Inter Kashi FC vs East Bengal FC: Three key player battles to watch out for

Inter Kashi FC are playing the 2026-27 ISL with an all-Indian squad.

East Bengal FC, the defending champions of the Indian Super League (ISL), began their 2026/27 ISL campaign with a commanding 4-0 win against Churchill Brothers SC after squandering a 2-1 lead against Al Shorta SC in the 2026-27 AFC Champions League Two.

Up next, they travel to Pune to face Inter Kashi FC, a side that will be familiar to several members of the East Bengal camp, with five individuals, including the head coach and assistant coach, having been associated with the club over the last 18–24 months.

However, Inter Kashi are now in a completely different situation, no longer possessing the financial muscle to spend significant amounts of money. After facing multiple transfer-related penalties for failing to pay salaries, Inter Kashi have managed to assemble a squad filled with Indian players, with Portuguese coach Carlos Vaz Pinto leading the side.

They displayed incredible courage in their opening game against Kerala Blasters FC, despite eventually going down 2-0. In their second game of the season, they secured their first point of the 2026/27 ISL campaign with a draw against Odisha FC, thanks to Thoi Singh’s rocket of a strike. His goal salvaged a point after Pratik’s own goal had put Inter Kashi behind.

Given the contrasting situations of the two sides, one would expect the defending champions to secure a convincing win before their double-header against Al-Seeb. However, underdogs can never be ruled out in football, and Habas would be more wary of that than anyone else.

With the match between the two sides expected to kick off at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Friday, 23rd October, at 17:00 IST, let’s take a look at three key player battles that could have a major say in deciding the outcome of the game.

Landinliana Renthlei vs Edmund Lalrindika

Dinliana, the former Chennaiyin FC and Jamshedpur FC full-back who joined Inter Kashi ahead of the season, has been solid at right-back, putting in strong performances against the likes of Nandha and Andre Green, although he conceded a late goal against the latter.

However, he is expected to face a much tougher challenge against East Bengal’s star man in attack, Edmund Lalrindika. Edmund previously represented Inter Kashi and played a crucial role in their promotion. More importantly, he has registered 14 goal contributions in 32 games for East Bengal since joining the club last summer.

While Dinliana is a decent 1v1 defender, he can struggle against wingers who relentlessly switch positions. This is where Edmund could prove particularly effective, as he often drifts into central areas from the left wing to score crucial goals and link up play.

Nishchal Chandan vs David Lalhlansanga

Nishchal Chandan moved from Inter Kashi FC to Punjab FC ahead of the season but surprisingly left the club after just a few months to rejoin Inter Kashi for another campaign. He is expected to face a tough battle at the back against one of the most in-form Indian strikers in the country.

A towering physical presence in defence, Chandan often relies on his positional awareness and reading of the game to make crucial interceptions and blocks. Although he is not particularly known for his ball-playing ability, he is never afraid to put his body on the line to prevent the ball from finding the back of the net.

Against David Lalhlansanga, who has registered nine goal contributions in 11 games, Chandan will face a significant test. The striker is in the form of his life, displaying excellent movement inside the box and an ability to link up play. His movement and low centre of gravity could trouble the defender, while his dangerous shooting and ability to set up his wingers make him an even greater threat.

Jitendra Singh vs Dani Ramirez

Dani Ramirez, the Spanish midfielder who makes things happen in East Bengal’s attack through his effortless chance creation and consistent goal contributions, will face Jitendra Singh, who has consistently won tackles and ground duels in the middle of the park across the opening two games.

Ramirez regularly plays line-breaking through balls, making Jitendra’s ability to win tackles and make interceptions crucial to Inter Kashi’s defensive efforts.

However, Jitendra can sometimes be overly physical and give away free kicks in dangerous areas. That could prove costly against Ramírez, who is adept at winning and scoring from set pieces, something he demonstrated in the opening minute against Churchill Brothers SC.

One thing that remains to be seen is whether Ramirez starts against Inter Kashi, with Habas potentially looking to give him some rest ahead of two crucial AFC Champions League two clashes.

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.