Indian senior men’s national team head coach Khalid Jamil today announced the 23-member squad that will travel to Singapore for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match.
The Blue Tigers are set to face Group C leaders Singapore at the National Stadium, Singapore, on October 9, with the match kicking off at 17:00 IST. The team is scheduled to depart from Bengaluru on Monday morning.
Focus on One Game at a Time
India has been preparing in Bengaluru since September 20 for this crucial double-header. Currently sitting at the bottom of Group C with just one point from two matches, the Blue Tigers face an uphill task against Singapore, who top the group with four points.
Jamil stressed the importance of a focused, short-term approach ahead of the team’s departure. “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 stated. “We must go one step at a time.”
Squad Details and Reserves
The squad features key figures, including veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and talismanic forward Sunil Chhetri.
While 23 players are traveling for the away fixture, Jamil has kept two players, goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari and forward Muhammed Suhail, on standby for the home leg, which will be played on October 14 at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa.
“For now, Hrithik and Suhail have been kept on standby for the two matches against Singapore,” the coach confirmed. The team that finishes at the top of the group will qualify for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.