Inter Kashi vs Kerala Blasters: Tale of new beginnings in ISL 2026-27 as football returns to Pune

Inter Kashi are set to play their ISL 2026-27 home matches at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex, Balewadi, Pune.

Inter Kashi FC and Kerala Blasters FC begin their ISL 2026-27 campaigns with plenty to prove when they meet at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune, on Sunday.

The 5 PM kick-off marks a fresh start for both clubs, with Inter Kashi preparing for their first season in the top flight and Kerala Blasters entering a new era under their new ownership.

While Inter Kashi must find their feet with a newly assembled Indian squad, Ashley Westwood’s Kerala Blasters will look to build on their strong finish to last season.

With Pune set to host its first ISL match in more than seven years, there is plenty to look forward to ahead of this intriguing encounter.

ISL Returns To Pune

2 March 2019. FC Pune City 2–1 Mumbai City FC. When FC Pune City ended their 2018–19 Indian Super League (ISL) campaign with the ‘Maharashtra Derby’ bragging rights, few would have imagined that Pune would have to wait more than seven years to host another ISL game.

For a city that watched Pune FC take on Premier League side Blackburn Rovers back in 2011, the wait has been long.

There was a brief burst of excitement in 2023, with the prospect of Al-Hilal and Neymar Jr. playing their AFC Champions League fixture against Mumbai City FC at Balewadi. That game eventually moved to the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai.

Mumbai City did, however, play their two other home fixtures—against Iran’s Nassaji Mazandaran and Uzbekistan’s Navbahor—in Pune. The latter took place on 4 December 2023. So, the wait for elite club football has been less than three years.

But now, the ISL returns to Pune—and how!

Inter Kashi have opted to play their home fixtures at Balewadi. Of their 12 matches in the first phase, the first eight will be at home, on the bounce. After more than seven years away, the ISL tune will ring out in Pune eight times in just 62 days!

That leaves only four home fixtures for the second phase, whose schedule is yet to be announced. But for now, Pune has the Indian Super League back.

Inter Kashi’s All-Indian Squad

How do you field a playing XI when you are carrying four separate FIFA transfer bans and cannot register players for the ISL season?

As exclusively reported by Khel Now, you wait for those bans to be lifted, then move quickly to register 16 new signings and six retained players. There, you have a squad of 22 Indian players for the opening game.

Getting them registered is one thing. Getting them ready to compete is another.

The biggest name Inter Kashi have managed to snap up is Albino Gomes, 32, from Jamshedpur FC. The Goan custodian, who recently earned his second India cap against Uruguay, won the I-League with Aizawl FC in 2016–17 and was a reliable presence between the posts for Jamshedpur.

Ahead of him will be Pratik Chaudhari, a veteran of 148 ISL appearances. At 37, the centre-back is the oldest member of the squad, having previously represented Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC and Kerala Blasters FC.

Sumeet Passi, 32, is Kashi’s longest-serving player, having joined in September 2023. The forward was part of their 2024–25 I-League-winning campaign, which earned them promotion to the ISL.

Inter Kashi have entrusted Portuguese coach Carlos Vaz Pinto with this hastily assembled squad. His first test comes on Sunday against Kerala Blasters.

A new Era at Kerala Blasters FC

It’s not just Inter Kashi that has seen changes ahead of the new season. Kerala Blasters FC begin their 2026–27 campaign with Al Fursan Sports Investment Group taking over the club, but Ashley Westwood remains in the dugout.

The Englishman has a proven pedigree in Indian football, having won two I-League titles and a Federation Cup with Bengaluru FC. He took charge of Kerala late last season and recorded five wins, a draw and one defeat in seven matches. The Blasters finished unbeaten in six, including four successive victories.

There have been changes to the squad, too, with Amrinder Singh and Mohammad Yasir among the new arrivals. Westwood now has to get his new group going while building on the strong finish to last season.

It will also be interesting to see how the new management approaches on-field results and how much time Westwood gets to build on those foundations.

Will this finally be the season when Kerala Blasters take a step towards ending their trophy drought?

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