India men's national team head coach
The squad announcement follows a period of roster adjustments, with three players—Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail, and Liston Colaco—transitioning from the SAFF Championship 2026 squad to join Jamil’s group for the New Zealand tour. Conversely, Farukh Choudhary, Noufal PN, and Hmingthanmawia Ralte have been released to return to their club, Mumbai City FC, while Ronney Kharbudon has been ruled out of the upcoming fixtures due to an injury.
Preparation and Match Schedule
The selected players are set to assemble in Bengaluru on Saturday, November 7. Following a single training session on Sunday, the squad will depart for Auckland later that evening to begin their final preparations for the two-match series.
Reflecting on the challenge ahead, head coach Khalid Jamil emphasized the importance of the upcoming fixtures. He noted that facing a World Cup-playing nation like New Zealand provides a significant test for the squad. Jamil stated that the primary objective is to maintain discipline, prepare thoroughly, and utilize the matches as a platform for team development while playing away from home.
The first match is scheduled for November 12 at the Go Media Stadium in Auckland, with kickoff set for 11:30 IST. The second friendly will take place on November 15 at the One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, starting at 08:30 IST.
India's 23-Player Squad
The squad features a mix of experience and fresh talent across all positions. The goalkeeping unit consists of Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar, and Vishal Kaith. The defensive line includes Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam, and Roshan Singh Naorem.
In the midfield, Jamil has opted for Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana Hnamte, and Tomba Singh Haobam. The forward line will be spearheaded by David Lalhlansanga, Edmund Lalrindika, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad Suhail, and Ryan Williams.
