As the dust settles on the Indian Super League after the commencement, Inter Kashi will be aiming to survive among the big boys. With a full Indian squad, Kashi have a big ask, and their captain Sumeet Passi has a huge responsibility on his shoulders.

Having been associated with Inter Kashi since 2023, Passi has witnessed the club’s journey through different challenges and now leads the side in the Indian Super League (ISL).

In an exclusive interview with MyKhel, Passi opened up about his connection with Inter Kashi, the difficulties of playing without a conventional home-ground advantage, the opportunities presented by an all-Indian squad and the influence of his father, who encouraged him to pursue football despite his initial interest in cricket.

‘I Am Just in Love With Inter Kashi’

For Passi, staying at Inter Kashi has been about more than professional opportunities. The captain revealed that the support he received during uncertain periods of his career strengthened his connection with the club and its people.

“I think Kashi helped me when there are uncertainties in my career. So I am just in love with Inter-Kashi and the people who are here are so, so good. I am connected with them. So I want to be more at Inter-Kashi as long as possible.”

The Indian attacker won the I-League (now IFL) title with them. And in the last few seasons, he has grown with the club. The relationship has become an important part of his footballing journey, with Passi now entrusted with the responsibility of leading the team through its ISL campaign.

Inter Kashi’s Home-Ground Challenges

Inter Kashi’s preparations have been complicated by uncertainty surrounding its home venue, with the team playing in Pune. Passi acknowledged the difficulties but insisted that the players must remain focused on football. The captain’s message to the squad has been to adapt to the circumstances and concentrate on their performances despite the uncertainty.

“It’s quite difficult and you know, you don’t have the home ground. But in the end, in our mind, this is the only one thing we have to play football. It doesn’t matter where we are playing,” he explained.

“Now, Pune is our home, so we are playing here. It’s difficult to handle because I was getting so many calls from the players also that when we’re going to start, where we’re going to play. So it’s difficult but in the end, as I said, we have to play football.”

All-Indian Squad Presents an Opportunity

Inter Kashi’s all-Indian squad offers domestic players an opportunity to establish themselves, although Passi recognises that competing without foreign recruits brings its own challenges.

“It’s a great opportunity for Indian players to show their talent because you know, when the foreigners come, the coach’s preference changes sometimes. They prefer mostly centre-back, midfielder, one striker. The three positions are already occupied with them,” he said.

“So I think it will be difficult for us to play with all-Indian squad but I think it’s a great opportunity. The way we are playing, our squad is very good with young and some experienced players. So I think for everybody, it is a great opportunity.”

With a mixture of youth and experience, Passi believes the team has the potential to improve as the season progresses.

India Dream Still Alive After Laos Goal

One of the most memorable moments of Passi’s career came in 2016, when he received his first call-up to the Indian national team and scored against Laos in Guwahati.

Recalling the unexpected selection, he said: “First of all, when I got a call from the Indian national team, I was sleeping and somebody told me that you had a name in the Indian national team.”

He admitted that he had been surprised by the opportunity at such an early stage of his career. However, scoring against Laos became an unforgettable experience.

“But when I met Mr Constantine, the coach of the Indian national team, he told me why he selected me and when I scored against Laos in Guwahati, I mean, that was the best moment of my life,” Passi recalled.

The desire to wear India’s blue jersey again remains strong. “Yeah, I hope. I am trying hard to wear the blue jersey again.”

How His Father Influenced His Football Career

Football was not initially Passi’s first choice. His father, who played for the Railways, encouraged him to pursue the sport, even though the youngster wanted to become a cricketer.

His father wanted him to represent India one day, and that ambition eventually became his own. Passi began his journey in Yamunanagar, near Delhi, before moving to Chandigarh Football Academy.

“My father was in the railways. He played for railways. So his dream was my dream. I wanted to play cricket, but he said, ‘No. Only one thing in your mind. Just keep it in your mind. You have to be a footballer.’ So after some time, when I went to Chandigarh, then I realised, yeah, football is life.”

The 31-year-old has been playing across all positions, and under coach Carlos Vaz Pinto, he has been mostly used on the wing. As the season progresses, Passi hopes to contribute to his team in any way possible. For Inter Kashi, the season will be a big challenge, and for their captain, the drive and love for Inter Kashi are the fuel for the future.