Dhokla makes surprise return to LCS with LYON

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

Last Updated: 13/01/2026

Indian/American League of Legends toplaner Niship ‘Dhokla’ Doshi has made a surprise return to the LCS for the 2026 season.

The pro had a fantastic 2025, making a surpirse run to LoL Worlds with 100 Thieves and causing a major upset, beating LPL champions BLG.

Yet, Dhokla was shockingly teamless for the upcoming LCS season after returning from Worlds to find all slots taken.

However, his LoL esports career has been given a lifeline at the detriment of Canadian Frankie ‘Zamudo’ Lin, who is having visa issues.

After Dhokla posted that he had returned to Los Angeles, many expected that he was joining the Mexican organisation.

For now, Dhokla is only set to play in the LCS Lock-In with the chance to qualify for First Stand or the Americas Cup.

However, according to reports by Sheep Esports, it appears likely that Dhokla will remain with LYON for the entire season.

Zamudo is considered one of the brightest LoL prospects in North America and is contracted with LYON through until the end of 2027.

Yet, LYON must be fearing the worst as Dhokla is now contracted for the same length of time, according to the global contract database.

Dhokla completes what is a very ambitious LYON roster led by one of the best wetern junglers in Kacper ‘Inspired’ Słoma.

The full roster, as of now, is:

• Top: Niship ‘Dhokla’ Doshi
• Jungle: Kacper ‘Inspired’ Słoma
• Mid: Kang ‘Saint’ Sung-in
• ADC: Kim ‘Berserker’ Min-cheol
• Support: Jonah ‘Isles’ Rosario
• Head Coach: Kim ‘Reignover’ Yeu-jin

Zamudo’s LCS visa issues

Zamudo joined LYON last split, but visa issues prevented him from playing in the LCS back then as well.

He was instead loaned out to Isurus in the LTA South, but was only able to play in one series, which was the team’s elimination match.

LYON COO and founder Carlos ‘Biblos’ Gibran Ricardo Larrea explained what was happening with the Canadian’s visa application.

“Despite all the efforts we have done, with so much time, with esports specialised agencies, and the monetary investment we’ve made to make this process the right way, we’ve received negative answers about Zamudo’s USA visa.

The reason the government gives us is that his curriculum is not enough to compete in the USA as a professional athlete. Which I think is very weird because he had a scholarship in a USA university and he was the MVP, he excelled that year in Challengers.

“He’s definitely a player with so much value, he has so much potential. This is a government issue, it has nothing to do with the player, or us, or the agencies.”

It’s possible that if these visa issues persist, Zamudo may have to consider looking for an LEC team in Europe.

More and more North American talents are moving to Europe.

Joseph Joon ‘Jojopyun’ Pyun plays for Movistar KOI and Alan ‘Busio’ Cwalina has joined Karmine Corp.

And top prospects have joined EMEA’s Regional Leagues too.

Johnny Hoang ‘Yukino’ Dang will play in LEC Versus with KCorp Blue, while Alex ‘Toasty’ Chea has joined G2 Nord, G2 Esports’ new LoL academy team.

Jack Stewart, Senior Editor

In my seven years of esports writing, I've introduced esports coverage to newspapers, interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, and driven viewers mad with the puns in my YouTube scripts. I'm most proud of the latter.

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