Kerala Blasters FC midfielder Vibin Mohanan shared his delight and amazement on being selected for the India national team’s 25-man squad for the upcoming friendly against Malaysia on November 18.

Mohanan was also called up for the Ble Tigers in May but missed that opportunity due to personal reasons. However, the 21-year-old talented midfielder is finally experiencing his childhood dream coming true, as his eye-catching performances in midfield for Indian Super League (ISL) side have helped him earn him a spot on the senior national team.

Coming through the ranks of Kerala Blasters FC’s youth system, Mohanan made his ISL debut under Ivan Vukomanovic in the 2022–23 season. Since then, the Kerala-born footballer has made 31 appearances in the league and has become a mainstay in midfield for the Kochi-based side.

Mohanan is enthusiastic about being selected for the Malaysia match, as he feels proud to represent the nation on the highest level.

“I feel so happy and excited. It's been my childhood dream to be part of the senior national team, and that's happened now,” Mohanan told aiff.com.

“Since the day the list was published, I have been excited about training and experiencing this environment. There's excitement, pride, and responsibility. Being selected to represent your country at the highest level is a huge honor," he added.

Mohanan has played for India at the youth level, as he played in the SAFF U20 Championship in 2022 in Bhubaneswar and the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers in Kuwait. The talented midfielder also featured in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers in China in 2023 and also had the experience of playing against Malaysia in an U-23 friendly in Kuala Lumpur this year. However, the midfielder is now looking forward to making his debut for the senior team.

After going through training sessions under the guidance of head coach Manolo Marquez, Mohanan revealed,

“There is a difference, of course. Playing high-level football with senior players. The training sessions are going good so far. For me, as a young player, there are so many things to learn from each of the senior players and the coaches."

Mohanan has been playing a key role in the Blasters’ midfield by orchestrating offensive moves, dispossessing opponent players, and breaking down opposition attack. With his fine-tuned movements at the heart of the pitch, relentless effort both on and off the ball, unique positioning sense, smart game-reading abilities, and expertise in ball distribution, the former Indian Arrows midfielder has proved his mettle for the Blasters.

"I always want to play with the ball. Everything else depends on the coaches and how they want to play their system, and I feel I'm improving day by day with the help of good coaches and players," he remarked.

Mohanan conveyed his gratitude to the Blasters’ loyal fanbase, who have always stood beside him through thick and thin. Thanking their thousands of supporters, he acknowledged,

"I’m very proud of that because Kerala (Blasters FC) fans are different compared to others. I'm very grateful for the support I receive.”

“For me, being part of the national team is the most amazing achievement. We will see what happens in the future. For now, I’m so happy to achieve my dream, and I’m looking forward to doing my best in Indian football," Mohanan concluded.

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