Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI) was released on July 2, 2021, after the Indian government banned PUBG Mobile in the country for security reasons.
From the get-go, Krafton, the developer of BGMI, started focusing on honing the BGMI esports ecosystem, which was left feeling the void by the lack of PUBG Mobile events. This began a series of BGMI events that would eventually take place in the country.
BGMI’s Rollercoaster Ride: From Ban to Redemption in India
The journey of BGMI was short-lived partly because the company failed to comply with the government’s terms and conditions thoroughly and BGMI received its second ban in India on July 28, 2022, just a year after it was released. But, Krafton was dedicated to tapping into the country’s mobile esports potential and decided to comply with the Indian government fully and started working actively towards getting BGMI unbanned in India. Finally, May 29, 2023, became the BGMI unban date in India or BGMI release date in India.
From that moment onwards, Krafton has been working on the grassroot level and with the professional players to make every BGMI Esports tournament possible in the country.
The Backbone of BGMI Esports
PUBG Mobile was extremely popular in the country with a huge player base, and when BGMI got unbanned in India, the game rose to the same stature and currently has over 100 million downloads on the Google Play Store. The popularity of the title also ensured that esports athletes like Naman ‘Mortal’ Mathur, Tanmay ‘Scout’ Singh, and Harmandeep ‘Mavi’ Mavi became a household name. Both, PUBG Mobile and BGMI are very similar but the only difference, the thing that makes it PUBG vs BGMI is the meta these two games work on.
Every year, Krafton hosts two official events that see pro and semi-pro players take part in it.
- The competitive cycle starts with BGIS The Grind, where Krafton invites a set of teams that have performed in previous official events, and from there, depending on the position they finish at, they get a chance to be a part of the main event, Battlegrounds Mobile India Series (BGIS).
- After BGIS The Grind is over, the players then start preparing for another official event, which is known as the BGMI Pro Series (BMPS), where teams that have proven their mettle get to compete.
But BGMI Esports is also supported by a lot of Krafton-approved third-party events that ensure that the ecosystem doesn’t die and throughout the year, key tournament organizers like Skyesports, Upthrust Esports, The Esports Club, and Nodwin Gaming contribute towards developing this ecosystem. Organized by Nodwin Gaming, BGMI Masters Series is one of the biggest third-party events in the country.
Top BGMI Teams in the Country
Indian esports system has a lot of BGMI teams that play are seen in the official event, and each year the number keeps on increasing.
There are a obviously a select few elite teams that have been setting the bar high and have been consistent in their performance through the years. Here is a list of all the top BGMI Esports teams in the country. Many of these are also the top esports orgs of the country.
- Team Soul
- Gods Reign (now Gladiator Esports)
- GodLike Esports
- Revenant XSpark
- Orangutan Gaming
Over the years, these teams have been very constant in all the official events and have proven why they are the best in India.
- Team Soul won the 2022 BMPS and Gladiators Esports won BGIS 2023 and BGMS 2023. Their IGL, Destro was very fondly labelled as the trophy magnet that year. However, esports is extremely uncertain and in 2024, Team XSpark (now Revenant XSpark) won both official events, BGIS 2024 and BMPS 2024. Their IGL, Shadow is currently one of the most decorated IGLs in the country.
- GodLike Esports is one of the oldest teams in the BGMI scene and in 2024, they were playing in the first official event in almost three years. Fans were very excited to see their favorite player, Jonathan Gaming on the stage with other 63 pro players.
- The other pro team that was seen in the official events is Orangutan Gaming. The team is known to bring in the heat with their impeccable gun power and their IGL, Aaru’s strategy ensures that the team always finishes in the top 5.
Top BGMI Esports Players in India
2024 saw the rise of players who have proven their skills in the game. These players have overcome a lot of hurdles to ensure that they reach the final stage of the official events. Here is a list of all the top BGMI players in the country:
- Revenant XSpark: Spraygod
- GodLike: Admino
- iQOOSouLManYa
- Revenat XSpark: Joker
- iQOOSouLNakul
- Revenant XSpark: Saranggg
- Ninjaboi
- GodLike: Jonathan
These players have astonished the country with their clutches and ability to bring their teams out of tricky situations. These players have also won individual awards at official events, because of which they are the best BGMI players in India.
Top BGMI Streamers
Not only is BGMI a popular esports title in India, it is also one of the most streamed games in the country. Few streamers and content creators have gained a lot of popularity because of their BGMI streams and gaming skills. Here are some of the best BGMI streamers in India:
- Dynamo Gaming
- MortaL
- ScoutOP
- Kaash Plays
- Jonathan Gaming
- Payal Gaming
- Snax Gaming
- LoLzZz Gaming
These players pull thousands and lakhs of viewership, making them the best BGMI streamers.
How to Bet on BGMI Esports in India
If you’re interested in betting on esports matches in India you can easily take this opportunity to by betting on BGMI esports matches that take place every year.
You can bet on BGMI simply from your mobile by looking up a list of esports betting websites in India. All of these sites will be mobile first that can be easily accessed from your browser.
A select number of online betting will offer a native app but this is rare. In that case, all you will have to do is to create an account via the online betting site in your browser, then downloading the native app (normally in the form of an APK) directly from the site to your phone and start placing the bets.
Since the esports betting industry is still developing in the country, you can get your hands on some amazing deals, which hold the potential to earn a lot of money for you. Here is a list of all the you can use:
Once you have placed your bets and made some money, then you can easily withdraw the amount also. In India, you can easily deposit or withdraw the money with the following options:
- Google Pay
- UPI
- Bank transfers
- Credit/Debit Cards
- Paytm
- NetBanking
- PhonePe
- Crypto
However, be sure to use only those websites that are licensed and regulated by a gaming authority. If you don’t pay attention to this, your funds could end up not being protected.
