Som Kumar Earns Landmark India Call-Up Ahead of Brazil and Uruguay Matches
Som Kumar will board his flight from Slovenia to India as more than just another promising goalkeeper. He goes as the only player in the latest India squad who earns his living outside the domestic system – and as a symbol of a different pathway.
The ND Slovan keeper has received his first senior call-up for India ahead of a high-profile run of international friendlies. He is set to land in Bangalore on September 14 to join the initial training camp, a date that now marks a turning point in his young career.
“Som's call-up is a great recognition for him and a special source of pride for ND Slovan. Our player will be part of the senior national team during an international cycle in which India will also face two giants of world football, Brazil and Uruguay. Congratulations, Som! We are proud of you and wish you great success in the national team shirt!”
It has been a slow, deliberate climb for Kumar since he moved to Europe in 2020. He sharpened his game in the youth setups of Bravo, Krka, and Olimpija Ljubljana, learning his trade in environments where mistakes are punished and standards stay high. From there came a senior deal with Radomlje, and then the step to ND Slovan, where he has already racked up 17 competitive appearances.
Those minutes in Slovenia’s second tier have done more than just fill a CV. They have now pushed him onto the senior international stage, a breakthrough that validates his decision to develop in Europe and sends a clear message back to Indian football: there is value in taking the long road abroad.
The timing could hardly be more dramatic.
India open this international cycle against Panama in Bengaluru on September 26. That fixture alone would be a useful test. But the real glare of the spotlight arrives a week later.
On October 3, the Blue Tigers walk out in Kolkata to face Brazil, one of the great powerhouses of the world game. Three days on, at the same venue, Uruguay await with another wave of South American firepower.
For any goalkeeper, those are unforgiving assignments. For a newly called-up one, they are the ultimate audition.
If Kumar does get his chance between the posts, he will be staring down some of the most feared attacking profiles in international football. Every cross, every one-on-one, every decision with the ball at his feet will be weighed and replayed, both in India and back in Slovenia.
For ND Slovan, it is a moment of validation. For the national team, it is a fresh option in a crucial position. For Indian football, it is a glimpse of what a European pathway can produce when patience meets opportunity.
The next few weeks will tell whether this is simply a proud first cap on a team sheet, or the start of a long-term answer in goal as India test themselves against the game’s giants.
