# Nandhakumar Sekar

Nandhakumar Sekar (born 20 December 1995) is an Indian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Indian Super League club East Bengal and the India national team.

## Career

Sekar made his professional debut in the I-League with Chennai City on 19 February 2017 against Shillong Lajong. He started the match and played 51 minutes as Chennai City lost 4–1. He scored his first professional goal for the club on 12 March 2017 against East Bengal. He scored the equalizing goal for Chennai City in the 57th minute which eventually led to the team winning 2–1.

### Odisha

On 17 August 2022, Sekar scored a stunning goal assisted by goalkeeper Lalthuammawia Ralte in the season opener against NorthEast United in the Durand Cup, which ended in a thumping 6–0 win.

### East Bengal

On 10 June 2023, it was announced that Sekar joined East Bengal on a three-year contract.

## International career

He made his international debut for Indian U23 national team in a friendly against Singapore U23.
After his successful domestic spell with Odisha, Sekar was called up to senior national team in May 2023, for Hero Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship. Sekar made his debut for the senior team against Vanuatu on 12 June 2023.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of matches played 21 August 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | AFC | AFC | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Chennai City | 2016–17 | I-League | 6 | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 2 |
| Odisha (loan) | 2017–18 | Indian Super League | 9 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Odisha | 2018–19 | Indian Super League | 14 | 2 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 17 | 3 |
| Odisha | 2019–20 | Indian Super League | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Odisha | 2020–21 | Indian Super League | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 11 | 0 |
| Odisha | 2021–22 | Indian Super League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 12 | 1 |
| Odisha | 2022–23 | Indian Super League | 20 | 6 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 11 |
| Odisha | Odisha total | Odisha total | 82 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 97 | 16 |
| East Bengal | 2023–24 | Indian Super League | 19 | 5 | 11 | 4 | — | — | 1 | 1 | 31 | 10 |
| East Bengal | 2024–25 | Indian Super League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| East Bengal | East Bengal total | East Bengal total | 19 | 5 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 33 | 11 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 107 | 17 | 24 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 140 | 29 |
* ↑ Includes Federation Cup, Super Cup and Durand Cup.
* ↑ Five appearances and one goal in Durand Cup, and five appearances and four goals in Super Cup.
* ↑ One appearance in Qualification for the AFC Cup group stage
* ↑ Six Appearances and two goals in Durand Cup and five appearances and two goals in Super Cup.
* ↑ One Appearance in the Calcutta Football League.
* ↑ One Appearance and one goal in Durand Cup.
* ↑ One Appearance in AFC Champions League Two.

### International

    As of match played 9 September 2024

## Honours

Hindustan Eagles
* Chennai Football League: 2014–15
Odisha
* Super Cup: 2023
East Bengal
* Super Cup: 2024
* Durand Cup runner-up: 2023
India
* SAFF Championship: 2023
* Intercontinental Cup: 2023
Individual
* Most Valuable Player of Durand Cup: 2023