Som Kumar's First Call-Up to India's National Team
ND Slovan goalkeeper Som Kumar has been handed his first call-up to India’s senior national team, a landmark moment for the young shot-stopper plying his trade far from home in Slovenia’s second tier.
He is set to fly into Bangalore on September 14 to link up with the initial training camp, stepping into a squad preparing for one of the most glamorous friendly windows in Indian football history. Among a group drawn almost entirely from the domestic system, Kumar stands alone as the only overseas-based player selected from outside India’s leagues.
“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!”
ND Slovan did not hide their delight. This moment has been four years in the making. Kumar’s European journey began in 2020, when he entered the youth setups of Bravo, Krka, and Olimpija Ljubljana, learning his craft in three different academies and growing into a commanding presence in goal. Senior terms with Radomlje followed, before he settled at ND Slovan and pushed his way into the first team, racking up 17 competitive appearances.
Those minutes in Slovenia have now turned into a ticket to the highest stage India can currently offer. His elevation to the senior national side underlines the value of his European pathway and sends a clear message back home: Indian players abroad can turn quiet progress into major international opportunities.
The stage he is walking onto could hardly be bigger.
Upcoming Matches
India open their international series against Panama in Bengaluru on September 26, a testing curtain-raiser in front of a home crowd eager to measure the team’s growth. Then comes the headline act. On October 3 in Kolkata, the Blue Tigers square up to Brazil, one of world football’s true superpowers, before staying in the city to face Uruguay three days later.
For any goalkeeper, facing South American attacks of that calibre is a trial by fire. For a young Indian playing in Slovenia’s second division, it is a dream colliding with reality. If Kumar gets his chance between the posts, every save, every claim, every command of his box will be judged against some of the sharpest attacking talent on the planet.
For ND Slovan, it is a proud endorsement of their work. For Indian football, it is another sign that the talent pipeline now stretches well beyond its own borders.
For Kumar, it is simple: the flight to Bangalore is just the beginning.
