I was in a similar boat as you many years back. Did not get CS at the older IITs, I was too interested in coding and entrepreneurship to be super involved in JE

I was in a similar boat as you many years back. Did not get CS at the older IITs, I was too interested in coding and entrepreneurship to be super involved in JEE. I persisted and got an internship at a top CS place in India. Ended up publishing more research than most PhD students in just a year. And got admitted to all top 5 CS programs I applied to. Was advised by a very well known professor in grad school and even published with one of the grandfathers of machine learning. I now mentor several undergrads who are going through the same phase. I think just partnering with the right professor helps. Having a vision helps. Most research students just blindly follow whatever the professor tells them to do. Being able to think independently really helps; most of my classmates who ended as Professors still crave for such students. And find it hard to encounter such folks. To repeat, independence and persistence. You will make it. Good luck!