MUMBAI: The gaming arena is getting a cricketing heavyweight. Google Play and NODWIN Gaming have joined hands to launch Google Play Arena, a multi-title gaming championship that will see former India captain MS Dhoni field his own competitive club, Mahi Clutchers, against some of the country’s established esports teams.
Registrations for the championship opened on 23 October and are free. The competition will progress through open qualifiers in the coming weeks before culminating in the Grand Finale on 19 and 20 December 2026. The organisers say the championship aims to create a pathway for grassroots players to compete alongside established gaming clubs.
The tournament will feature six titles: Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI), Free Fire MAX, Moba Legends: 5v5!, Real Cricket, Chess through Chess.com, and EA SPORTS FC Mobile. The line-up spans battle royale, multiplayer online battle arena, cricket simulation, chess and football gaming.
A key draw will be Mahi Clutchers, Dhoni’s club, which will be built through open qualifiers. The team will compete for the title of the country’s best gaming club, giving players an opportunity to qualify under the banner of the former India captain, who is also a gaming enthusiast.
The championship will feature established clubs Orangutan, GodLike, Apex Gaming, Revenant XSpark and S8UL. Their participation is expected to bring existing fan communities into a competition designed to connect grassroots players with the wider esports ecosystem.
Google is partnering with NODWIN Gaming to conceptualise, plan and execute the championship. NODWIN will handle tournament operations, event production, partnerships, campaign management and community engagement.
NODWIN Gaming co-founder and managing director Akshat Rathee said the championship would bring together India’s growing gaming community through popular titles, established clubs and the participation of national icons such as Dhoni.
“At NODWIN Gaming, we look forward to bringing our experience in building gaming IPs and delivering large-scale competitive gaming experiences to create an event that resonates with players and fans across the country,” Rathee said.
Google India director, consumer apps and platforms marketing Kanika Kalra said the initiative was intended to give mobile gamers a structured route from grassroots participation to professional recognition.
“By offering a structured, merit-led pathway from grassroots play to professional recognition, we are thrilled to partner with NODWIN Gaming to bring this celebration of gaming to life for players and fans across the country,” Kalra said.
The organisers also plan community activities, exclusive game offers and opportunities for fans to attend the event in person.
Players can register for free through the Google Play Arena registration page.