Danny Batth On Indian Football And A Desire To Represent The Indian National Team | OneFootball

India take on Brazil on Saturday, where the Brazilian side can expect a huge welcome at Kolkata’s Salt Lake Stadium where it’s estimated they have tens of millions of fans.

The home side has never qualified for a World Cup, and this historic match is the first ever between the two countries, with tickets selling out in a matter of hours.

The demand can partly be explained in the wake of a fracas in December 2025 in which a visit by Leo Messi to the country, for which top-end tickets were sold at the equivalent of a month’s salary, was broken off after just 20 minutes at the same Salt Lake stadium amid chaotic scenes which included fans ripping up seats and an angry pitch invasion.

Fans of Carlo Ancelotti’s team will not be disappointed with top performers from across Europe’s best clubs, including Raphinha, Marquinhos, Vinicius JR, and Rayan, who are expected to line up.

Millwall defender Danny Batth is the first player of Indian descent to play for Millwall, and is among only a handful of players with Indian heritage to have played in the top leagues of English football.

Whilst Michael Chopra, who played for Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City, is well-recognised, the group includes others like Neil Taylor, Zesh Rehman, Ricky Hill, Yan Dhanda and Harpal Singh, who all made their mark in the English and Scottish leagues.

The thirty-six-year-old, Batth, who has additionally represented Colchester United, Stoke City, Norwich City, Blackburn Rovers, Derby County and both Sheffield clubs, now plays his football for Millwall.

The 1988 Second Division Champions, who are known as the Lions, are currently 11th in the EFL Championship but were in the spotlight after celebrating a fierce East London derby against West Ham, the first in 14 years.

In 25/26, the side finished in 3rd place, qualifying for the play-offs for the fourth time in their history but narrowly missed out, on their first return to the top tier, to Hull City in the semi-finals.

The side. with a squad value of €88m, who are managed by Alex Neil, who took Hamilton Academical to the Scottish First League title, have the stated ambition to gain promotion this season to the Premiership in 26/27. For Batth, it would be the third, following Wolves, Sheffield United and most recently Sunderland in 2022.

In spite of his impressive career in which he has made 542 professional appearances, the towering 1.91m defender has never been selected to play for India or England, the country he was raised in.

The Indian team has followed a policy of calling up players born in the country only, which this season has been broken with the call-up of Australian-born and raised Ryan Williams. The scene is set for a memorable football match in Kolkata.

WFi’s Ben McFadyean spoke to Batth ahead of this historic game.

You have an Indian family background but have never played for India’s national team; would you like to play for the Blue Tigers?

“My father is Indian and is Punjab-born and raised, although I was raised in the Midlands. I have been following Indian football for some time, but I have not yet been selected for them. To represent them, what’s more, a nation of 1 billion would of course be special.”

Your visits to India for charity work are well documented. Among the international players who have played in the Indian Super League and I-League have been former top players including Nikolas Anelka, David James, Freddie Ljungberg, and Thierry Henry. Did you see that coming?

“I have been to India quite a few times to do some charity work with youngsters, and it’s an eye-opener. In 2017/18, I went over with Wolves, who have a partnership with the YUWA academy, and saw how big football is in India.

“Most people think that cricket is the only sport of interest in India, but they are wrong; football is really getting big in India and that can have a lot of potential also for the league.”

As a young player from an Indian background playing in England, were there any special challenges you had coming through?

“What it just comes down to is resilience and hard work, but even if you give it 100%, you are not guaranteed to achieve it. Persevere, work hard, but above all, you also need to keep enjoying the game.”

Let me ask: what has been the biggest challenge in your career in terms of making it at the professional level?

“Talent is needed, but perseverance also. The most challenging thing in my experience was bridging the gap between reserve team football and getting into the professional team. Most youngsters fail at that point.

“In my case, I had to leave Wolves to go out on loan in League 1 at Colchester United to show what I could do. Going down a league and succeeding there gave me the confidence to get my debut at Wolves. That was my initial breakthrough.”

What was the most challenging ground you have ever had to play at?

“Bramall Lane was always a really tough place to win, especially on a rain-swept pitch. The Championship is such a competitive division, and it’s games like that show you just how hard you have come, but also just how tough it is to get out of the league.”

Which players inspired you to become a footballer?

“Rio Ferdinand, especially whilst at Manchester United. As a defender like myself and a unique player, Rio was my idol growing up. An amazing player; what stood out for me is his loyalty to Manchester. Loyalty is something special in football.”

The Premier League has enjoyed a wide following across Asia and the wider English-speaking world. Which team is most popular in India?

“A lot of the English Premier League clubs are popular in India, and Manchester United are one of the most, from what I have seen.”

Has the England team gained from the Premier League? Do you see the Three Lions being FIFA World Cup winners in the near future?

“I think it depends on that group of players making it from the reserve and youth teams. We have seen great players coming through who can challenge the likes of Spain, Brazil and France at all levels. As I said before, they fight and make it to being first-team players; I don’t see why not…”

A lot of responsibility falls on players at an early age. The amount of money the players earn these days has risen dramatically, especially the contrast between the Bundesliga and the Premiership, but the career can be short; how does a player manage with the huge salary?

“My advice to any young player is it all comes down to the people around you. You need to surround yourself with people who keep you down to earth, keep you in the real world.

“It’s important to have the people who manage your wealth, but also to rely on the support of your friends and family. Football is a bubble, and that bubble does burst, and it’s important to be prepared for that time.”

Finally, you have never played in an international competition; is there a team you would like to play against?

“Real Madrid, hands down. Real Madrid, for or against, to play at the Santiago Bernabéu with those amazing fans would be amazing; I would want to play in Madrid.”