Kerala Blasters FC look for their first win of the ISL season as they face Punjab FC in ISL 2025-26

The Tuskers will face the Shers in ISL 2025-26 on the 21st.

Kerala Blasters FC will lock horns against Punjab FC on Saturday, 21st of March 2026, as the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025-26 action returns to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi. The match is scheduled to take place at 7:30 PM IST as both teams eye a win at Kochi.

Kerala Blasters, after a draw, have secured their first point of the season and are at the 13th position with one point in five games, while Punjab FC, with one win and two draws, are in 8th position in the group table.

With both teams fighting for a win, the Kerala Blasters to move away from the relegation battle and Punjab to move away from the mid-table battle, the stakes for the Kerala Blasters FC vs Punjab FC match are high.

The Stakes

Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala Blasters will be playing their fourth home game of the season against Punjab FC. Having lost all their matches at home, the stadium attendance has been decreasing and has hit rock bottom. Hence, this is one of the last opportunities for the Blasters to regain the long-lost trust of the fans.

After the draw against East Bengal FC, the match against the Sher’s will be an opportunity for the Blasters to redeem themselves and provide a statement that, despite all the adversities, the Blasters are here to compete.

Moreover, a win and three points would provide Blasters with a sigh of relief as they will move a bit far away from the 13th position, a spot very vulnerable to relegation.

Punjab FC

Punjab FC, after a losing start to their season, came back to winning ways in their second match, defeating Bengaluru FC, away from home. Later, they drew their next two matches against NorthEast United FC and FC Goa.

Currently in the 8th position of the group table, with two draws, one win and a loss, Punjab FC would be looking forward to get all three points against the struggling Blasters, which could potentially take them to the top six.

Hence, nothing less than a win would be a satisfactory result for Punjab FC, who will be looking forward to win a match after dropping points in their last match against FC Goa.

Team News

Kerala Blasters will miss the services of their striker Victor Bertemou and their winger Korou Singh for their upcoming match against Punjab FC. But on a positive note, they have roped in Taison Singh from Mohun Bagan reserves side, and the winger will be available for selection for the upcoming match.

Apart from that, there are no major injury concerns of suspensions for the Blasters roster.

Meanwhile, Nsungusi Effiong, the key striker of Punjab FC, will miss the match against Kerala Blasters as the player will serve a suspension for the red card he received in the match against FC Goa.

Punjab FC are expected to have all their remaining players for the upcoming crucial match.

Predicted Lineup

Kerala Blasters FC (4-3-3)

Arsh Sheikh; Naocha Singh, Hormipam, Ndiaye Fallou, Sandeep Singh; Vibin Mohanan, Matias Hernandes, Marlon Roos; Kevin Yoke, Muhammed Ajsal, Nihal Sudeesh

Punjab FC (4-2-3-1)

Arshdeep Singh; Lhungdim, Pblo, Bijoy Vargheese, Muhammed Uvais; Samir Zeljkovic, Ricky Shabong; Dani Ramirez, Kipgen, Leon Augustine; Osuji

Player to Watchout

Muhammed Ajsal (Kerala Blasters FC)

The local striker of Kerala Blasters FC, Muhammed Ajsal, will be the player to watch out for in the match against Punjab FC. The 22-year-old striker was loaned out to the Super League Kerala side Calicut FC, just before the ISL, where he had an impressive stint, making headlines and winning the Golden Ball award.

Later, he also played a crucial role in the Santosh Trophy, where Kerala finished runners-up. Following this impressive performance, Ajsal was promoted to the senior team for their ISL campaign.

Despite the ISL season being disappointing for the Blasters so far, Muhammed Ajsal has been one of the brightest sparks for the Blasters in the attack.

With quick movements with the ball and an excellent game awareness, Ajsal has been instrumental in shaping the 1-1 draw against East Bengal FC, in their previous encounter, where the player’s stoppage-time header helped the game settle in a stalemate.

If Ajsal can build on this momentum, he could potentially take Blasters out of the goal-scoring drought and lead them to their first win.

Arshdeep Singh (Punjab FC)

The Punjab FC goalkeeper, Arshdeep Singh, will be the key player for Punjab FC in their match against Kerala Blasters FC. The keeper, as the last man between the sticks, has played a significant role in reinforcing the Punjab FC defense whenever there were minor lapses from the backline.

Apart from the goals which were conceded by Punjab FC due to silly mistakes in the back, if there is one player who has been worth every penny for the Sher’s, it would arguably be Arshdeep Singh.

Coming into the match, Arshdeep would potentially be the biggest resistance for the Blasters, who are already on a struggle to score open play goals.

If Arshdeep could keep his calm during the match and make a few impactful saves for Punjab, he could help them seal their second victory of the season.

Head-to-Head in ISL

Matches Played – 4

Kerala Blasters FC Won – 2

Punjab FC Won – 2

Draw – 0

Did you know?

• Kerala Blasters FC have never won against Punjab FC at Kochi.
• Kerala Blasters have scored only two goals in their last five matches, while Punjab have scored five.
• Kerala Blasters have conceded the most penalties (2) in ISL 2024-25.

Telecast details

The Indian Super League (ISL) match between Kerala Blasters FC and Punjab FC will be played on the 21st of March 2026. The match will be live streamed on FanCode and broadcast on Sony Sports Network.

Where to watch the ISL 2025-26 match live globally outside India?

Outside India, in Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 matches will be live-streamed on the FanCode app.

Begin Watch is the official broadcast partner for the Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 season in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain.

In all other remaining countries, live streaming will be available on the FanCode YouTube channel.

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