Five Inter Kashi players to watch ahead of Kerala Blasters clash in Pune
Inter Kashi face Kerala Blasters at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex (Balewadi Stadium) in Pune in the third match of the opening matchweek of the Indian Super League 2026-27 season, and Khel Now has identified five players to watch for the home side.
Khel Now reported that Inter Kashi have registered a 22-man squad and signed 16 players ahead of the new ISL season, fielding an all-Indian roster amid time constraints, transfer bans and deadlines. The club will play the majority of their Phase 1 fixtures in Pune. Portuguese coach Carlos Vaz Pinto, who previously led Sreenidhi Deccan for two seasons, is in charge at Inter Kashi. Kerala Blasters have been acquired 100% by a UAE-backed consortium led by Al Fursan Sports Investment, chaired by Sheikh Ahmad bin Faisal Al Qasimi.
Gomes was recently between the sticks for India against Uruguay in a FIFA International Friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata. He holds the record for the most penalty saves in the history of the Indian Super League and delivered notable performances during his previous stint with Jamshedpur FC. Gomes previously played with Diego Forlan’s Mumbai City FC and will face his former side, Kerala Blasters, next. He will be expected to keep a clean sheet for Inter Kashi in the upcoming game.
Chaudhari, a Gujarat-born defender and ISL veteran, has played for Kerala Blasters, Delhi Dynamos, Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC before re-joining the Red Miners for a second tenure. He was a central figure in Jamshedpur FC’s defence under Khalid Jamil and Owen Coyle. Chaudhari was also part of the Mohun Bagan squad that won the I-League in the 2014-15 season. His experience is presented as a key asset for Inter Kashi this season.
The Mizoram-born right back was a member of the ISL Shield-winning Jamshedpur FC side under Owen Coyle. After leaving the Steel City he joined the Juggernauts for a short spell before signing for Chennaiyin FC, the Marina Machans. The defender is 28 years old. Inter Kashi expect his accelerated, overlapping runs from the right flank to support their wingers in creating chances and scoring goals.
Manvir, a Punjab-born striker, has had limited playing time in the Indian top tier but has impressed in the opportunities he received. With Inter Kashi continuing as an all-Indian squad, the club expects Manvir to have ample chances to make an impact. He had a brief spell with Mohammedan, where he made a handful of appearances and scored his first goal for the Black Panthers. Described as quick and agile, Manvir is singled out as ready for the match against Kerala Blasters.
Passi, the Haryana-born striker, has remained with Inter Kashi through the club’s recent campaigns and is a former India international capable of featuring as a fullback. He has made over 40 appearances for Kashi and was part of the club’s I-League-winning squad. A product of Chandigarh’s youth academy, Passi previously represented Sporting Goa, Jamshedpur, Round Glass Punjab and East Bengal before joining the Varanasi-based outfit.
Inter Kashi’s next confirmed fixture is the home game against Kerala Blasters at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex (Balewadi Stadium) in Pune, the third match of the ISL 2026-27 opening matchweek.
