Som Kumar's Journey from Slovenia to India's National Team
ND Slovan goalkeeper Som Kumar has taken the biggest step of his career yet, earning his first call-up to India’s senior national team ahead of a high-profile run of international friendlies.
The 21-year-old, currently playing in Slovenia’s second tier, is set to fly to Bangalore on September 14 to link up with the initial training camp. For Indian football, his selection carries extra weight: Kumar is the only overseas-based player in the squad who operates entirely outside the domestic system.
ND Slovan did not hide their delight. In an official statement, the club hailed the call-up as a landmark moment for both player and team: “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!”
This is not an overnight rise. Kumar’s European journey has been quietly gathering momentum since 2020, when he began sharpening his craft in the youth systems of Bravo, Krka, and Olimpija Ljubljana. From there he stepped into the senior ranks with Radomlje, before earning his move to ND Slovan, where he has already made 17 competitive appearances.
Those minutes have mattered. The commanding goalkeeper has used the Slovenian ladder to climb towards the international stage, and his breakthrough into the senior India squad is a clear endorsement of that route. For Indian footballers watching from afar, it is a powerful signal that a European pathway can lead back to the national team.
Upcoming Challenges
Now comes the real examination.
India open their international series against Panama in Bengaluru on September 26, a fixture that will set the tone for a brutal October. A week later, on October 3, the Blue Tigers walk into a blockbuster in Kolkata against Brazil, one of the sport’s true superpowers. Three days after that, at the same venue, Uruguay arrive with another wave of South American attacking talent.
For any goalkeeper, it is a gauntlet. For a young shot-stopper fresh from the Slovenian second division, it is the ultimate proving ground. If Kumar gets his chance between the posts, he will be staring down some of the most feared forwards on the planet.
From academy pitches in Ljubljana to a potential showdown with Brazil and Uruguay, the arc of his story now bends towards one question: how far can this European-hardened keeper push the ceiling for India?
