The day has come for Jay Gupta as the Pune-born left-back earned his first cap for the Indian national team. Igor Stimac plotted for him to replace the injured Akash Mishra in a World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait in Kolkata. The game ended level, with Gupta playing for 83 minutes before making way for Edmund Lalrindika.
Taking a look at what Gupta has done throughout the 2023/24 season of Indian Super League, he deserved to be in the squad. In 25 games for Goa, the 22-year old scored two screamers against Odisha FC.
Where did Jay Gupta start his career?
Gupta spent most of his career abroad after leaving Pune City youth team. In 2019, he joined a Portugal-based GDS Cascais’ youth team for one year, playing for their U19 team in the AF Lisboa Jun. A 1ª Divisão.
An impressive run with Cascais brought him to another Portugal side, GD Estoril Praia B, which granted him a senior debut one season after. Gupta had two seasons playing for Estoril before moving to Spain to join Ebre Escola Esportiva where he played only four games in 2023.
After wandering around abroad, Gupta returned home in August 2023 to join FC Goa. The club announced him to be the latest addition for the defensive unit. His official debut with Goa came when the club beat a newly-promoted side Punjab FC.
Gupta introduced himself to the public of ISL when Goa beat Odisha 3-2 where he scored a beautiful goal. By the end of October, he was awarded Emerging Player of the Month following his one goal and one assist in five games.
The number 41 player added his league tally scoring against the same team, Odisha. His goal was crucial to extend Goa’s unbeaten run and was scored in style with Gupta lashed a long-range screamer to the home side’s net.
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