Indian football team head coach Khalid Jamil, on Wednesday (November 5, 2025) announced 23 probables for the Blue Tigers squad for the upcoming FIFA International Match Window.
India are scheduled to play Bangladesh at the National Stadium in Dhaka, in their Senior Men’s AFC Asian Cup 2027 Final Round Qualifiers match on November 18. The team will set camp in Bengaluru from Thursday, November 6, and are set to travel to Dhaka on November 15.
Among the probables, Mohammed Sanan, who was called up to the U23 squad earlier this week, will join the senior team instead.
More players are expected to be added later. However, talismanic striker Sunil Chhetri’s name is conspicuously missing from the list. According to reports, Chhetri had requested Jamil to not include him in the squad.
Among the probables, Mohammed Sanan, who was called up to the U23 squad earlier this week, will join the senior team instead.
More players are expected to be added later.
List of probables for Indian football squad for November FIFA Window
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari, Sahil.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bikash Yumnam, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Muhammed Uvais, Pramveer, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan.
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Brison Fernandes, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Macarton Louis Nickson, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh Wangjam.
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Mohammed Sanan, Rahim Ali, Vikram Partap Singh.
Head coach: Khalid Jamil
Also Read: Who Is The Father Of Indian Football ?
Top 10 players dropped from Indian football squad ahead of November FIFA Window
1. Sunil Chhetri: The End of an Era (For Now)
Reports indicate the talismanic striker requested coach Jamil not to include him, suggesting he wishes to pave the way for a younger generation now that the primary goal of Asian Cup qualification has passed. Jamil has stated he respects the decision.
2. Sahal Abdul Samad: The Club-vs-Country Dilemma
Sahal, along with several other key players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant (MBSG), was omitted due to a dispute over early release from the club for the national camp. MBSG was hesitant to release players before the official FIFA window to mitigate the financial risk of injury. This single-handedly ruled out many regulars.
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3. Liston Colaco: The Expected Axe
Liston “failed massively and underperformed” in the October window games against Singapore. From failing to create chances to poor finishing, his disappointing displays meant his exclusion, though notable, was widely anticipated.
4. Brandon Fernandes: The Creative Surprise
Currently one of India’s most naturally creative midfielders, Brandon’s exclusion is a puzzle for many. While he’s recently struggled for starts at his club (Mumbai City FC), dropping a player of his calibre highlights Jamil’s commitment to testing new options in midfield.
5. Udanta Singh: The Unfortunate Shock
Udanta showed bursts of pace and acceleration coming off the bench in the last window and was noted for a strong performance against Al Nassr at the club level. His exclusion seems to be purely based on the coach’s preference for other wingers in the new, experimental setup.
6. Farukh Choudhary: Failing to Impress
Despite getting decent playing time, including a start against Singapore, Farukh “failed to impress much.” He was unable to create enough goalscoring opportunities, leaving Jamil with an easy decision to look elsewhere for firepower
7. Deepak Tangri: Benched by the Club-Country Spat
Tangri had a commendable performance, neutralizing Singapore’s attack after a red card. However, like Sahal, he is a Mohun Bagan Super Giant player, making him a casualty of the club’s refusal to release players for the non-FIFA-window national camp.
8. Amrinder Singh: Making Way for the New Guard
Amrinder was not even on the bench for the last two games. His omission is tied to the rise of younger keepers like Hrithik Tiwari (who impressed with FC Goa in the Super Cup), signaling a changing of the guard behind number one Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
9. Gurmeet Singh: Zero Game Time Cost
Gurmeet was included in the October window squad but did not get a single minute of game time. Jamil has evidently chosen to give that spot to a new face who may stand a chance of future integration.
10. Danish Farooq: The Unused Substitute
Danish spent both October games against Singapore on the bench, not logging a single minute. His lack of impact on the national stage, coupled with limited recent club starts, led to his removal as Jamil explores alternative midfield depth.
