Top five Inter Kashi players to watch out for in Inter Kashi vs Kerala Blasters
Albino Gomes played for India against Uruguay recently in FIFA International Friendlies
The Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, also known as Balewadi Stadium in Pune, is all set to host the third match of the opening matchweek of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, where home team Inter Kashi are set to take on Kerala Blasters FC in what is set to be a thrilling contest.
After much uncertainty, as exclusively revealed by Khel Now, Inter Kashi have registered a 22-man squad and have signed 16 players ahead of the new ISL season.
The Warriors of Kashi will have an all Indian squad. Amid the time constraints, transfer bans and deadlines, they have done a decent job of building a competitive squad to go all out in the new season.
Inter Kashi will play the majority of their initial games of Phase 1 in their new home in Pune. They are led by Portuguese gaffer Carlos Vaz Pinto, who has previously led Sreenidhi Deccan for two seasons.
Kerala Blasters, on the other hand, have new investors on board after the club has been acquired 100% by a UAE-backed consortium led by Al Fursan Sports Investment, chaired by Sheikh Ahmad bin Faisal Al Qasimi.
The Tuskers have the upper hand in the fixture, but Inter Kashi will leave no stone unturned to make a difference.
In this article, we take a closer look at the top five Inter Kashi players to keep an eye on ahead of the Inter Kashi vs Kerala Blasters game.
5. Albino Gomes
Catch Every Update, Anytime, Anywhere
Gomes was recently seen between the sticks for India against Uruguay in the FIFA International Friendly fixture at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. The goalkeeper with the most penalty saves in the history of the Indian Super League is a massive signing for the Warriors of Kashi.
He impressed a lot during his previous stint with Jamshedpur FC. He previously played with Diego Forlan’s Mumbai City FC and will be up against his former side, Kerala Blasters FC, next. He will be tasked with the responsibility of keeping a clean sheet for Inter Kashi in the next game.
4. Pratik Chaudhari
The Gujarat-born defender is an ISL veteran who plied his trade with Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos, Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC before re-joining the Red Miners for his second tenure.
He was a strong pillar of defence for Jamshedpur FC under Khalid Jamil and Owen Coyle. He was part of the Mohun Bagan squad that won the I League in the 2014-15 season. Chaudhari brings his valuable experience to the squad, which will be crucial for Kashi to navigate the season ahead.
3. Laldinliana Renthlei
The Mizoram-born right back was part of the ISL Shield-winning squad with Jamshedpur FC under Owen Coyle. After leaving the Steel City, he joined the Juggernauts for a short tenure before finding his new home with the Marina Machans in Chennaiyin FC.
The 28-year-old defender will be a key player to watch for Kashi in the new season. His accelerated and overlapping runs from the right flank will be key, as Inter Kashi will rely on their wingers to create more chances and score goals.
2. Manvir Singh
The Punjab-born striker got less playing time in the Indian top tier but has never failed to impress amid limited opportunities. Kashi are expected to continue with an all Indian squad for the new season, and Manvir will have too many chances to impress.
The former Jamshedpur FC striker joined Mohammedan for a brief spell, where he made a handful of appearances and scored his first goal for the Black Panthers. He is quick and agile and will be raring to go, all guns blazing, against Kerala Blasters.
1. Sumeet Passi
The Haryana-born striker has stayed with the club through thick and thin. The former India international is a versatile player who can even play as a fullback. Passi has made over 40+ appearances for Kashi and was part of the I-League-winning squad.
A product of Chandigarh’s youth academy, Passi has donned jerseys of Sporting Goa, Jamshedpur, Round Glass Punjab and East Bengal before finding his new home with the Varanasi-based outfit.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.