After 22 years, India will once again face Bangladesh in Dhaka, with their last meeting on Bangladeshi soil coming during the 2003 SAFF Gold Cup, where the hosts clinched a 2–1 win at the same venue.
While the upcoming match holds no significance in the race for qualification to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup (both teams were eliminated last month), the fixture still carries weight. Whenever India and Bangladesh meet, it promises a fierce, emotionally-charged contest—one that has earned the tag of the South Asian Derby.
In the last five meetings, India have won once, while the other four ended in draws. Bangladesh, however, have significantly upgraded their squad, adding four dual-citizenship players: Leicester City defender, Hamza Choudhury, Cavalry FC, Shamit Shome, United States Born, Zayan Ahmed, and former Sunderland youth team forward Cuba Mitchell, all of whom are expected to raise the intensity of the rivalry.
Indian fans are hoping to witness the debut of Bengaluru FC forward Ryan Williams, who recently acquired his Indian passport after relinquishing his Australian one.He has also secured his NOC from Football Australia earlier this morning. The AIFF is now attempting to register him for today’s match, but his chances of featuring in the fixture still remain slim. Williams has travelled with the squad to Dhaka and trained with the team. Due to the NOC drama, he may still have to wait until the next international window to make his first appearance for the Blue Tigers.
Tight Security in Dhaka
The Indian team has been placed under a strict security bubble in Dhaka amid ongoing political tension following former Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina’s death sentence by the International Crimes Tribunal.
Players have been issued travel advisories and are not permitted to leave the hotel unless in case of emergency. Security around the team hotel has been heavily reinforced. Even training sessions have been held under the watch of tight security arrangements.
“As of now, the team hasn’t faced any complications. We hope to play the match and return to India safely,” a source within the AIFF said.
Across Dhaka, security forces have been deployed in large numbers. Despite the political situation, the match is scheduled to go ahead as planned. The Bangabandhu National Stadium is expected to be sold out, with the hosts confirming that all tickets have been snapped up.
A New Start For Khalid Jamil
From a footballing perspective, this match marks the beginning of a new chapter for India under head coach Khalid Jamil, who now looks to lay the foundation for the next qualification cycle. He has named seven uncapped players in the squad, while two others — Brison Fernandes and Macarton Louis Nickson — have only one international appearance each.
Due to ongoing conflict between the national team and Mohun Bagan SG, following the Subhasish Bose injury controversy, none of the Mohun Bagan players have been included in this camp.
“I am happy because everyone is working very hard. The new players know the importance of this game. They are giving their best. So for us, whoever is available, we will use them,” Jamil said when asked about the absence of Liston Colaco, Apuia, Manvir Singh, and other Mohun Bagan players.
“We are following our plan. Bangladesh have good players and so do we. It’s a very important game. We must think properly, stay calm, and aim for a positive result,” he added.
Jamil Surprises Local Media
On matchday minus one, Jamil surprised Bangladeshi reporters by arriving at the training ground an hour early – at 8:30 AM – instead of the scheduled 9:30 AM start. During the press conference, he further puzzled the media by bringing along third-choice goalkeeper Sahil Pooia, offering minimal information and avoiding headline-friendly quotes.
Bangladesh’s Build-Up
Bangladesh, who held India to a draw earlier this year in Shillong, look stronger on paper with the further addition of Shamit Shome and Zayan Ahmed. However, they have yet to fully click as a unit. They have managed only one win in the last 7 outings, and their 2–2 draw against Nepal, despite leading twice, exposed consistency issues.
Hamza has been a commanding presence in midfield, but the rest of the squad is still adjusting and striving to perform at a higher collective level.
With both nations out of Asian Cup contention, the match may not impact qualification tables, but in terms of pride, rivalry, and regional bragging rights, it remains massive.
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