{{short description|Indian footballer (born 1997)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Use Indian English|date=September 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Vinit Rai | image = | image_size = | caption = | fullname = Vinit Rai Chamling | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|10|10|df=y}} | birth_place = Duliajan, Assam, India | height = 1.82 m<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/players/midfielder-26742-vinit-rai-profile|title=Vinit Rai profile - Goals, Passes and more|website=Indian Super League|access-date=15 May 2020|archive-date=11 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211181059/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/players/midfielder-26742-vinit-rai-profile|url-status=live}}</ref> | position = Central midfielder, Defensive midfielder | currentclub = Punjab | clubnumber = | youthyears1 = 2010–2014 | youthclubs1 = Tata Football Academy | youthyears2 = 2014 | youthclubs2 = Dempo | years1 = 2014–2016 | clubs1 = Dempo | caps1 = 2 | goals1 = 0 | years2 = 2016–2017 | clubs2 = Kerala Blasters | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2017 | clubs3 = → Minerva Punjab (loan) | caps3 = 4 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2017–2023 | clubs4 = Odisha | caps4 = 68 | goals4 = 1 | years5 = 2021–2023 | clubs5 = → Mumbai City (loan) | caps5 = 20 | goals5 = 2 | years6 = 2023–2024 | clubs6 = Mumbai City | caps6 = 15 | goals6 = 0 | years7 = 2024– | clubs7 = Punjab | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2015–2019 | nationalteam1 = India U23 | nationalcaps1 = 7 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2018– | nationalteam2 = India | nationalcaps2 = 11 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | club-update = 17:48, 4 May 2024 (UTC) | ntupdate = 21:10, 19 November 2019 (UTC) }}
'''Vinit Rai Chamling''' (born 10 November 1997) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Indian Super League club Punjab and the India national team.
==Club career== Born in Duliajan, Assam, Rai was scouted by the Duliajan Football Academy and later by the Tata Football Academy at the age of 13 and trained there for four years.<ref name="Arunfoot">{{cite news|title=Kerala Blasters sign Vinit Rai|url=http://www.arunfoot.com/kerala-blasters-sign-indian-teenager-vinit-rai-isl-3/|access-date=2 October 2016|work=Arunfoot|date=6 September 2016|archive-date=14 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414232050/http://www.arunfoot.com/kerala-blasters-sign-indian-teenager-vinit-rai-isl-3/|url-status=live}}</ref> After graduating from Tata, Rai signed with I-League side Dempo. On signing Rai, Dempo head coach at the time, Arthur Papas said "Vinit is a very cultured midfielder with a great range of passing. He has a willingness to always want the ball and link the play between the defensive and forward lines."<ref name="AIFF 2014">{{cite news|title=Young Players to watch out for in Dempo|url=https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=5848|access-date=2 October 2016|work=The All India Football Federation|date=12 August 2014|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304085737/https://www.the-aiff.com/news-center-details.htm?id=5848|url-status=live}}</ref> Rai would enter the 2014–15 season with Dempo as the youngest first-team player.<ref name="AIFF 2014"/> After spending a majority of the season playing for the club's youth team, Rai made his professional debut for Dempo in the league on 1 March 2015 against East Bengal. He came on as an 81st-minute substitute for Jewel Raja as Dempo lost 5–1.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dempo 1-5 East Bengal|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/03/01/india/i-league/dempo-sports-club/east-bengal-club-fc/1981007/|website=Soccerway|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=10 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310013053/https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/03/01/india/i-league/dempo-sports-club/east-bengal-club-fc/1981007/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Kerala Blasters=== After helping Dempo regain promotion to the I-League, Rai signed with Indian Super League side Kerala Blasters on 6 September 2016.<ref name="Arunfoot"/> He made his debut for the team on 1 October 2016 against NorthEast United. He started the match and played 76 minutes as Kerala Blasters fell 1–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=NorthEast United 1-0 Kerala Blasters|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/10/01/india/indian-super-league/northeast-united/kerala-blasters/2348820/|website=Soccerway|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=12 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161112024350/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/10/01/india/indian-super-league/northeast-united/kerala-blasters/2348820/|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Minerva Punjab=== After the ISL 2016 season, Vinit Rai signed with Minerva FC and will make its debut in I-league this season.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vinit Rai to play is trade for Minerva FC|url=http://goalie365.com/show_details.php?article_id=873&topic=Vinit%20Rai%20to%20play%20is%20trade%20for%20Minerva%20FC%5C|website=Goalie365|access-date=5 January 2017|archive-date=14 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714040108/http://goalie365.com/show_details.php?article_id=873&topic=Vinit%20Rai%20to%20play%20is%20trade%20for%20Minerva%20FC%5C|url-status=live}}</ref>
===Odisha FC=== Rai joined Odisha FC for the 2019–20 ISL season as a midfielder.<ref>{{cite web |title=Vinit Rai-profile |url=https://www.indiansuperleague.com/players/midfielder-26742-vinit-rai-profile |website=indiansuperleague.com |access-date=15 May 2020 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211181059/https://www.indiansuperleague.com/players/midfielder-26742-vinit-rai-profile |url-status=live }}</ref> He also captained the team.
====Loan to Mumbai City==== In 2022, Rai was loaned out to Indian Super League defending champions Mumbai City from Odisha. He was later included in club's 2022 AFC Champions League squad.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/all-need-know-mumbai-city-fc-s-afc-champions-league-2022-campaign|title=All you need to know about Mumbai City FC's AFC Champions League 2022 campaign|website=sportskeeda.com|publisher=Sportskeeda|date=6 April 2022|access-date=6 April 2022|first=Sayantan|last=Guha|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220406165901/https://www.sportskeeda.com/indian-football/all-need-know-mumbai-city-fc-s-afc-champions-league-2022-campaign|archive-date=6 April 2022}}</ref>
==International== Rai made his debut for the India under-23 side on 27 March 2015 against Uzbekistan U23 in the 2016 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers. He played 80 minutes as India U23 fell 2–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=Uzbekistan U23 2-0 India U23|url=http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8826&stageid=348&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|website=The Asian Football Confederation|access-date=2 October 2016|archive-date=31 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170831124754/http://www.the-afc.com/afcasfeeds?fixtureid=8826&stageid=348&tMode=C&view=ajax&show=matchsummary|url-status=live}}</ref> Almost a year later, Rai made his debut on the bench for the India senior side in their FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iran. He did not come off the bench though.<ref>{{cite web|title=Iran 4-0 India|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/24/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/iran/india/2028666/|website=Soccerway|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=8 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808114624/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/03/24/asia/wc-qualifying-asia/iran/india/2028666/|url-status=live}}</ref> Rai, however, did make his unofficial debut for India in the team's unofficial friendly against Bhutan. He came on as a 64th minute for Rowllin Borges as India won 3–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bhutan 0-3 India|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/13/world/friendlies/bhutan/india/2329193/|website=Soccerway|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=29 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171129010340/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2016/08/13/world/friendlies/bhutan/india/2329193/|url-status=live}}</ref>
== Career statistics == === Club === {{updated|4 May 2024}}<ref name="Soccerway">{{Soccerway|vinit-rai-chamling/395903}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|AFC !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="1" |Dempo |2014–15 | rowspan="1" |I-League |2||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||2||0 |- | rowspan="1" |Kerala Blasters |2016 | rowspan="1" |Indian Super League |2||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||2||0 |- | rowspan="1" |Minerva Punjab (loan) |2016–17 | rowspan="1" |I-League |4||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||4||0 |- | rowspan="6" |Odisha |2017–18 | rowspan="5" |Indian Super League |13||0||1{{efn|name=SuperCup|Appearance(s) in Super Cup}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||14||0 |- |2018–19 |16||0||1{{efn|name=SuperCup}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||17||0 |- |2019–20 |15||1||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||15||1 |- |2020–21 |16||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||16||0 |- |2021–22 |8||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||8||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !68!!1!!2!!0!!0!!0!!70!!1 |- | rowspan="2" |Mumbai City (loan) |2021–22 | rowspan="2" |Indian Super League |9||0||0||0||5{{efn|name=statsAFCCL|Appearance(s) in AFC Champions League}}||0||14||0 |- |2022–23 |11||2||8{{efn|name=DurandCup|Appearance(s) in Durand Cup}}{{efn|name=SuperCup}}||0|| colspan="2" |—||19||2 |- | rowspan="2" |Mumbai City |2023–24 | rowspan="1" |Indian Super League |15||0||6{{efn|name=DurandCup}}{{efn|name=SuperCup}}||0||4{{efn|name=statsAFCCL}}||0||25||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !35!!2!!14!!0!!9!!0!!58!!2 |- | rowspan="1" |Punjab |2024–25 | rowspan="1" |Indian Super League |0||0||0||0|| colspan="2" |—||0||0 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !111!!3!!16!!0!!9!!0!!136!!3 |} {{notelist}}
===International=== {{updated|matches played till 19 November 2019}}<ref>{{cite web|last=Strack-Zimmermann|first=Benjamin|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/64927/Vinit_Rai.html|title=NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Rai, Vinit|publisher=National Football Teams|access-date=18 November 2022|archive-date=5 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211005114611/http://www.national-football-teams.com/player/64927/Vinit_Rai.html|website=national-football-teams.com|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Soccerway"/>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- | rowspan="2" |India |2018||6||0 |- |2019||5||0 |- ! colspan="2" |Total !11!!0 |}
==Honours==
'''Mumbai City''' * Indian Super League (Premiership): 2022–23 * Durand Cup runner-up: 2022<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/india-ind/story/4750058/durand-cup-2022-review-curtain-raiser-indian-football-season?platform=amp|title=Durand Cup 2022 review: The perfect curtain-raiser to the Indian football season|website=www.espn.in|publisher=ESPN|first=Aaditya|last=Narayan|date=19 September 2022|access-date=20 September 2022|location=Kolkata|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220920142913/https://www.espn.in/football/india-ind/story/4750058/durand-cup-2022-review-curtain-raiser-indian-football-season?platform=amp|archive-date=20 September 2022}}</ref>
'''India''' * SAFF Championship runner-up: 2018 * King's Cup third place: 2019
'''India U23''' * South Asian Games Silver medal: 2016
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.indiansuperleague.com/kerala-blasters-fc/squad/midfielder-26742-vinit-rai-playerprofile Indian Super League Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171031175454/http://www.indiansuperleague.com/kerala-blasters-fc/squad/midfielder-26742-vinit-rai-playerprofile |date=31 October 2017 }}
{{India squad 2019 AFC Asian Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Rai, Vinit}} Category:1997 births Category:Living people Category:People from Dibrugarh district Category:Footballers from Assam Category:Indian Gorkhas Category:Indian men's footballers Category:Dempo SC players Category:Kerala Blasters FC players Category:Minerva Academy FC players Category:Punjab FC players Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:I-League players Category:I-League 2 players Category:Indian Super League players Category:21st-century Indian sportsmen Category:India men's youth international footballers Category:2019 AFC Asian Cup players Category:India men's international footballers Category:Odisha FC players Category:Mumbai City FC players Category:South Asian Games silver medalists for India Category:South Asian Games medalists in football