Five goalkeepers who can be India's 'first-choice' in future

22-year-old Gill has already won the ISL Golden Glove award

Indian football is blessed to have plenty of gifted goalkeepers. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been a brilliant player at the club and the international levels. However, as with most things, his time at the top, as India’s go-to custodian between the sticks, will eventually end.

Thankfully, plenty of goalkeepers are waiting for their chance to replace the custodian and become a regular starters for the Blue Tigers. These players are young and have a lot of room for improvement. Their potential and skills make them ideal candidates to take up the mantle after Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (or Amrinder Singh) has to get off the centre stage due to unavoidable circumstances such as age and dwindling form.

On that note, here is a look at the five goalkeepers who can represent India as a 'first-choice' in future:

Sachin Suresh

Sachin Suresh has been extremely impressive in his initial performances for Kerala Blasters FC. He had big boots to fill, replacing Prabhsukhan Gill who joined East Bengal FC ahead of the 2023-24 season. Considering his start to life as the first choice for the Yellow Army, the signs are positive.

The 22-year-old has kept one clean sheet and conceded only thrice in three games at the start of the ISL 2023-24. One can see the potential in Suresh and back him to play a major role in Indian football in the future. 

Vishal Yadav

Vishal Yadav is one of India’s most promising young goalkeepers. He has recently impressed with several notable performances for Jamshedpur FC in the ISL and the Super Cup. The custodian played majorly in the second half of the 2022-23 season of the league and proved himself to be a decent shot-stopper.

There is a lot of potential in Vishal Yadav and hopefully, with time, he will unlock it. He is close to becoming a regular starter for the Men of Steel in the ISL and that will certainly put him in the notice of Igor Stimac, the head coach of the Indian men’s national team.

Sahil Poonia

Sahil Poonia is young, only 17, but has the potential to be India’s first-choice goalkeeper in future. He has already represented the country in the age-restricted category on the international stage. The custodian was adjudged as the Best Goalkeeper in the 2022 SAFF U-17 Championship in Sri Lanka.

Bengaluru FC secured his services on a five-year deal which means he will likely train with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu at certain points. Learning from the best will definitely help Poonia and make him a better goalkeeper.

Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem

Dheeraj Singh Moiranghtem shot to fame thanks to his performance for India at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. Since then, he has matured as a player and still has room for improvement. The FC Goa custodian is the first Indian player to make the AFC Champions League Team of the Season due to his exploits in the tournament in 2021.

Dheeraj Singh has already represented India in the age-restricted category and is ready to become a regular starter for the seniors in the near future. 

Prabhsukhan Gill

Prabhsukhan Gill has been called up to the Indian senior team which makes him a favourite to become a regular starter in the future. The custodian has been shining in the Indian Super League. He won the Golden Glove award during the 2021-22 season while playing for Kerala Blasters FC.

The East Bengal FC player is still 22 years of age. He is still honing his skill and developing his overall game, especially his composure with the ball on his feet. Indian national team will have a modern goalkeeper who is comfortable with the ball when Gill becomes a regular starter.