Jamshedpur FC

Jamshedpur, July 18: Jayesh Rane is no stranger to winning trophies. From lifting the I-League with Aizawl FC under Khalid Jamil to winning the Indian Super League with ATK, Mumbai City and Chennaiyin, Rane knows what it takes to build winning teams. Now, as he gears up for the Durand Cup with Jamshedpur FC, there's a familiar face in the dugout and an unfinished business to setttle.

“I’m really looking forward to playing in the Durand Cup with Jamshedpur FC,” said Rane, who has won the trophy during his stint with ATK. “After a long off-season, it’s the perfect tournament to test yourself, physically and mentally, and see where you stand before the league campaign. It’s been nearly four months since I was last on the pitch, so I’m hungry to get going. And with the kind of facilities and environment JFC provides, I feel fully ready to win the cup again”

The attacking midfielder was part of the historic Aizawl FC side that stunned Indian football by winning the I-League in 2017. At the helm was Khalid Jamil, who now leads Jamshedpur FC into the new season.
“Reuniting with Khalid bhai has been long overdue,” Rane said. “We won the I-League together in 2017, and ever since, there’s always been this shared feeling that we’d work together again someday. As a player, I’ve grown over the years, and I’ve seen Khalid bhai evolve too, his ideas, his style, but the foundation of how I play today was built under him. That connection still runs deep.”

Rane brings a wealth of experience to a Jamshedpur side that showed glimpses of its potential last season but is now aiming to push for silverware under a renewed setup. Known for his tactical discipline and ability to adapt, Rane believes this next chapter will test and sharpen his game further.

“What’s always pushed me in my career is the chance to play under different coaches and systems. Every club I’ve joined has taught me something new. The one thing that’s been constant, though, is the winning mentality and hunger to win,” he said.

And it’s not just the football that excites him. Rane says the support from Jamshedpur’s loyal fans adds a new layer of motivation as the team prepares for the Durand Cup.

“I think the fans here play a massive role,” he said. “There’s so much energy and support coming from the stands, and as players, we feel that. It lifts you. But it also adds responsibility. You want to give something back, and the only real way to do that is to win and to fight for the badge and make them proud.”

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.