Is SkRossi Ready to Become an International Valorant Star?

The South Asian phenom who took the VCT 2021 - APAC LCQ by storm.

Aditya Singh Rawat
Updated On: 
<div class="paragraphs"><p>SkRossi - Face of South Asian Valorant</p></div>

SkRossi - Face of South Asian Valorant

, Cover-Credits: 

AFK Gaming

When it comes to esports, India has never really been seen as a heavyweight region that produces exceptionally skilled PC FPS (first-person shooter) players. Despite its success in mobile esports through games like PUBG Mobile and Free Fire, the region has generally failed to produce world-class athletes for games like CS:GO.

So, when international Valorant players and streamers started getting messages on their Twitch chats asking if they knew who “SkRossi” was, it started to raise a few eyebrows. The tipping point was likely when Shahzeb "ShahZaM" Khan (Sentinels, IGL) admitted, “Of course I know who SkRossi is, he seems cracked!”

This was just the trailer though, of what was to hit the global scene with the advent and rise of a talented Indian Valorant player, who had gotten the entire community talking about the untapped potential of the South Asian region.

Things finally appeared to be changing for the better, as the 23-year-old from Bengaluru stepped up and delivered beyond what others thought was possible as a Valorant player from the region. Allowing his ridiculously amazing Jett plays to do all the talking, Ganesh "SkRossi" Gangadhar broke into the international Valorant scene with the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) 2021: Asia Pacific (APAC) Last Chance Qualifier (LCQ) in October 2021, and the buzz that he created was surreal!

Many in the global Valorant community are talking about him, be it in the form of praises, doubts, or questions. But did his debut performance at the Asia-Pacific Valorant tournament actually live up to all the hype? How far ahead did his Jett dash against others from the APAC region? Does he have what it takes to take things to the next level and perhaps move to an international lineup?

To answer these and more, we spoke with Seth "Achilios" King, Nico "BlackenBlue" Gayoso, Clinton "Paperthin" Bader, Franco "Ilustrado" Bernardino, Rushindra “Salbatic” Sinha, and even the man himself, SkRossi.

The Face of South Asian Valorant - SkRossi

North American talent Seth "Achilios" King, caster of this event, was surprised to see that SkRossi mostly held up to the expectations following the buzz that surrounded him prior to the tournament. Despite playing only three matches, the Jett main was able to leave a lasting impression due to his stellar performances, with Filipino analyst Nico "BlackenBlue" Gayoso confidently stating that, “SkRossi is what the VCC needs. Someone to be the face of their region (South Asia) on the global stage, so it's definitely worth every piece of praise he has received.”

Though SkRossi’s overall stats were not the best at the VCT 2021: APAC LCQ when compared to other players, he held his own and earned a spot within the top 20 players at the tournament. “He showed flashes of brilliance and some solid mechanical skills,” says North American commentator Clinton "Paperthin" Bader while highlighting his debut performance against DAMWON Gaming.

“Taking them down is no easy feat, so he and his team definitely raised my eyebrows.”
Clinton "Paperthin" Bader - Statement to AFK Gaming

A lot of the other talent, players, and even Valorant community members have poured in their support, backing up SkRossi for what he has achieved and all that lies ahead. But today, we’re going to answer a few hard-hitting questions to ‘de-cypher’ the true potential of this South Asian phenom.


Published On: