Google Play Arena registrations open: Games, dates and MS Dhoni’s Mahi Clutchers
The biggest surprise is former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni entering the competition with his own gaming club, Mahi Clutchers. The team will be built through open qualifiers, giving regular players a chance to compete under Dhoni’s banner. The championship will conclude with a two-day Grand Finale on December 19 and 20, 2026, where teams will compete for the country’s best club title.
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MS Dhoni enters esports with Mahi Clutchers
Dhoni’s entry brings a familiar sporting name into India’s competitive mobile gaming scene. His club, Mahi Clutchers, will recruit players through open qualifiers rather than starting with a pre-selected professional roster.
The tournament will feature established Indian esports organisations, including GodLike, Orangutan, Apex Gaming, Revenant XSpark and S8UL.
These teams already have followings across India’s competitive gaming community, setting up an interesting contest between established clubs and emerging players.
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Which games will feature in Google Play Arena?
The tournament will include six mobile gaming titles across shooting, sports, strategy and team-based competition.
- Battlegrounds Mobile India (BGMI)
- Free Fire MAX
- Mobile Legends: 5v5!
- Real Cricket
- Chess (Chess.com)
- EA SPORTS FC Mobile
The organisers have yet to disclose detailed match schedules, tournament formats and prize money.
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Google Play Arena registration and tournament dates
Google Play Arena will begin with free registrations, followed by open qualifying rounds over the coming weeks.
The Grand Finale is scheduled for December 19 and 20, 2026.
Akshat Rathee, Co-founder and Managing Director of NODWIN Gaming, said, “India’s gaming community continues to grow in both scale and diversity, with gaming becoming an increasingly important part of how young audiences connect, compete and engage with the interests they share.”
NODWIN Gaming will handle the tournament’s planning, partnerships and execution, with Google Play collaborating on the event.
Players interested in participating can register through the .
The open qualifiers give Indian mobile gamers a chance to compete alongside familiar esports names, with Dhoni’s Mahi Clutchers adding another contender.