Jammu, 21 May — As the digital battlegrounds of Battlegrounds Mobile India Pro Series (BMPS) 2025 prepare to ignite, a single team from Jammu and Kashmir stands as the region’s lone representative in one of the country’s most elite esports showdowns. Team Chenab Valley, carrying the pride of the Chenab region, has earned its place among the 96 invited squads battling for a Rs 2 crore prize pool — and perhaps more importantly, for national recognition.
BMPS, organized by Krafton India, is not just another tournament. It is the apex of official BGMI competition in India, rivaled only by the open-entry BGIS. Unlike BGIS, which allows anyone to register and compete through a lengthy qualification process, BMPS is invitation-only — a curated league of the nation’s most promising teams. For a team from the hills and towns of Chenab to break into that circle is not just rare — it is historic.
Speaking exclusively to The Chenab Times, Fardeen Butt, the 21-year-old coach of the team, emphasized the scale of the achievement. “This is BMPS. It’s the biggest national-level BGMI tournament, with only 96 teams invited from all of India. From Jammu and Kashmir, we are the only team,” he said.
Chenab Valley eSports also known as Team Chenab Valley’s entry into the tournament was not by chance. It was built on performance — specifically, a stellar showing in the BGIS 2025, where they broke into the top 50 among over a thousand qualified teams. That success caught the attention of Krafton, leading to the rare BMPS invitation. And the stakes only grow from here. The BMPS winner will earn a slot in the prestigious Esports World Cup (EWC) in Saudi Arabia — the global stage where India’s best will face international champions.
The squad itself is a portrait of Chenabi grit and talent. Mutahar Dev, the 23-year-old in-game leader from Doda and son of Muzaffar Dev, commands the team with poise and precision. His teammates include 19-year-old Zain Dev, also from Doda, and son of Javed Iqbal; 16-year-old prodigy Areeb Natnoo, son of Mashqoor Hussain Natnoo; 21-year-old Ruhan Butt, hailing from Bhalla, Bhaderwah, son of Mohd Sadiq; 21-year-old Touheed Malik of Kishtwar; and Fardeen Butt himself, son of Shafqat Hussain, from Phagsoo, Thathri.
Areeb, the youngest in the squad, has emerged as one of India’s most promising teenage players. “At just 16, there’s no one in the country who plays like he does,” Fardeen told The Chenab Times, his voice tinged with the awe of watching a star in the making.
Their presence in BMPS is more than a tournament slot — it’s a cultural moment for the Chenab Valley. In a landscape where the region is rarely in the national conversation outside of politics or environmental crises, the rise of a Chenabi esports team signals a generational shift. These young men are not just playing a game — they are challenging perceptions, rewriting what ambition looks like in Jammu and Kashmir.
The road to Delhi, where the BMPS finals will be held in July, is paved with fierce competition. But for Team Chenab Valley, just stepping into this arena means something profound: a flag planted for their homeland in one of the most competitive fields in India’s gaming scene.
And as the tournament begins on May 22, a valley will be watching. In Doda, Kishtwar, Bhaderwah, and Thathri, families and friends will tune in, cheering not just for a victory — but for representation. For identity. For a team of Chenabi boys who dared to dream big.
(BGIS 2024 was corrected to BGIS 2025 in the fourth paragraph to fix a typographical error.)
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Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times
