Panaji: The India probables for the Unity Cup in London and the tri-nation tournament in Tajikistan have raised a few eyebrows. While many expected Khalid Jamil to wipe the slate clean after India missed out on the AFC Asian Cup 2027, the chief coach resisted the temptation. Instead, he played it safe, sticking with almost the same group that defeated Hong Kong in March for their first win in the qualifiers. The seniors were all around, but it is the presence of four uncapped players that caught everyone's attention.
Mumbai City winger PN Noufal, Punjab FC defender Pramveer Singh, and midfielder Ricky Shabong were all rewarded for their impressive performances in the Indian Super League (ISL). Suhail Ahmad Bhat, who has not had a single minute in the top-tier league this season, found favour for his goals with the India under-23 team.
"I did not want to make too many changes all at once," Jamil told TOI over a video call. "There was a problem with the league since it started late (and there were just 13 matches for each team), so I thought it was not the right time (to make changes). It is better to take some time for a rebuild. Those who did well in ISL, we need to give them chances. It is also good to have a mix of seniors and juniors. Once these (two) assignments are over, we will make some changes."
While introducing new faces — not all of whom will make the final squad — Jamil has kept faith in senior players. It was, in the words of the coach, a decision guided by merit.
"In seniors like Sandesh (Jhingan), Rahul (Bheke), Gurpreet (Singh Sandhu), the desire is still there. They are hungry. You cannot do injustice to them and leave them out. They are regulars for their clubs, not missing any games, unless it is injury or suspension. I do not want to disturb the team too much. Step by step, we have to move ahead," said Jamil.
India will travel to England later this month and debut at the Unity Cup, a tournament that features nations with large communities in the UK. They have been drawn to face Jamaica (ranked 71) in the semifinal. Should they pass the hurdle, they could meet powerhouse Nigeria (ranked 26) in the final. Jamil's side will also feature in a tri-nation tournament in Tajikistan during the June international window.
"The England tour will provide very good exposure for everyone, for the players and the coaching staff. I agree the preparation is not good, there is no time for a training camp, but we should not be scared of facing strong teams. We can only improve by playing stronger teams.
"We have a strong group of players, but this is not the time for experiments. We assemble and the next day travel to UK. I am not here to give excuses. We are playing four good teams, which should help us. I must thank the AIFF for enabling us to participate in these tournaments," said Jamil.
