Starting with little more than passion and perseverance, Santanu Basu’s journey from sleeping on Mumbai streets to becoming a pioneer in Indian esports highlights the rapid evolution of competitive gaming in India. His Indian Super Gaming League now offers aspiring players a professional platform to grow and compete globally.
- Santanu Basu competed internationally and built a long esports career.
- He founded LetsGameNow and the Indian Super Gaming League to support players.
- ISGL franchises include top Indian sports clubs and offer city qualifiers.
What happened
In 2007, Santanu Basu’s personal esports journey began under tough conditions, marked by a third-place finish at the World Cyber Games India qualifiers despite financial struggles. Over the years, he competed in numerous FIFA gaming tournaments internationally and was recognized by global esports organizations and brands.
Shifting his focus to building the ecosystem, Basu founded LetsGameNow in 2018 to organize football gaming events and develop new gaming content. His latest and most ambitious initiative, the Indian Super Gaming League (ISGL), launched in 2026, is a franchise-based national league featuring six teams competing across multiple esports titles including football, cricket, and mobile games.
Why it matters
Basu’s efforts address key challenges for Indian esports players such as lack of sponsorship, inconsistent competition, and limited international exposure. ISGL’s permanent teams and full season structure provide players with stability, regular competition, and chances to develop professional gaming skills.
The participation of established sports franchises like Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters FC in ISGL enhances credibility and investment interest in Indian esports. This structured ecosystem helps identify and nurture talent, creating sustainable career paths and elevating India's presence on the global esports stage.
What to watch next
ISGL’s success in building a competitive platform will be measured by how effectively it continues creating pathways for players to reach international tournaments, as demonstrated by ISGL player Saransh’s selection for the Esports World Cup in Paris.
Additionally, LetsGameNow’s expansion into original gaming experiences and e-commerce aimed at gamers signals growth in India’s broader digital gaming ecosystem. Monitoring new game launches like Bharat Run, which incorporates Indian cultural elements, could show how gaming content innovation supports community growth and commerce integration.