Jamshedpur FC’s Nikhil Barla backs Durand Cup push to put Jharkhand on India’s football map

Jamshedpur: Nikhil Barla feels the Durand Cup campaign isn’t just chasing a silverware, but a chance to shift how people perceive Jharkhand.

The 22-year-old midfielder from Ranchi, who broke into the Jamshedpur FC senior team last season, has become a quiet symbol of the club’s deeper identity rooted not just in footballing ambition, but in community representation and pride.

“It means everything,” said Barla, who rose to the senior team from the JFC youth ranks. “I’ve grown up in this state, and to wear the Jamshedpur FC jersey is a matter of pride. The Durand Cup is a historic tournament, and if we can win it, it’s not just a win for the team, it’s a win for the whole of Jharkhand.”

“For a long time, people only heard about the challenges here,” Barla said. “But now, through football, they’re seeing something else, the talent we have got and the ambition to win. Kids in the districts are dreaming of playing professionally. Football is becoming a bridge between local identity and national recognition.”

“This is more about the community,” said Barla. “It’s about showing that a club from Jharkhand can compete and win at the highest level. If we lift the Durand Cup, it tells every young boy or girl from Ranchi, Chaibasa, Dhanbad, or Simdega that anything is possible.”

“There’s a strong sense of purpose in the camp,” Barla added. “We want to play our hearts out and give people something to celebrate. This is our chance, and we need to utilize it”

The Durand Cup will see Jamshedpur FC play all their group stage matches at home, with the first game scheduled for 24 July against Tribhuvan Army FT, then Indian Army FT on 29 July, and 1Ladakh FC on 8 August. The entry for matches are free and fans can collect it from the Box Office setup at the JRD Tata Sports Complex.