Snehasis Mukherjee
Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG) are on the verge of clinching back-to-back Durand Cup titles as they prepare to face Northeast United in the final at Salt Lake Stadium on Saturday. However, the player who has garnered the most attention from the green-and-maroon camp is not a foreigner or a World Cup star but goalkeeper Vishal Kaith.
Kaith’s heroics in penalty shootouts in the quarter-final and semi-final were instrumental in securing Bagan’s place in the final. In the semi-final against Bengaluru FC, he faced off against his India teammate Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who has been the national team’s first-choice goalkeeper for the past decade. Next month, the Indian team will participate in the Intercontinental Cup in Hyderabad, marking new coach Manolo Marquez’s maiden assignment.
Despite his stellar performances, Kaith was not included in the preliminary squad announced by Marquez, a decision that has raised many eyebrows. During the semi-final shootout, fans speculated whether Kaith could prove himself as the better ‘keeper. Remaining calm under pressure, he made two crucial saves, affirming his status as the man to beat.
After the match, Bagan and India skipper Subhasish Bose praised Kaith, saying he has proven himself to be one of the best goalkeepers in India through his performances on the pitch. Fondly known as ‘Falcon’ among fans, Kaith’s rise has been anything but overnight; it has been a long and eventful journey for the 28-year-old, still chasing his dreams.
For the Latest Sports News: Click Here
Club career
Kaith first caught the attention of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) while rising through the state-level ranks in Himachal Pradesh. He went on to represent India at the U-16 and U-19 levels before joining the AIFF Elite Academy in 2011 to compete in the U-19 national league.
After a year at the academy, Kaith joined Shillong Lajong, where he initially played for the reserve team. His impressive performances earned him a spot in the senior team, where he was named Man of the Match in his first two games. In 2016, he made his Indian Super League (ISL) debut when Pune City signed him on loan. However, as a third-choice ‘keeper, he did not play a single match and returned to Lajong for the 2016-17 I-League season, which turned out to be a challenging one for him with just three clean sheets.
Kaith then signed for FC Pune City but after 21 appearances in two years, he moved to Chennaiyin FC, where he played in his first major final against ATK, a match his team lost 3-1. He finished the season with just four clean sheets in the league but reached the milestone of 50 ISL appearances while playing for Chennaiyin. In 2022, Kaith made a significant career move by joining Mohun Bagan Super Giant on a three-year deal, where he has made 70 appearances across all competitions.
International career
Despite making his debut in 2018, Kaith has only played four matches for India, all during the SAFF Championship that year. His last appearance was in the final against Maldives, which India lost 2-1. Although he has been picked in the squads, it remains the third-choice ‘keeper.
Under Igor Štimac’s tenure, too, Kaith remained a third-choice option. However, new head coach Manolo Marquez went a step further by excluding him from the preliminary squad for the upcoming tournament, preferring East Bengal’s Prabhsukhan Gill instead — a decision that has surprised many, especially considering Kaith’s consistent performances over the past two years.
Achievements
Vishal Kaith has won one ISL trophy, an ISL Shield and a Durand Cup with Bagan. Individually, he received the Golden Glove award in the ISL 2022-23 season for keeping 12 clean sheets in 24 appearances, the highest in the league. He was also named in the ISL Team of the Season. For India, he was part of the squads that won the Intercontinental Cup in 2018 and the SAFF Championship in 2021.
Love affair with penalty shootouts
Since joining Bagan, Kaith has proven his worth on numerous occasions, particularly in penalty shootouts in high-stakes matches. In the 2022-23 season, after two legs, the ISL semi-final against Hyderabad FC went to a shootout, and Kaith saved two penalties to secure a 4-3 victory. In the final against Bengaluru, another shootout decided the match, and once again, Kaith made two crucial saves to help Bagan win their first-ever ISL trophy. He also helped Bagan to seal an AFC Cup qualifying play-off spot with another shootout victory in 4–3 win over Hyderabad after a 1–1 draw.
In the ongoing season, Kaith rose to the occasion once more during the Durand Cup quarter-final against Punjab FC, where his saves in the shootout were pivotal in his club securing a semi-final berth. Against Bengaluru FC, Bagan made an outstanding comeback from 2-0 down to make it 2-2, forcing another shootout. Kaith, displaying composure, made two critical saves to prevent Bengaluru FC from reaching the final.
During the post-match press conference, when asked about his consistency in penalty shootouts, Kaith said: “There is nothing special. I just always look to improve while working with my club or national team’s goalkeeping coaches.” He dismissed any claims of extra motivation, saying: “I just focus on my gameplay and the areas that I can improve. It has nothing to do with the national team, and I am happy that I have helped my team.”
As the green-and-maroon brigade prepare to face Northeast United in the final, all eyes will once again be on Kaith. Bagan aiming to win the tournament for a record-breaking 18th time, and Kaith may need to deliver another top-class performance in front of passionate home fans.
Also Read: Keeper Kaith hero again in shootout as Mohun Bagan overcome 0-2 deficit to reach Durand final