Who is Rohan Luthra: First gk from Britain’s South Asian community to play in EFL Championship

The 20-year-old recently made his debut for Cardiff City

Rohan Luthra, a 20-year-old goalkeeper for Cardiff City who graduated from the Crystal Palace academy, made his league debut against Preston after coming off the bench. The 6'5" Punjabi goalie is the first player from the South Asian population in Britain to play in the Sky Bet Championship.

In extra time, the 6'5" Punjabi goalkeeper made his senior English football debut.

In extra time, with Cardiff behind, Luthra took the place of attacker Mark Harris when goalkeeper Jak Alnwick was sent off for colliding with Tom Cannon while attempting to clear the ball.

Who is Rohan Luthra?

Luthra started out with the U18s at the age of 15, having joined the Crystal Palace youth programme in 2010. He entered into his first professional contract with Crystal Palace on June 2, 2020. He signed a loan agreement with the non-league team South Park on October 20, 2020. He transferred to Cardiff City's youth academy on June 22, 2021.

He renewed his deal with Cardiff City from May until June 2022. He made his professional debut with Cardiff City on March 11, 2023, coming on as a late replacement in a 2-0 EFL Championship loss to Preston North End.

Luthra, a native of West London and the first British South Asian goalkeeper to ever sign a contract with the Premier League, attended Whitgift School and played with England internationals Bukayo Saka and Callum Hudson-Odoi at the junior level before making his goalkeeping debut for Crystal Palace's U-18s at the age of just 15.

"This is another piece of magnificent news for British South Asians in football in 2023," Jas Batt, England's technical talent coach, told Sky Sports News.

Before trying football he tried his career in cricket.

Luthra is of Punjabi-Indian descent. He was called up to represent the England U15s, however, he first began playing cricket with the Sunbury Cricket Club at the age of 6 in addition to football. He began as a wicketkeeper before becoming a forceful left-handed hitter. He left the team to concentrate on football after receiving a scholarship offer from Crystal Palace.