Kerala Blasters Suffer Injury Blow Ahead of Inter Kashi Clash; Bikash Yumnam Ruled Out for a Month

Kerala Blasters are set to play their first match of the 2026/27 Indian Super League season today. Inter Kashi will be their opponents. The match will be played at 5 pm on Sunday at the Balewadi Stadium in Pune, Inter Kashi’s temporary home ground.

Kerala Blasters are entering the new season with big changes with the arrival of new investors. The Blasters squad has been strengthened by making big signings. However, the Blasters team has been hit by an injury ahead of the first match.

Kerala Blasters’ defender and Blasters’ vice-captain Bikash Yumnam is on the verge of injury. The player was injured during the training session held the other day. With this, the coach has officially announced that the player will not play in the match against Inter Kashi. According to Ashley Westwood’s update, the player will need to rest for about a month.

“Bikash picked up an injury a few days ago. The player has an injury to the back of his leg. So Bikash will not be able to play for a month,” said Ashley Westwood.

Ashley Westwood has also clarified that apart from Bikash, all the rest of the players in the squad are match fit. “Apart from Bikash, everyone in the squad is in good spirits, in good health. They are ready to play”. Apart from Bikash, Hormipam is likely to come into the starting eleven as an Indian defender.

Blasters squad for the 2026/27 season:-

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Arsh Anwar Sheikh, Al Sabith.

Defence: Sandeep Singh, Hormipam Ruiva, James Bolton, Jagannath Jayan, Aiban Dohling, Bikash Yumanam, Falo Ndiaye, Navoch Singh Huidrom, Amey Ranawade, Sumit Sharma.

Midfield: Freddie Lallavmouma, Vibin Mohanan, Adrian Luna, Sahil Tavora, Paul Ramfangsouwa, Nebojsha Kosovic, Joel Lalramengmavia, Ebindas Yesudasan.

Forward: Koro Singh, Andre Jay Green, Mohammed Sanan, Mohammed Yasir, Srikuttan M.S, Ramlunchunga, Momo Yansane.

How to watch ISL matches live?

The matches of the ISL 2026/27 season can be watched live on YouTube and Sony Sports. Sony Sports will be doing the TV telecasting. Fans can watch the matches live on TV in with English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil and Bengali Commentary. On the other hand, fans can watch it completely free on YouTube. But YouTube will only broadcast live in Hindi and English.

Summary:- Kerala Blasters vice-captain Bikash Yumnam has been ruled out of the ISL 2026/27 season opener against Inter Kashi due to a leg injury sustained during training. Coach Ashley Westwood confirmed that the defender is expected to be sidelined for around a month. Meanwhile, the rest of the squad is fit and available for the opening fixture, with Hormipam likely to feature in central defence.