India, Jan. 3 -- India's gamers have waited a long time for something meaningful to shift in the esports landscape. While tournaments have popped up in different corners, very little has tied the ecosystem together in a way that feels truly Indian, not just in format but in energy, access, and community. What most players, creators, and fans have long wanted is something that blends competition with entertainment and gives every kind of gamer a real place to participate.

That is the vision JioBLAST is betting on. And when I spoke with Charlie Cowdrey, the company's CEO who recently moved from London to Mumbai, it was clear he was not here to repeat existing playbooks. His plans revolve around widening the entry gates for gamers, elevatin...