India head coach Khalid Jamil has announced a 22-member squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Tajikistan, with injuries and club-related absences forcing several changes to the Blue Tigers setup.
The squad will be without Ryan Williams, who suffered an injury during India’s opening match of the Unity Cup, as well as all players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant. Williams has been replaced by NorthEast United forward Parthib Gogoi, who earns an opportunity to impress ahead of the two-match series.
India head into the friendlies looking to bounce back from a disappointing Unity Cup campaign. The Blue Tigers lost both of their matches, against Jamaica and Zimbabwe, and subsequently slipped one place to 137th in the latest FIFA rankings. The upcoming games against Tajikistan offer Khalid Jamil’s side a chance to regain confidence and build momentum.
Despite recent struggles, India can draw encouragement from their previous meeting with Tajikistan. The Blue Tigers secured a memorable 2-1 victory over the Central Asian nation at the CAFA Nations Cup last year and will hope to repeat that performance this month.
One of the major talking points surrounding the squad announcement is the continued absence of Mohun Bagan Super Giant players. Several Bagan footballers were initially included in the preliminary squad for the Unity Cup, but the club did not release them outside the FIFA international window. As a result, they remain unavailable for selection for the June friendlies.
The squad features a blend of experienced internationals and emerging talents. Veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu leads the goalkeeping department alongside Hrithik Tiwari and Albino Gomes. In defence, experienced campaigners Rahul Bheke and Sandesh Jhingan are joined by Akash Mishra, Roshan Singh Naorem and promising youngster Pramveer.
The midfield includes Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Ricky Shabong and Macarton Nickson, while the attacking unit is spearheaded by captain Lallianzuala Chhangte. He will be supported by Parthib Gogoi, Edmund Lalrindika, Mohammed Sanan, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary and Vikram Partap Singh.
India are scheduled to face Tajikistan twice this month, with matches set for June 5 and June 9. The fixtures will provide Khalid Jamil an important opportunity to assess his squad and begin rebuilding confidence after a difficult run of results on the international stage.
