Indian esports has a new name backing its growth. Anand Mahindra has invested in Let's Game Now, the company behind the Indian Super Gaming League (ISGL), as part of a ₹30 crore funding round announced on Wednesday, October 28.
The round also involves Bestvantage Investments and a UAE-based family office. The money will go towards expanding ISGL, a franchise-based competition that brings familiar Indian football and kabaddi teams into competitive gaming. The investors' individual contributions and the company's valuation have not been disclosed.
From Pro Kabaddi to esports
Anand Mahindra shared the news on X, drawing on his experience with the Pro Kabaddi League and Global Chess League. His message was about giving talented players more than an occasional tournament: proper competition, coaching and a platform to build careers.
He also addressed the usual concerns around screen time, arguing that organised esports requires discipline, teamwork and quick decision-making. For a country with a huge gaming audience, the bigger challenge is turning that interest into lasting opportunities for players and the people working behind the scenes.
Anand Mahindra’s original announcement on X The post includes his photograph with the Let’s Game Now team and explains why he is backing esports. Open the post to see the original images and full statement.
His message is not just about playing more games. He points to coaches, analysts, creators and producers as part of a professional esports ecosystem. It is a useful distinction in India, where competitive gaming often gets discussed only in terms of prize money or screen time.
What exactly is the Indian Super Gaming League?
ISGL is not just another one-week esports tournament. The league is built around eight teams, including Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Inter Kashi and Puneri Paltan, alongside Bangalore Bhargavas and Andhra Agneyas. Its 2026 plans include city qualifiers leading towards a national finale.
The season has already moved beyond a launch presentation. Mumbai hosted qualifiers at NESCO in March, followed by other city stops listed on the league’s official website, including Pune, Kochi, Varanasi, Goa and Chennai. Players compete for places representing established franchises rather than simply registering for a single national final.
The announced gaming lineup includes chess, EA Sports FC 26, Call of Duty: Mobile, FAU-G and Cricket 26. That mix is interesting because it goes beyond the mobile battle royale titles that usually dominate Indian esports conversations.
The league's official website currently describes a ₹50 lakh prize pool for its season framework and lists the grand final date as yet to be confirmed. Those details are separate from the ₹30 crore company funding round.
There is also a football connection outside the competition itself. Mumbai City FC announced ISGL as its back-of-shirt partner for the 2025–26 season, while Chennaiyin FC announced a principal sponsorship agreement. Those are existing club partnerships, not new deals created by this funding round.
Who is behind Let's Game Now?
At the Mumbai qualifier, competitors played Call of Duty: Mobile, Cricket 26, FC 26 and chess. The official ISGL site lists a ₹50 lakh season prize pool and shows the national grand final date as still to be announced. The ₹30 crore announced this week is investment into the company, not a new ₹30 crore prize pool.
Founded in 2018 by Santanu Basu, Let's Game Now runs gaming tournaments, live events and broadcasts. Santanu, a former competitive FIFA player, is building ISGL with co-founder Gautam Badalia. The company says it has organised over 2,000 events and built a community of more than 1.4 million members.
Its grassroots network reportedly reaches more than 400 colleges across 80 cities. That college-level presence could become one of the league's biggest strengths if qualifiers offer newcomers a genuine route into organised competition.
Why the investment matters
For Indian esports, the interesting part is not only the ₹30 crore figure. It is the attempt to connect existing sports franchises, city-based competition and gaming under one league. Familiar team names could help new audiences discover esports, while a regular competition calendar could give players something more consistent to work towards.
There is still plenty to prove. The next stage needs clear dates, accessible qualifiers, reliable broadcasts and competitions that fans actually want to follow. Funding gets the project moving, but the matches and the players will decide whether people keep watching.
With Anand Mahindra now on board, ISGL has gained attention well beyond the gaming community. The next question is how that attention translates into opportunities for India's upcoming esports talent.
The questions the league still needs to answer
For Indian players, the important part will be what comes after the city events. How often will a full season run? What support will qualified players receive? And can the league bring viewers back regularly, rather than only for celebrity appearances and big opening ceremonies?
The new funding gives Let’s Game Now more room to build, but the announcement does not disclose the company’s valuation, the amount personally invested by Anand Mahindra or a confirmed date for the national final. Those details should not be guessed.
For now, there is a real league, real qualifiers and a prominent new investor. The next milestone is turning that early momentum into a competition players can count on year after year.
