As legendary Indian striker Sunil Chettri slowly and steadily inches closer to the end of a glorious career, there is only one question on everybody’s lips. When will the next hero capable enough of lifting the massive burden of hopes invested by Indian fans emerge? As the search intensifies and competition heats up, only the best will succeed in clinching the coveted spot. One of those players giving it their all is 22-year-old Krishna Pandit.

Pandit has carved a reputation of being one of the most exciting attackers in the Indian football eco-system, with his confidence and intensity winning hearts. The striker draws inspiration from Leicester City attacker Jamie Vardy as well as Sandesh Jhingan, hailing them for making soaring comebacks despite facing a fair share of setbacks.

“Vardy and Jhingan have presented quality inspiration”

“Vardy and Jhingan made their presence felt when it mattered the most, stepping up with quality performances. They have presented some quality inspiration to upcoming footballers like me, providing solace during the tough times,” says Pandit in an exclusive chat with Sportsjuana.

The 22-year-old is also a fan of Cristiano Ronaldo, with the Portuguese’s work ethics showcasing the standards necessary for success.

“The first game I ever watched was back in the 2006 World Cup with France taking on Brazil. Zinedine Zidane’s performance fascinated me. However, the real game-changer was getting an opportunity to watch Ronaldo impress at Manchester United and Real Madrid.”

The footballer comes from a sporting background, with his father passionate about hockey and his brother a fine amateur goalkeeper. Pandit has been lucky enough to enjoy substantial support from his family, after showcasing his talent as a footballer at a young age.

Pandit hails unconditional support from family

“I have been fortunate to enjoy a lot of support and encouragement over the years. My speed, composure and ability to hold the ball in the attacking third drew appreciation, with many hailing my fearlessness as well. A fine performance during my early school days soon resulted in selection for a U-13 camp of the national team in Kolkata. However, the same came with its fair share of shock with 500 boys present and a majority of them hailing from the North East. I remember bursting into tears as it was so emotionally overwhelming. However, that experience also taught me about being tough in life in order to survive.”

Pandit terms his goal against Kuwait U-16 in the U-16 AFC Cup Qualification round back in 2013, as one of the most special experiences. The opposition had scored twice in the first half, with the attacker halving the deficit 20 minutes into the second half. The 22-year-old further looks back upon his goal against Japan at the U-13 level, as a memorable one considering the fact that it was a header, which is a rare mode of conversion in his gameplay. Pandit also draws a lot of confidence from goals against Mohun Bagan and SC East Bengal while representing Minerva Punjab.

While COVID-19 has wreaked havoc in the lives of people across different professions, the 22-year-old simply wishes to enjoy his game and focus on the positives.

“There is no pressure on me because, at the end of the day, I am lucky enough to follow my passion. At the same time, I have to be at the top of my game to achieve success. As they say, follow the process and results will surely come,” he concludes.