India’s defender Nikhil Poojary feels the upcoming AFC Asian Cup is going to be special for him. Poojary will hold the key in the defensive line for the Blue Tigers in the upcoming tournament. The Blue Tigers will take on Australia in the AFC Asian Cup and they will have their work cut against tough opponents in the tournament.

Igor Stimac’s team are drawn with teams like Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in Group B, and the tournament will take place in Qatar.

Meanwhile, Poojary is looking forward to making his debut in the Asian Cup and will want to give his absolute best.

“It’s going to be special, especially for those like me, who will make their Asian Cup debuts here. It’s like a mini World Cup for us,” he stated in an interview with the-aiff.com.

“All the top teams and players from Asia will be here, so it will be a good opportunity for us to test our levels.”

The 28-year-old from Mangaluru has made 21 appearances for the national team in which he has scored one goal. Poojary also played a key role for India in wins at the Tri-nation Cup, Intercontinental Cup, and the SAFF Championships in 2023. Moreover, he played in the King’s Cup, Merdeka Cup, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.

“Last year was very important for me, and for us as a team. We have played so many matches together, won and lost together, we have grown as a team and as a unit,” he reflected.

“Personally, I have really enjoyed this time, and I just want to keep playing at this level for as long as I can.”

It has been a roller-coaster journey for Poojary, who has been troubled by injury woes.

Recalling the struggles he faced after suffering an ACL injury in 2017, Poojary said, “People just see the international level, but there are so many battles one has to fight, just to be there. You need to go through so many steps to make your comeback.”

He further expressed his gratitude, stating, “I am very thankful to the coaches for showing their trust and support in me.”