Ratings: Gurpreet, Anwar glitter alone in India's dull outing against Afghanistan in FIFA WC Qualifiers

Youngster Vikram Partap Singh had an underwhelming debut today.

India were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw by Afghanistan in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier on Thursday (March 21). The Blue Tigers were just unable to break open the stubborn Afghanistan side and lacked that spark to get a win on the day.

Igor Stimac’s side barely managed a few shots on target and just weren’t able to produce clinical football needed to get the win. Here are the player ratings from the game.

India (by Uttiyo Sarkar)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu – 7.0

Gurpreet was probably busier than expected but looked sharp in his goal. Saved a number of Afghanistan’s attacks and neutralized their aerial threat by collecting the crosses well.

Nikhil Poojary – 5.5

Poojary was troubled by Afghanistan’s pacy attacks down his side and his overcommitting to challenges left him in bad positions at times. Couldn’t really create much going forward, with most of his crosses going astray.

Rahul Bheke – 6.5

Bheke held together a pretty decent defensive shape that didn’t allow Afghanistan to open India up that much. Put in necessary challenges when things got tough and moved the ball around well too.

Anwar Ali – 7.0

Anwar had a pretty solid return to the national team, putting an end to a number of Afghanistan’s attack and looked composed defensively. He also put his passing prowess to good use in playing the ball out of the backline efficiently.

Akash Mishra – 5.5

Mishra wasn’t the sturdiest defensively, looking a bit ruffled against Afghanistan’s attacks in the first half. Couldn’t really bring a major attacking influence either.

Jeakson Singh – 6.0

Jeakson shielded his backline decently, winning quite a few duels and helping end a few Afghanistan’s transitions. He moved the ball nicely from his half to the other one, but lacked threat in set-pieces.

Lalengmawia Ralte – 6.5

Apuia was a proactive figure in India’s midfield all game long. He pressed the opposition’s players well and expertly linked the ball from his area to the attackers. Created a few nice moves too and stopped Afghanistan’s breaks.

Manvir Singh – 5.5

Manvir was quite involved in the attacks in the first half, getting the ball forward and sending some speculative crosses into the box. But he lacked his finishing shoes, missing a few chances in the first half before spiraling away in the second one.

Vikram Partap Singh – 4.5

Vikram had an underwhelming debut and couldn’t really make the impact he wanted to. Couldn’t really get involved in major goal-scoring chances and lacked the spark in the final third. Guided a header well over in the second half and also got booked.

Lallianzuala Chhangte – 5.5

Chhangte was quite the isolated figure when often moving into the box, with none of his teammates being able to find him in key positions. He worked hard, covering defensively and linking up nicely but his final product was missing.

Sunil Chhetri – 5.0

Chhetri had a quiet day in Saudi Arabia. He tried his best to get as much involved as possible, dropping deep and linking things up. But he couldn’t convert the few chances India created for him nor was he able to create something special from his own antics.

Substitutes

Subashish Bose – 6.0

Subashish added more security and steel to the left-back position after coming on. Put a header wide from a corner, which could’ve been the winner.

Brandon Fernandes – 6.5

Brandon amplified India’s creativity after coming on, playing ball smartly in between the lines nad moving things around nicely. Created a few nice chances from set-pieces, including the one Bose scuffed.

Liston Colaco – 7.0

Colaco immediately increased the pace and excitement of India’s attacking patterns with his rapid runs. Tormented the defenders with his darting forward runs and set up a few half-chances that weren’t taken up.

Deepak Tangri – 6.0

Tangri added a bit more defensive cover for his centre-backs, staying deep to ensure Afghanistan couldn’t trouble India with the counter-attacks.

Naorem Mahesh Singh – 5.0

Mahesh wans’t really able to get involved in anything prominent nor create any special moments in his substitute cameo.

Afghanistan (by Gourav Samal)

Ovays Azizi – 6.5

Azizi had scarcely encountered any threats to contend with during the match. Whenever he gained possession of the ball, he chose to maintain simplicity by promptly passing it to a fellow teammate. 

Mahboob Hanifi – 7

Hanifi performed well in the game, primarily focusing on limiting Chhangte’s opportunities to create chances during the match.

Haroon Amiri – 7.5

The captain displayed exceptional skill with his interceptions and adeptly led his team to maintain a strong presence, thereby asserting dominance over the Indian team.

M. Sharif Mukhammad – 7

Mukhammad appeared less composed in the second half compared to the first, in contrast to the other defenders of Afghanistan.

Habibulla Askar – 7.5

Askar was frequently observed exerting great effort on the pitch and demonstrating unwavering commitment to thwarting threats near the goal box.

Mosawer Ahadi – 7

Ahadi demonstrated precision in his delivery of crosses during the match. He executed a crucial cross in the first half, which regrettably did not lead to a goal.

Zelfagar Nazary – 7.5

Nazary’s performance in defense was more robust than in the forward position. He averted a threat in the initial minute of the game through a superficial clearance.

Rahmat Akbari – 7

Akbari delivered an impressive pass to Popalzay at the beginning of the second half, which presented an opportunity to score but unfortunately went unconverted.

Taufee Skandari – 7.5

Skandari excelled in his performance on the left flank, demonstrating proficiency in delivering threatening crosses that posed a challenge for the opposing team.

Omid Popalzay – 6.5

Popalzay displayed proficiency in his performance at the forefront, yet failed to capitalize on a significant opportunity to score a goal at the onset of the second half.

Abar Sharza – 7

In the initial period, Sharza presented a formidable presence, demonstrating a notable contrast to the latter period. Additionally, several attempts at the goal were made during the initial period.

Substitutes

Jamshed Asekzai Ahmad – 5.5

Ahmad replaced Jabar Sharza in the 77th minute of the match. He had few opportunities during his time on the field to pose a threat to the Indian team. 

Omid Musawi – N/A

Ayeed Reza Hussaini – N/A

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