Inter Kashi host defending champions East Bengal at Balewadi Stadium in Pune on Friday 23 October (5:00 PM IST), in the third round of the 2026-27 Indian Super League.
Two teams in different moods
East Bengal arrive with a perfect start, having beaten Churchill Brothers 4-0 on 18 October, with winger Bipin Singh scoring twice off the bench. Inter Kashi are still looking for their first win after a 0-2 defeat to Kerala Blasters and a 1-1 draw with Odisha FC. The last league meeting between the sides was the 2-1 East Bengal win in May that sealed their first title in 22 years.
East Bengal's busy schedule
The champions face a heavy workload, with an AFC Champions League Two trip to Al-Seeb in Oman next. Head coach Antonio López Habas, who coached Inter Kashi until May 2026, indicated he would rotate: "We will make a few changes, but not many." Bipin Singh said he wants a starting place.
Vaz Pinto: stick to the plan
Inter Kashi coach Carlos Vaz Pinto admitted his side has had limited preparation and a small squad, and revealed the team finished the Odisha game with four wingers because of a shortage of midfielders. He said the players are learning to cover several positions while building fitness. His message: "We believe we can win." Defender Nischal Chandan accepted that having no foreign players could make a difference, but said the group trusts the staff and each other.
Summary written for this site from reporting by ISL. Photo: ISL.