Football: Gurpreet Singh returns to India confirmed 23-man squad for CAFA Nations Cup 2025
India forced to make do without Mohun Bagan players
Khalid Jamil’s tenure as the head coach of the Indian national football team has officially got underway, with the new boss making his first squad selection after succeeding Manolo Marquez at the start of this month.
Jamil steps into the role at a point when Indian football is in desperate need of positivity, given the current uncertainty surrounding the future of the Indian Super League and amid a poor run of results for the national team.
The former Jamshedpur FC manager has also had to weather a few storms in just his first month at the helm, including criticism over his appointment as well as the refusal of ISL champions Mohun Bagan to release their players for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup.
India were invited to the tournament as replacements for Malaysia, and it is expected to serve as an introduction to the national team for the new head coach as well as preparation for the side’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore.
On Monday afternoon, Jamil revealed the 23-man squad that will travel to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan over the next two weeks. Notably, Bengaluru FC shot-stopper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has returned to the squad, while his teammate and Indian legend Sunil Chhetri has been left out.
India squad for CAFA Nations Cup 2025
India have been drawn into Group B for the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup alongside co-hosts Tajikistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Oman was the other nation that was invited to participate in the competition.
Each group includes four teams, and at the end of the group stage, the top two teams in each section will progress to the Playoff stage. After this competition, India are scheduled to face Singapore during the October international break.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Hrithik Tiwari
Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Naorem Roshan Singh, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais
Midfielders: Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Danish Farooq Bhat, Jeakson Singh, Boris Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Udanta Singh, Naorem Mahesh Singh
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh (Jr.), Jithin MS, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Vikram Partap Singh
