the ISL, is becoming the foundation for the new project.
Streamers on stage and the community’s voice
Gaming content creators played an equally prominent role at the presentation. Tanmay Singh, known by the handle Scout, Kaashvi Hiranandani, and Tanmay Bhat took the stage as equal participants in the conversation. The discussion touched on the league’s interaction with the gaming community, the general public’s perception of esports, and cultural codes that only yesterday were understood by a narrow circle.
Two moments stood out among the lighter episodes of the presentation. The first: explaining to an unprepared audience the slang expression “GG” (Good Game), which has become a symbol of respect between opponents. The second: a playful debate about which representative of the film industry plays FIFA best. Boman Irani, meanwhile, was jokingly described as a serious contender for the title.
Which video games are popular in India
Video games and iGaming are gaining increasing popularity in the country. This applies not only to esports disciplines, but also to other genres. Survey results show that the most popular categories among Indian gamers are shooters and battle royale. These are the clear market leaders. Players also like crash games, RPGs, and strategy games.
Of course, gambling is also gaining popularity in the country. And especially those forms that have an online format. Many residents of India perceive iGaming as an alternative to video games. Some play online slots or roulette in order to have a good time. Others are drawn by stories of big wins, such as a recent incident that occurred at one of the casinos in the United States.
If we take a closer look at the iGaming market, we can highlight the following popular titles:
- Aviator. This and other crash games regularly top the charts of user activity. People are attracted by their gameplay, which is somewhat reminiscent of video games;
- Live casino. Another format that became popular in the era of high-speed internet. The most popular titles are Monopoly, Super Sic Bo, as well as various games in the “wheel of fortune” genre, such as Crazy Time or Funky Time. According to statistics from industry websites, the number of Funky Time casinos has increased by almost 30% over the past year, which is one of the highest growth rates in the genre;
- Slots. A format that remains popular despite its long history. The reason for its popularity lies in the engaging gameplay as well as the genre and visual diversity.
Server capacity expands, tournaments multiply
The presence of top streamers at an event of this level reflects objective processes. Server infrastructure in Mumbai has improved significantly in recent years, participation in professional tournaments is growing, and media backing from content platforms is making esports increasingly visible to mainstream audiences.
ISGL looks like a project capable of changing attitudes toward competitive gaming in India. The combination of celebrity recognition and organic community engagement creates a formula in which the industry’s professionalization and move to the global level no longer feels like a distant prospect.
