S8UL Esports has officially revealed its new Valorant lineup for the 2026 competitive season. The announcement came on March 2, 2026, with the organization unveiling a roster consisting of SkRossi, RvK, Yuvi, Anq, and xexxar, along with Vikrant “hacker” Pujari as head coach.
This marks a complete roster rebuild for the Indian organization after its entire previous core departed earlier in the year. The former S8UL players, including Hoax, Techno, venka, and k1ngkappa, left in January 2026 and have since joined Revenant Esports for the upcoming Challengers South Asia season.
The new S8UL squad is built around Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, who will serve as the team’s in-game leader (IGL). The roster is now set to compete in VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026.
SkRossi: India’s Most Recognizable Valorant Player
SkRossi is widely regarded as one of the most prominent Valorant players in South Asia. Born on October 12, 1997, SkRossi is an Indian player and former Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competitor.
His professional Valorant career began in 2020 with Global Esports, a Riot Games partnered team in the VCT Pacific league. He became the second Indian Valorant player to reach the Radiant rank in the game. With Global Esports, he represented South Asia on the international stage at VCT 2023: LOCK//IN in Sao Paulo, Brazil, becoming one of the first Indian players to compete at a VCT international event.
After his time with Global Esports, SkRossi went on to represent Revenant Esports before joining Velocity Gaming. With Velocity Gaming during the 2025 season, the team won VCSA Split 1 and Split 3 championships and finished third in Split 2. Their domestic dominance qualified them for the Pacific Ascension 2025, where they finished 5th-6th after a playoff run.
Now at S8UL, SkRossi takes on the IGL role with the goal of leading the team through VCSA 2026 and toward VCT Pacific qualification.
Full S8UL Valorant Roster for 2026
Here is the complete S8UL Esports Valorant lineup heading into VCSA 2026:
Players:
Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar (IGL) from India. He is 28 years old and has previously played for Global Esports, Revenant Esports, and Velocity Gaming. He is known for his flexibility across sentinel and duelist roles.
Ilya “Anq” Matyash from Russia. Born on January 28, 2005, Anq is a 20-year-old Russian player who last played for Valiant. His career spans teams including Reckoning Esports, NOVO Esports, and Valiant, with experience across regions including Russia, India, and France. Anq brings international exposure to the S8UL roster.
Rishi “RvK” Vijayakumar from India. He is 25 years old and has represented teams like Reckoning Esports, True Rippers, and Enigma Gaming across the South Asian circuit. RvK is a familiar name in the Indian Valorant scene and adds veteran presence to the squad.
Yuvraj “Yuvi” Singh from India. Yuvi previously spent time with the Global Esports Academy lineup, stepping up after a developmental year. He represents the emerging talent in this roster.
Xexxar rounds out the five-player lineup.
Head Coach:
Vikrant “hacker” Pujari. Hacker is one of the most well-known coaching personalities in Indian Valorant esports. He has been competing and coaching in Indian FPS titles since 2010, with experience across CS 1.6, CS:GO, DOTA2, and Valorant. His coaching career includes stints with Enigma Gaming, Team XO, ASUS ROG Academy (Seasons 5 and 6), and most recently Orangutan. He now takes charge of S8UL’s rebuilt Valorant division.
Why S8UL Needed a Complete Rebuild
The roster overhaul was necessary after the departure of S8UL’s previous core. The Indian trio of Hoax, Techno, and venka, alongside Indonesian player k1ngkappa, left S8UL and signed with Revenant Esports. Their final achievement under the S8UL banner was winning Predator League India 2026.
In the 2025 season, S8UL was competitive but fell short at crucial moments. They finished second in the South Asia Ascension Qualifiers, losing the Grand Final 1-3 to Velocity Gaming. They also finished second in both Challengers South Asia Split 3 and the LAN Grand Final.
With SkRossi now leading the team, S8UL appears to be aiming to convert those near-miss finishes into titles.
What Is VCSA 2026 and Why Does It Matter?
VALORANT Challengers South Asia 2026 is the official Tier-2 competitive circuit for the region, organized by NODWIN Gaming in partnership with Riot Games. This season carries even higher stakes than previous years.
The 2026 season replaces the previous Ascension system with Riot’s new “Path to Champions” program. Challengers teams now have a direct route to the VCT Pacific Stage 2 Playoffs. The top team from South Asia will qualify for a Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) with the top seeds from Oceania and Southeast Asia. The winner of the LCQ will qualify for the Stage 2 Playoffs, offering a genuine chance to qualify for VALORANT Champions Shanghai.
This means that for the first time, a South Asian team could potentially reach VALORANT Champions through the Challengers pathway alone.
Registrations for VCSA 2026 Split 1 close on March 4, 2026. The broadcast phase is scheduled to begin on March 16. Teams from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, and the Maldives are eligible to compete.
Challenger teams qualifying for Stage 2 Playoffs will receive a $75,000 cash stipend from Riot Games to cover travel, visa, and attendance costs.
S8UL vs. Revenant: The Rivalry to Watch in 2026
The South Asian Valorant scene in 2026 is shaping up to be a two-horse race between S8UL Esports and Revenant Esports (RNTX).
Revenant has signed the former S8UL core of Hoax, Techno, and venka, along with k1ngkappa and Mongolian player consz from The MongolZ. Former Velocity Gaming coach GodspeedxD is also expected to join Revenant.
S8UL has responded by building around SkRossi and mixing experienced players with international talent. With both organizations fielding strong rosters, VCSA 2026 could produce the most competitive South Asian Valorant season to date.
What This Means for Indian Valorant
The signing of SkRossi by S8UL is one of the biggest roster moves in Indian Valorant heading into 2026. It pairs the region’s most decorated player with an organization that came painfully close to international qualification last year.
With the Path to Champions now offering a clearer route from Tier-2 to the global stage, the stakes for S8UL and every other South Asian team have never been higher. A strong VCSA 2026 run could take S8UL all the way to Champions Shanghai.
The broadcast of VCSA 2026 Split 1 will be available on the NODWIN Gaming and Valorant Esports South Asia YouTube channels starting March 16.
