Revenant XSpark’s IGL Shubham “NinjaJOD” Sahoo says his team is “very confident” going into the BMSD 2026 Grand Finals in Hyderabad. Revenant XSpark was one of the first four teams to book a finals spot, straight out of the Week 3 Qualifiers, and NinjaJOD says the long break helped.
He also explained why he switched from two-finger controls, how much freedom he gives his assaulters, and what a win would mean in the same city where he lifted the BGIS 2024 trophy with Team XSpark.
Pranav spoke to NinjaJOD for TalkEsport ahead of Day 1. Watch the full interview below, or read the full conversation.
Who Is NinjaJOD?
NinjaJOD won BGIS 2024 with Team XSpark at HITEX in Hyderabad, a title that earned the team ₹60 lakh. He built his name as a front-line assaulter, then took over as IGL after Revenant XSpark released Punk and JD Gaming in April 2026.
His current lineup has TraceGod, Pain and Proton as assaulters. Revenant XSpark is one of the 16 teams in the BMSD 2026 Grand Finals, which run from October 16 to 18 at Savaaya Convention.
The Full Interview
TalkEsport: Revenant XSpark was one of the first four teams to qualify directly for the Grand Finals from the Week 3 Qualifiers. That gave you more preparation time than most. How did you use it, and how confident are you about the title?
NinjaJOD: Confidence is very high. In the gap we got, we grinded a lot and watched a lot of matches.
We looked at what the other teams are doing and what they aren’t doing, and focused on all of that. The rest will play out on the day.
TalkEsport: Your team goes straight into the Grand Finals after roughly 17 days without competitive matches. There’s extra prep time, but there’s also the risk of losing match rhythm. Has the long gap been an advantage, or could the team feel some rust?
NinjaJOD: It’s been an advantage, man. Who wants the stress of fighting through every stage and then playing the finals at the end?
By watching the matches, we could see which team was playing what and at what timings. Whatever we needed, our coach and analysts helped us with.
On the side, we kept up our own grind too, playing scrims and all that. And we had fun.
TalkEsport: For years we saw you as a front-line assaulter. Since you took over as IGL, your team has reached the Grand Finals of every official tournament. How has that transition been, and how hard is it for an aggressive assaulter to make decisions for the whole team?
NinjaJOD: The transition has been really good. I’m enjoying it, and I’m happy that we’re playing every official.
It isn’t that challenging, honestly. It’s normal. It comes down to whether you’re prepared and confident in yourself.
I was confident, and my team was with me on it. So it’s been easy.
TalkEsport: A lot of people in our YouTube comments see Revenant XSpark as a title contender because of your firepower. But aggression alone isn’t enough in a Grand Finals. What’s this roster’s biggest strength, and which weakness do you need to fix before the finals?
NinjaJOD: The weaknesses, I won’t tell you.
Our strength is that we used to choke a lot on one thing. When we played too aggressive, we’d go completely mad and stop watching positions.
Now we’re balancing everything and playing well. Everyone resets quickly and doesn’t overthink the last match, which wasn’t happening before. Everyone stays confident that however many matches are left, we have to play well, and everyone comes prepared.
TalkEsport: The Smash Rule is being used at BMSD for the first time. As an IGL, once you reach match point, you have to prioritise the chicken dinner over finishes. Will Revenant XSpark keep its natural aggressive style, or will we see a completely different approach after you hit the target?
NinjaJOD: For the Smash Rule, we’ll have to see. It’s not like you need to play aggressive the whole time.
Sometimes it depends on the situation, where to play and how. Our main focus is getting the chicken, because what’s the point of taking 10 kills and dying early?
It goes match to match. And who knows, maybe this time we’ll be the first team to do it under the Smash Rule.
TalkEsport: The BGMI meta has evolved a lot, and there’s a debate that two-finger players now struggle to compete at the top level. You used to play two-finger yourself. Are you still on the same controls, and do you think two-finger players can compete internationally in the current meta?
NinjaJOD: I believe you can play on any controls. You just need to be confident in how you play.
If you’re confident it’s enough to kill the guy in front of you, clutch and save your team, then it’s good for you. But there were a lot of things I wasn’t able to do.
A player has to evolve from time to time, and I felt this was the right time for me. New things keep coming in, like peek and fire, which is very tough on thumbs, so I changed my controls.
TalkEsport: Hyderabad holds special memories for you. You lifted the BGIS trophy here in 2024, and your former teammates from that roster are now on different teams, some of them in this Grand Finals too. How does it feel to come back to the same city two years later and compete against them?
NinjaJOD: It feels really good, and I’m happy that all my brothers made it too. The roster may be different, but the mindset is the same.
Last time, I left Hyderabad very happy. Hopefully, this time I leave Hyderabad very happy too.
TalkEsport: We’ve seen a lot of improvement in your IGLing. But when you were a pure assaulter, your individual firepower was on another level, and that aggression shows up less now. Is that a sacrifice for the team, or do you want your old fragging form back?
NinjaJOD: Back then I was kill-crazy. Now I’m not. Now I play according to the situation.
Even if I stay at the back, I know my other assaulters will do what’s needed, so I don’t have to. I trust them that much, even when I’m covering their backs.
And they trust me the same way. If they’re holding the fight and getting kills, they know I’ll get mine too. That’s all it is.
TalkEsport: TraceGod and Pain are both in great form this tournament, and a big part of your firepower comes from them. As IGL, how much freedom do you give them? Do you only give positioning and information and leave fights to their instincts, or does every aggressive push follow your calls?
NinjaJOD: There’s nothing like that with calls. I’ve told everyone to take the fight if they feel it’s right and that we can win it.
They know more about those situations, because they’re the ones up front. So I’ve left it to them. Just give the call.
TraceGod and Pain are getting the kills, and Proton is playing really well too. That trio is deadly, and they handle it.
TalkEsport: When you won BGIS 2024 in Hyderabad, ScoutOP was with you. Now Scout is inside the Bigg Boss house, and you’re competing for a trophy in Hyderabad again. If you win the championship, will there be a special message or dedication for him?
NinjaJOD: I just hope he wins there and we win here. Then the whole vibe in Mumbai will be something else. (laughs)
TalkEsport: Last question. What’s your message for Revenant XSpark fans, especially those who have backed this roster consistently since you became IGL?
NinjaJOD: For them, I’ll just say thank you so much to everyone who supports us. When I started playing, I never thought I’d get this much love.
Through my bad times, and now as my role changed, the people who love me never stopped supporting me. Even a thank you feels like too little.
The rest of you are family anyway, so keep giving love like this. I’ll try my best this time, and you stay happy.
How to Follow Revenant XSpark at BMSD 2026
The Grand Finals stream live on the KRAFTON India Esports YouTube channel from October 16 to 18 in Hindi and English. Track Revenant XSpark’s points match by match on the BMSD 2026 points table on TalkEsport Wiki.
The finals use the Smash Rule on Day 3, and the champion books a PMGC 2026 slot. For more on ScoutOP’s current stint, read our story on how he became the first Indian esports star in Bigg Boss.
