For Som Kumar, the journey to India’s senior national team doesn’t begin at a packed stadium or under blaring TV cameras. It starts on quieter pitches in Slovenia, far from home, where a young goalkeeper has been quietly building a career that has now forced its way onto the international stage.
The ND Slovan shot-stopper has earned his first-ever call-up to the Indian senior squad ahead of a marquee set of international friendlies. He is due to fly into Bangalore on 14 September to join the initial training camp, stepping into a dressing room that suddenly finds itself preparing for some of the biggest nights in the country’s footballing history.
One detail stands out. Kumar is the only overseas-based player selected from outside the Indian domestic system. In a squad dominated by Indian Super League and I-League names, a goalkeeper from the Slovenian second tier has broken through the glass ceiling.
“Congratulations, Som! We are proud of you and wish you great success in the national team shirt!”
ND Slovan did not try to hide their delight. The club released a statement hailing the 21-year-old’s achievement as “a great recognition for him and a special source of pride for ND Slovan,” adding that he will be part of the national team during an international cycle in which India will face “two giants of world football, Brazil and Uruguay.”
This is not an overnight story. Kumar’s European path has been years in the making. Since 2020, he has moved through the youth setups of Bravo, Krka, and Olimpija Ljubljana, learning his trade in environments where young goalkeepers are expected to be more than just shot-stoppers. Commanding in his area, comfortable under pressure, he earned a senior deal with Radomlje before making the switch to ND Slovan, where he has already clocked up 17 competitive appearances.
Those minutes matter. Every cross claimed in the Slovenian second division, every one-on-one faced in relative anonymity, has now led to this: a ticket to the most high-profile run of fixtures India have seen in years. His elevation to the senior national team is a validation of that European route and a statement to Indian players and coaches watching from afar. There is value in taking the hard road.
Upcoming Fixtures
The stage he walks onto is anything but gentle.
- India open their international series against Panama in Bengaluru on 26 September, a test in itself and a chance for the coaching staff to assess options and combinations.
- On 3 October in Kolkata, the Blue Tigers meet Brazil, a name that still sends a ripple through any football crowd on the planet.
- Three days later, at the same venue, comes Uruguay, another South American powerhouse with a tradition of ruthless, street-smart forwards.
For any goalkeeper, those fixtures are a trial by fire. For a newcomer, they are a spotlight and a measuring stick rolled into one.
Whether Kumar starts or waits his turn, the message is clear: India are willing to look beyond their borders for talent that can cope with elite pressure. A young keeper from ND Slovan now finds himself potentially staring down attacks led by some of the most feared forwards in world football.
If he holds his nerve between the posts on nights like those, this call-up will feel less like a breakthrough and more like the beginning of a new standard for Indian football.
