SAFF Championship 2023: Three key battles to decide India vs Kuwait fixture

Top spot in Group A is up for grabs for the winning team.

India and Kuwait might have booked their places for the semi-final of the ongoing Bangabandhu SAFF Championship 2023 held in Bengaluru, but none of the two sides will take this game for granted when they take on each other on Tuesday evening. The winners of this clash will face the second-best team in Group B and are expected to get an easier route to the final as compared to the side losing this encounter.

Looking at how India has approached this tournament, Igor Stimac will once again look to shuffle his squad for an all-important game. On the other hand, Kuwait coach Rui Bento is also expected to make a few changes in his line-up, having qualified for knockouts. Let us look at the list of three likeliest battles which may decide the fate of the game.

Sunil Chhetri vs Hasan El Hanezi

The Man, the Myth, the Legend Sunil Chhetri does not seem to stop in the ongoing SAFF Championship. The 39-year-old Bengaluru FC man has scored four goals in the first two games and will once again be a threat for the West Asian side. The responsibility to stop him will lie on young Qadsir SC defender, Hasan El Hanezi .

Hasan, who predominantly plays as a midfielder for his club back in Kuwait, will be tasked to mark the veteran and not give him any sight to shoot. Hasan made his SAFF Championship debut against Pakistan, where he did not have much to do defensively but he did contribute offensively opening the scoring for Kuwait. However, the game against the host will be equally contested and it will be the test of temperament and skills for the 22-year-old.

Jeakson Singh vs Mahdi Dashti

India will be tasked to stamp their authority in midfield and make sure they do not get run by against a physically strong Kuwaiti side. Historically, India has always struggled against a side that is physically strong. However, in the final of the recently concluded Intercontinental Cup against Lebanon, the Indian team gave a performance that will be remembered for many years and India will look to repeat the performance. One particular performance that might decide the fate of the game is between Jeakson Singh and Mahdi Dashti.

The lanky midfielder will not only have to be physically dominant but also play quick passes and help in the attack as well. Mahdi Dashti plays as plainly as a center back, but the Kuwaiti boss wants him to be versatile and play in the midfield. Mahdi will want to make sure he holds his ground and be alert in a position which is comparatively unknown for him to play with.

Mubarak Al Faneni vs Pritam Kotal

Mubarak Al Faneni is currently the highest scorer for Kuwait in this ongoing tournament, scoring two goals in his two games. He is among the few players for Kuwait who has started both the games. Al Faneni currently relies on his pace and accuracy in front of goal. The Al-Samiya SC winger will come up against defensively astute and experienced Pritam Kotal, who is most likely to be drafted in the game against the Arab side after he was rotated with Nikhil Poojari in the game against Nepal.