Newly appointed India men’s senior national team head coach Khalid Jamil on Friday announced a 35-member probable squad for the preparatory camp ahead of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, notably excluding veteran striker Sunil Chhetri.
The camp begins in Bengaluru on August 16, with 22 players already reporting. The remaining 13 will join after completing their Durand Cup commitments. India, placed in Group B, are scheduled to face hosts Tajikistan on August 29, IR Iran on September 1, and Afghanistan on September 4 in Hisor. The third-place play-off and final will be held on September 8 in Hisor and Tashkent respectively.
Chhetri, who was brought out of retirement earlier this year by former coach Manolo Márquez, scored only once in four outings during his brief return. Jamil, however, was quick to clarify that the omission was not a closed chapter.
“Sunil is a legend of Indian football. I have played against him, I’ve seen him play on numerous occasions, and he is one of my favourite players,” Jamil said. “He is a role model for Indian football, and the door is always open for him. It’s always a pleasure to have a player like him in the team.”
Explaining the decision, Jamil stressed the need to experiment ahead of the crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers. “He’s not there in this camp because we are playing a tournament which will essentially serve as preparation for the Asian Cup Qualifiers. I also want to try out a few other players during this FIFA window. I had a talk with him about the same.”
The coach has placed faith in emerging forwards such as Irfan Edwad, Vikram Partap Singh, Rahim Ali, and Manvir Singh. Among the other notable selections are Sunil Benchamin, the 32-year-old Army Red defender who impressed in the Durand Cup, and debutants Alex Saji and goalkeeper Albino Gomes. Familiar faces like Akash Mishra, Rahul KP, and Danish Farooq also make a return.
Jamil urged fans to stay behind the team as he begins his tenure. “I am extremely thankful to the fans. They have been extremely supportive every time. Keep supporting us, and be patient.”
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