“eISL is the perfect platform to kick-start your career in FIFA esports”: Shubham Jadhav, Odisha FC FIFA player
From playing in local tournaments to now getting the opportunity to represent India on an international stage, FIFA esports is gradually growing in the country. Events like the eISL Season 1 help popularize the esports scene by giving a shot to all the FIFA enthusiasts who aspire to become professional players.
League matches of the eISL Season 1 are currently underway. The tournament features 11 teams, out of which four will proceed to the Grand Finals.
Shubham Jadhav is representing Odisha FC, one of the teams in the eISL Season 1. In conversation with Sportskeeda Esports’ Debolina Banerjee, he talks about the esports scenario of FIFA in India, his dreams of representing India on a global stage, and more.
Shubham: It all started when I randomly matched with one player, now a friend of mine, back in 2019 while playing FIFA 19. Despite beating me in the match, he texted me, saying that I am a good player. He eventually introduced me to his group of friends. It became an obvious switch from semi-pro football to FIFA due to my ligament tear (injury).
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When Covid 19 struck in 2020, I started taking the game seriously. I used to practice for six to eight hours daily. By the end of the season in FIFA 21, I was ranked No 8 in India, according to the Global Series Ranking. I was also only one game away from representing India in the FIFA E-Nations Qualifiers.
I was a PC FIFA player (offline mode) until 2018. In 2019, I forced my mother to buy me a PlayStation and started my online gaming career.
Shubham: Since it is a console game that can also be played on PC, it will not get the attention that battle royale games get. But I have seen the game’s growth in recent years, and I hope Indian esports organizations or the ISL
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