Crispin Chettri to return as head coach of Indian Women's National Team ahead of FIFA Series and SAFF Championship

Crispin Chettri returns after the departure of Amelia Valverde

After an underwhelming campaign in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia 2026, where the Indian team failed to clinch even a solitary point in their three group stages, the AIFF Technical Committee have recommended the reappointment of Crispin Chhetri as the India head coach.

It was just a few weeks before the commencement of Asia’s premier competition that Crispin was relegated as the assistant coach after India appointed a high-profile coach in the form of Amelia Valverde.

The Costa Rican gaffer has previously won the Central American Games in 2017 and was also the CONCACAF Female Coach of the Year in 2016. She also went on to win the Liga MX Femenil Clausura in 2024 with Mexican outfit CF Monterrey.

But miracles don’t happen overnight, and despite valiant efforts against Vietnam and Chinese Taipei, the Blue Tigresses had to return home without any points in their bag.

With two big tournaments ahead of the Indian women’s national team, the man who took them to Asia is back at the helm.

In this article, we take a look at Crispin’s journey with the Indian team and how his addition could be a big boost for the Indian team ahead of the 2026 FIFA Women’s Series in Kenya and the SAFF Women’s Championship.

Crispin’s performance with Blue Tigresses

Crispin took over the reins of the Indian women’s team back in 2025 after winning the Indian Women’s League with Odisha FC Women. His first assignment was the Pink Ladies Cup 2025, where the Blue Tigress won the game against Jordan but conceded defeats to Russia and South Korea.

Ahead of the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Qualifiers campaign, the Blue Tigress played two friendlies against Uzbekistan, both of which ended in defeat at Bengaluru.

Chettri’s most remarkable feat with the Blue Tigresses was taking them back to the continental stage and it was not at all easy. The Indian team went on to defeat Mongolia, Timor Leste and Iraq before getting the better of hosts Thailand in what was supposedly the winner takes it all game.

After a long halt, the Indian women’s team were back in action to play two friendlies, and both of them surprisingly ended in a defeat for the Blue Tigress against Nepal and Iran.

After that, Amelia Valverde took over, and India suffered a humiliating defeat against Japan and failed to clinch any points in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 after succumbing to defeats against Chinese Taipei and Vietnam.

Two upcoming big challenges for Crispin

Chettri has unarguably been one of the best homegrown coaches India could have asked for to replace Amelia. Whether the AIFF should have stuck with Amelia and if Chettri’s reappointment is a wise decision is a matter of time, and the next two tournaments shall answer that.

In the 2026 FIFA Women’s Series, India will travel to Nairobi to play two games. They will kickstart their campaign against Kenya before locking horns with either Australia or Malawi in the final game.

India will then ply their trade in the SAFF Women’s Championship, which is scheduled to take place in Margao, Goa.

The Blue Tigresses are the most successful team in the competition but Bangladesh’s recent rise have made it even more competitive.

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