The PUBG: Battlegrounds ENC controversy has become one of the biggest talking points in the Indian PUBG: Battlegrounds scene. Days after Team India for the Esports Nations Cup (ENC) was announced, player Hemang “Trnsluc3nt” Chandel publicly questioned the selection process. He also questioned the appointment of coach Pratik “Aurum” Mehra. Additionally, he questioned the inclusion of Vedang “Vedzz” Chavan. The criticism quickly escalated as both Vedzz and Aurum responded with their own explanations. As a result, the selection process turned into a public dispute.
India’s official roster for the tournament features Snipaul, Unforgiven, Ryzn, and Vedzz, with Rupesh and Illmindd named as substitutes. Aurum was appointed as Team India’s coach by NODWIN Gaming, India’s National Team Partner for the ENC.
What Started the PUBG: Battlegrounds ENC Controversy?
The controversy began after Trnsluc3nt shared a detailed statement on social media questioning multiple aspects of Team India’s selection process for the Esports Nations Cup. He argued that coach Aurum was not the right choice to lead the national squad. He claimed the former professional had not actively competed in PUBG PC for around three years. Therefore, Aurum was disconnected from the current competitive meta.
Trnsluc3nt also questioned the inclusion of Vedzz in the final roster. According to him, Vedzz had not been consistently active in competitive PUBG PC over the past year. Vedzz had also missed this year’s PUBG Master Series (PMS). Further, he alleged that Vedzz was given preferential treatment during the selection process. This happened despite Vedzz’s recent inactivity.
In addition, Trnsluc3nt suggested that the selection lacked transparency. He claimed player feedback was either ignored or not properly considered during discussions. This led to concerns over how the final roster was decided. His allegations quickly gained attention across the Indian PUBG PC community. Consequently, they sparked widespread debate over whether recent performances should have carried more weight in the national team selection.
Vedzz Responds to the Allegations
Vedzz soon issued a public response addressing the accusations made by Trnsluc3nt. He clarified that he voluntarily skipped the PUBG Master Series because he had already committed to serving as the in-game leader (IGL) for HAVK during the 2026 season. According to him, missing PMS should not have been interpreted as a lack of competitive involvement.
He also denied claims that he was forced into the national roster. Vedzz explained that internal disagreements existed within the team before the qualifiers. Several players initially refused to play under Snipaul as the IGL. As a result, this reportedly led to separate practice sessions before the squad eventually reunited under a common structure.
Vedzz further admitted that the team did not get enough scrim opportunities leading up to the qualifiers, which affected their preparation. Addressing the criticism aimed at Aurum, he maintained that coaching decisions were made collectively by the players themselves. He also argued that blaming the coach after the team’s disappointing result was unfair.
Aurum Defends the Selection Process
Coach Pratik “Aurum” Mehra also released a detailed response rejecting Trnsluc3nt’s allegations. He claimed that Trnsluc3nt was ultimately left out of the national roster because his own teammates did not support his inclusion. The exclusion was not due to any individual decision made by the coaching staff.
Aurum stated that the final lineup was collectively agreed upon by all selected players. He argued that the criticism surrounding the roster only surfaced after the team failed to qualify. This suggested that the complaints were driven more by the outcome than by genuine issues with the selection process.
The coach also defended his role throughout the process. He said that every major decision was made with player consensus rather than personal preference. He further questioned Trnsluc3nt’s recent competitive credentials. Moreover, he maintained that shifting blame onto the coaching staff after the tournament was an attempt to avoid accountability for the team’s performance.ls.
Why the Debate Matters
Unlike traditional esports tournaments, the Esports Nations Cup uses national teams instead of organizations. Coaches are responsible for evaluating talent, selecting rosters, and preparing players for international competition. That makes every selection decision far more scrutinized than a normal club roster.
NODWIN Gaming, acting as India’s National Team Partner, appointed game-specific coaches who were tasked with player selection. The official process places significant responsibility on those coaches, although broader oversight also exists within the national selection structure.
Because of that structure, disagreements over transparency and selection criteria naturally attract significant community attention.
What Happens Next?
Despite the controversy, Team India remains unchanged heading into the Esports Nations Cup qualifiers and finals.
As of now, there has been no official indication that the roster or coaching staff will be modified following the public dispute. The focus now shifts toward India’s international performance. Here, the selected lineup will have the opportunity to justify the decisions made during the selection process.
The public exchange has also reignited a broader discussion within the Indian PUBG: Battlegrounds community. Now, there is debate about whether future national team selections should include clearer evaluation criteria, greater transparency, or independent oversight.
