Khalid Jamil names 23-member India squad for AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier

Indian men's national team head coach Khalid Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier against Singapore. The Blue Tigers will take on the hosts in the Group C fixture at the National Stadium in Singapore on October 9, with kickoff scheduled at 17:00 IST. 

Indian Football team have been training in Bengaluru since September 20 as part of their preparations for the double-header against Singapore, with the home leg slated to be held on October 14 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. 

India are currently languishing at the bottom of the four-team table, having collected just a solitary point from two games, while Singapore tops the standings, with four points from as many games. The team that finishes at the top of the group will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027. 

India's lone point came against Bangladesh in their opening fixture, while the Blue Tigers suffered a disappointing 1-0 loss away to Hong Kong in the second round fixture in March. "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," Jamil said. "We cannot look too far ahead- we must go one step at a time."

While 23 players have been named for the away fixture, Jamil has kept two more- goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari and forward Muhammed Suhail- in reserve for the home fixture in Goa. 

"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,: the 48-year-old tactician added. 

Full squad

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, Deepak Tangri, Macarton Nickson, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, Sahal Abdul Samad, Udanta Singh

Forwards: Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Pratap Singh.