Top five Bangladesh players to watch out for against India

A former Premier League player could prove to be a tough nut to crack.

Bangladesh will look to ruin India’s start to the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in their upcoming clash at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Shillong on Wednesday (25 March 2025). The Bengal Tigers might be behind India in the FIFA World Rankings, but they are considering this ‘derby’ as a must-win.

To their credit, the Bangladesh squad also boasts some quality players that can take the game away from India. Not only do they possess some talented defenders, but also players in the attacking front that are capable of troubling the Indian backline.

Here we look at the five Bangladesh players to particularly watch out for in the upcoming clash against India:

5. Topu Barman

The 30-year-old centre-back has gained quite a lot of experience at the international level, especially with his past battles with India. He has over 60 international caps to his name, two of which have come against India. He played a key role in helping Bangladesh get the 1-1 draw against India in the SAFF Championship 2021 clash.

A sturdy centre-back, Barman is capable of cleverly reading the opposition’s attacking patterns to make crucial clearances and challenges. He also helped the Bashundhara Kings keep three clean sheets in nine Bangladeshi Premier League matches this season, while neutralizing the threat of forwards with his defensive capabilities. He’ll need to be at his proactive best if Bangladesh are to nullify India’s threat through the central areas and frustrate their forwards.

4. Mitul Marma

The reality of the situation for the Bengal Tigers against India is that they might be forced to play on the back foot for long stretches during the game. The Bangladeshi backline will be put under intense pressure and the Indian players are bound to get chances to score. It will be vital for young goalkeeper Mitul Marma to be at his absolute sharpest during their upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers encounter.

The 21-year-old has already picked up 13 caps for Bangladesh, asserting himself as their undisputed No.1 between the sticks in recent years. A proactive goalkeeper who is blessed with excellent reflexes, Marma is able to detect razor-sharp shots at his goal and deny them with agile reflexes. He has kept six clean sheets in eight Bangladesh Premier League matches this season for Abahani Dhaka, and has three shutouts in 12 appearances for Bangladesh. He’ll be craving for another clean sheet by not only making crucial saves but also being a confident player in collecting the long balls or punching away dangerous crosses.

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3. Mohammed Ridoy

The midfield battle could be one which can potentially decide which side gets the advantage in the upcoming clash between India and Bangladesh. While the Blue Tigers will look to control the possession, the Bengal Tigers will be looking to disrupt their rhythm. They will look to make things difficult with clever pressing or closing out the empty spaces and Mohammed Ridoy might play a key role in that aspect.

The Abahani Dhaka midfielder is quite the energetic, proactive figure who loves to cover a lot of ground in the midfield for his side. The 26-year-old will look to be a disruptive figure for the Indian midfielders, with his well-timed pressing to regain possession and move his side forward on the counter-attacks.

Ridoy excels in sitting deep to shield his defenders and will look to drop back to shut out the empty pockets of spaces to stop the Indian players from having a clear sight at goal. He’ll look to maximize his hard-working nature to bully the Indian players and add a layer of protection for his backline.

2. Al-Amin

A special player who might be set to make his debut for Bangladesh against India could be the vibrant young forward Al-Amin. The 20-year-old has been a breakout talent in the 2024/25 Bangladesh Premier League season for the Bangladeshi Police side. He has excelled against much more experienced figures in the division, scoring seven goals in just 10 appearances in the ongoing season.

Being a versatile forward, Al-Amin can play as a centre-back and also as a right-winger if necessary. He is blessed with a lot of pace and that unpredictable factor with his off-the-ball movement, allowing him to slip past defenders with ease.

Most importantly, he has proven himself as a clinical finisher, who boasts a really varied finishing skill set. He can finish off chances from almost anywhere in the final third and will look to torment the Indian defenders with his movement. If he is able to get at the end of some big chances, Al-Amin could help Bangladesh get a surprise result.

1. Hamza Choudhury

All the eyes will be on Sheffield United midfielder Hamza Choudhury when he makes his debut for Bangladesh in the upcoming clash. The 27-year-old is undoubtedly the biggest name in the squad and arguably the one to provide the most damage to the Indian players too.

Choudhury comes with a wealth of experience, having played at the highest level of English football for many years. Over the years, he has made over 50 appearances in the Premier League for Leicester City FC. The 27-year-old will bring some intimidating physicality to the midfield battle while trying to win all the key duels, regain possession and be a driving force to move his side forward.

The 27-year-old will look to bully the Indian midfielders to take control of the midfield battle and ensure his side can go toe-to-toe with the hosts. The Indian midfielders will need to be at their sharpest if they are to keep Choudhury quiet because if he’s given free rein, the Sheffield United man can usher his side to a big win.

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