ISL clubs’ contribution to India's 23-member squad against New Zealand: A club-wise breakdown
India will play two friendlies against New Zealand in the November international window.
After playing and struggling against teams ranked around India’s 138th position in the FIFA global rankings for years, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has suddenly felt the need to compete against some of the top nations in world football in the same year as its elections. Coincidence, isn’t it?
The Blue Tigers have had a stellar line-up of fixtures in the second half of 2026. They faced Brazil, Uruguay and Panama during the September-October international window and will now take on New Zealand in two back-to-back friendlies during the upcoming November international window.
The games are part of a strategic sports partnership named “100 Years of Unity through Sport” between India and New Zealand, dating back to 1926, when Major Dhyan Chand toured New Zealand with the Indian Army hockey team.
With these two fixtures, India, ranked 138th in the world and having failed to qualify for even the AFC Asian Cup, will have played all of its last five international games against nations that featured at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Who is paying for these games? Never ask the AIFF.
The question ahead of the international window was which team would play where, with the New Zealand friendlies and the 2026 SAFF Championship taking place simultaneously. A decision was made to have Naushad Moosa lead the Blue Tigers in the SAFF Championship with a second-string side, while the first team, led by Khalid Jamil, would travel to face the Kiwis.
Ahead of the trip to New Zealand, head coach Khalid Jamil announced a 23-member squad that featured several surprises and some eyebrow-raising selections. Certain players have been promoted from the SAFF Championship squad to the New Zealand squad, further weakening India’s quality in that competition.
The only difference between the previous three friendlies and the upcoming two is that the Indian players will have considerably more match fitness under their belts, having played four or five games in the 2026-27 Indian Super League (ISL), alongside consistent training over the last month or so.
As the team prepares for the clashes against the Kiwis, let’s take a look at the club-wise contribution of players to the 23-member squad.
Mohun Bagan SG – 6 players
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As always, Mohun Bagan SG lead the way in terms of contributions to the senior national team, with six Mohun Bagan players selected by Khalid Jamil for the New Zealand tour.
Vishal Kaith has made a comeback to the national team set-up, while the likes of Apuia and Sahal Abdul Samad have missed out due to injuries.
Anirudh Thapa, who scored a historic goal against Uruguay, has retained his place alongside Mehtab Singh, Tekcham Abhishek Singh and Manvir Singh. Liston Colaco, who was part of the initial SAFF Championship squad, will now head to New Zealand alongside five of his teammates.
Bengaluru FC – 5 players
The biggest surprise in Khalid Jamil’s selection was the decision to omit Indian captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from the squad, although some might feel it was inevitable after his poor performances against Brazil and Uruguay.
India’s main man in attack, Ryan Williams, has retained his place, while Ricky Meetei will finally get the chance to travel with the Blue Tigers after missing the last two camps due to injuries and visa issues.
Lalremtluanga Fanai has returned to the senior national team set-up after impressive performances with India U-23 and Bengaluru FC.
Meanwhile, the selections of Ashique Kuruniyan and Naorem Roshan Singh feel strange, considering that several other in-form players are available and neither of the two has been a regular starter for his club in recent games.
East Bengal FC – 2 players
Two players from Antonio Lopez Habas’ side will represent the Blue Tigers against the Kiwis, as Jay Gupta has retained his place from the previous camp. Anwar Ali, unfortunately, has had to miss out due to his hamstring injury.
India’s in-form striker David Lalhlansanga makes a return to the national team set-up after almost 30 months, while Prabhsukhan Gill has been omitted despite featuring for India against Brazil in the second half.
NorthEast United FC – 2 players
Pramveer Singh, who featured against both Brazil and Uruguay, retains his place in the senior national team set-up and is expected to play an even more important role in the absence of Anwar Ali.
While Macarton Louis Nickson, who was part of the previous camp, will join Naushad Moosa’s squad in Dhaka, Jithin MS makes a return to the senior national team and will be part of the New Zealand tour.
Punjab FC – 2 players
Punjab FC initially had six players called up to the 2026 SAFF Championship squad by Naushad Moosa, and all six featured in the opening game against Pakistan.
Two of those players have now been promoted to the first-string team, with Bijoy Varghese and Muhammad Suhail expected to leave Dhaka and join the squad in New Zealand.
FC Goa – 1 player
Tomba Singh, who was initially called up by Naushad Moosa for the 2026 SAFF Championship as a replacement for Vibin Mohanan, will now instead board the flight to New Zealand, as Khalid Jamil feels the FC Goa midfielder has impressed him enough with his recent performances.
There was an expectation that Sandesh Jhingan, who was dropped from the previous camp, could be called up in the absence of Anwar Ali. However, Khalid Jamil seems to have closed that door for now.
Mumbai City FC – 1 player
Mumbai City will have just one player representing the Blue Tigers in the upcoming friendlies against New Zealand, with Khalid Jamil selecting only club captain Akash Mishra.
Valpuia, Vikram and Farukh, who were part of the squads for the games against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama, have missed out. Vikram is injured, while the other two have been called up for the 2026 SAFF Championship in Dhaka.
And guess what? Both of them, alongside Noufal and Nathan Rodrigues, are expected to return home after just the opening game in what is a rather difficult-to-understand arrangement between the sides.
Odisha FC – 1 player
Former FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari has made a comeback to the Indian national team set-up, replacing Albino Gomes after his impressive performances against the likes of Mohun Bagan and NorthEast United FC recently in the Indian Super League.
Rahim Ali has been completely dropped from the national team set-up, having not been called up for either of the two squads.
SC Delhi – 1 player
India U-23 captain Lalrinliana Hnamte makes a return to the senior national team set-up shortly after moving from Chennaiyin FC to the capital this summer.
Hnamte was last part of the Indian national team set-up in 2024 under Manolo Márquez. This marks his comeback after two years of consistent performances in the league and with the U-23 side.
Kerala Blasters FC – 1 player
Mohammed Sanan has been called up to the India squad, as he has replaced Edmund Lalrindika following the East Bengal forward’s injury. Sanan has been called up again after his impressive cameo against Uruguay in the Blue Tigers’ previous international friendlies.
Chennaiyin FC – 0 players
Irfan Yadwad, who was the only Chennaiyin player in the previous camp, was also the only outfield player in the squad who did not play a single minute, with Khalid Jamil seemingly sending a strong message about his efforts and commitment in training.
He has now been sent to the second-string team in Dhaka for the SAFF Championship, reducing the number of players from the Marina Machans in the first-team squad to zero.
Churchill Brothers SC – 0 players
The new entrants to the Indian Super League are on a three-game losing streak, and, understandably, no player has been selected by Khalid Jamil, as no Indian player has performed well enough to put himself in contention for the national team squad.
Inter Kashi – 0 players
Playing with an all-Indian squad and struggling near the bottom of the table, Inter Kashi were not expected to have anyone in the national team setup, apart from Albino Gomes, who was part of the previous squad.
However, he too has been dropped by Khalid Jamil, who has opted for Vishal Kaith and Hrithik Tiwari instead.
India’s 23-player squad for New Zealand friendlies
Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer Singh, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Roshan Singh Naorem.
Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Tomba Singh Haobam.
Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Mohammed Sanan, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad Suhail, Ryan Williams.
Head Coach: Khalid Jamil
Why is Anwar Ali not in India’s 23-member squad to face New Zealand?
Anwar Ali has been ruled out for the upcoming friendlies against New Zealand after suffering a hamstring injury in the first half of the game against Al-Seeb.
Why is Gurpreet Singh Sandhu not in India’s 23-member squad to face New Zealand?
Indian NT head coach Khalid Jamil has dropped captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu from the squad after his poor performance in the previous friendlies.
Why is Apuia not in India’s 23-member squad to face New Zealand?
Apuia has been ruled out of India’s trip to New Zealand due to an injury.
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