Sports
ISGL launches India’s franchise esports league
8 teams including Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, Vizag finale after nationwide qualifiers.
MUMBAI: India’s esports just levelled up to league status because when football clubs swap pitches for pixels, the game changes forever. The Indian Super Gaming League (ISGL), a franchise-based national esports competition organised by Letsgamenow (LGN), was unveiled on 24 February 2026, marking a structured shift for the sector beyond standalone tournaments.
Founders Santanu Basu and Gautam Badalia, alongside Andhra Pradesh sports minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy, actors Ranbir Kapoor and Abhishek Bachchan, launched the league with 8 founding teams: Mumbai City FC, FC Goa, Chennaiyin FC, Kerala Blasters FC, Inter Kashi, Puneri Paltan, Bangalore Bhargavas, and Andhra Agneyas. The cross-sport expansion brings established football brands into competitive gaming.
The inaugural season later this year will feature a nationwide qualifier circuit in respective cities, culminating in a grand finale in Vizag. Permanent team ownership and season-led format aim to foster continuity, professional governance, and talent pathways.
Letsgamenow co-founder Gautam Badalia said, “India has scale, talent, and passion for gaming. What it now requires is structure. ISGL is built to create continuity, professional governance, and sustainable opportunity.”
Co-founder and professional esports athlete, Santanu Basu added, “For Indian players to compete globally, the domestic ecosystem must meet global standards. ISGL is about creating consistent platforms, exposure pathways, and a professional environment.”
In a market already among the world’s largest by audience size, ISGL’s franchise model promises stable identities and progression for players turning raw passion into pro leagues, one pixelated pitch at a time.
Sports
After Virat Kohli’s exit, One8 Commune Bengaluru shuts down
Outlet near Chinnaswamy closes amid rent row, compliance issues mount
BENGALURU: The One8 Commune outlet near M. Chinnaswamy Stadium has shut down following a court order, bringing a turbulent chapter for the high-profile dining destination to a close.
The immediate trigger was a legal dispute over unpaid dues. The outlet, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, had reportedly defaulted on rent payments for nearly six months. Including maintenance charges and revenue share commitments, the outstanding amount is said to have crossed Rs 2 crore. A Bengaluru civil court subsequently directed the closure of the premises until all financial obligations are cleared.
The shutdown comes months after Virat Kohli, whose brand name lent the outlet its identity, had already distanced himself from the Bengaluru franchise. According to reports, concerns around repeated compliance-related issues prompted his team to withdraw the association. The removal of the One8 branding is believed to have impacted footfall, further straining the business.
The outlet had also faced regulatory scrutiny over the years. In 2024, authorities booked the establishment for operating beyond the 1:00 am curfew. The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike had issued notices over missing fire safety clearances, while an FIR was filed for violating tobacco regulations by not providing a designated smoking zone under applicable laws.
In response to the closure, the brand maintained that the issue stemmed from building-level compliance responsibilities linked to the property owner rather than operational lapses on its part. It also denied that financial default was the primary reason, reiterating that customer safety remained a priority.
For now, the shutters remain down. While a reopening is theoretically possible if disputes are resolved, the absence of Kohli’s brand association makes a return under the One8 banner increasingly unlikely.
