Bengaluru, India – In a significant boost to the national squad, veteran captain Sunil Chhetri and key defender Sandesh Jhingan have been named in the 23-member Indian squad for the crucial away match against Singapore in the Asian Cup Qualifiers. Head Coach Khalid Jamil announced the squad on Sunday, as the Blue Tigers prepare for the vital Group C encounter scheduled for October 9 in Singapore.
Chhetri, 41, returns to the team after being rested during the CAFA Nations Cup in August-September. His return from international retirement earlier this year provides a wealth of experience and leadership to the forward line. Jhingan, a stalwart in the Indian defense, is also back in the fold after recovering from an injury sustained during India's match against Iran in the CAFA Nations Cup on September 1 in Hisor, Tajikistan.
The Blue Tigers have been diligently preparing in Bengaluru since September 20 for the double-header against Singapore. The home leg is slated for October 14 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. India currently sits at the bottom of Group C with one point from two matches, while Singapore leads the group with four points. The team that finishes at the top of the group will secure qualification for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.
Coach Jamil emphasized the importance of focusing on each game as it comes. "We are not looking at the overall picture at the moment. There are still four matches to go, and the next one against Singapore is the most important for us right now," he stated. "We cannot look too far ahead – we must go one step at a time".
The 23-member squad traveling to Singapore includes:
- Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurmeet Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
- Defenders: Anwar Ali, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais, Pramveer, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan
- Midfielders: Brandon Fernandes, Danish Farooq Bhat, Deepak Tangri, Macarton Louis Nickson, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, Sahal Abdul Samad, Udanta Singh Kumam
- Forwards: Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh
While the team is traveling with these 23 players, Jamil has kept goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari and forward Muhammed Suhail on standby for the home game. "Though we are travelling with 23 players, we are constantly monitoring the rest. For now, Hrithik and Suhail have been kept on standby for the two matches against Singapore," Jamil said.
With the return of Chhetri and Jhingan, and the team's intensive preparations, the Blue Tigers are aiming to climb from the bottom of their group and advance in the tournament. The match against Singapore is a must-win for India to keep their hopes alive for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. The team departs for Singapore on Monday.
