India vs Pakistan Player Ratings: Suhail Bhat & Noufal shine in SAFF Championship 2026 clash
The Blue Tigers opened the SAFF Championship 2026 with a win.
The Indian football team started their SAFF Championship 2026 with a confident 3-2 win over their rivals Pakistan in the tournament opener on Thursday, November 5 at the National Stadium in Dhaka.
Naushad Moosa’s Indian team started dominating the early proceedings and broke the deadlock in the 13th minute, when Muhammed Suhail found Suhail Bhat, who calmly finished to give India the lead. Suhail Bhat doubled India’s lead in the 18th minute with another goal following which Kipgen scored in the 32nd minute to seal things off.
Pakistan tried to get back in the game but just failed to do so and never really tested the Indian goalkeeper, until the 90th minute mark where they managed to score two back-to-back goals. However, India held on to secure all three points at the end.
In this article we will take a look at the player ratings of India vs Pakistan clash in the SAFF Championship 2026.
India Player Ratings (By Ayushman Sharma)
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Arsh Anwer Shaikh – 7/10
Arsh had a good outing against Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 2026 clash. The Pakistani players never really tested him until the 83rd minute shot where he did very well to make a save.
However, he conceded twice in the stoppage time and could not get the clean sheet.
Bijoy Varghese – 6.5/10
Despite not conceding much danger initially, India had a few moments when their defence looked a little shaky and they did concede 2 going forward.
Indian captain Bijoy Varghese did not have the best of outings against Pakistan today. While it was not a particularly poor performance, he had only a decent game.
Abhishek Suryavanshi – 7/10
Abhishek paired alongside Ricky Shabong in the midfield and had a good outing against Pakistan.
There were moments in the first half when Abhishek looked very comfortable on the ball. However, he conceded a penalty which was not converted by Pakistan.
Although, there is still room for improvement, he had a good match for the Blue Tigers.
Muhammed Uvais – 7/10
Uvais had a decent outing as the left-back and looked solid for most parts of the game.
However, there is still room for improvement as he could have done more when India conceded the goals.
Suhail Ahmad Bhat – 9/10
Suhail Ahmad Bhat had a very good outing against Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 2026 clash. The Indian forward managed to score a brace and almost got his hattrick, which was ruled out for offside.
Suhail was involved in all the goals before getting subbed off in the second half.
Muhammed Suhail – 8/10
Muhammed Suhail had a good game against Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 2026.
Suhail initially started on the left wing before switching flanks with Noufal moving forward and they kept doing it as the game eventually progressed.
He was also involved in India’s opening goal and put a solid performance for the Blue Tigers.
Ricky John Shabong – 7/10
Ricky paired well with young Abhishek in the midfield, His explosiveness brought control to the game and contributed very well throughout the game.
Manglenthang Kipgen – 7.5/10
Manglenthang Kipgen started in an attacking role in the midfield and played really well throughout the game. He also got his name on the scoresheet, capping off an impressive outing for the Blue Tigers before getting subbed off.
However, there is still room for improvement, and he can build further on this performance.
Noufal – 8/10
Mumbai City’s Noufal had a very good outing against Pakistan and combined very well with India’s attacking third.
Noufal also managed to provide an assist and looked well throughout the game before getting subbed off in the second half.
Nikhil Prabhu – 6/10
A player with Nikhil’s experience should have done better today. While he had a decent game, he failed to make much of an impact and did little to impress.
Valpuia – 7.5/10
Valpuia was solid throughout the game and put in a very good shift before being substituted. His contributions were impressive both offensively and defensively.
However, India looked a little shaky after he left the pitch.
Substitutes
Farukh Choudhary – 6/10
Farukh came in the second half and tried to dominate the game physically. However, he did not have a very good outing and did not impress.
Ebindas – 7/10
Ebindas came on and took up the number 10 role, putting in a very good performance. His deliveries were impressive, and he could have an important role to play in India’s upcoming games in the tournament.
Adison Singh – 6/10
Adison was decent in the game but did not impress.
Nathan Rodrigues – 5/10
Nathan Rodrigues came in the second half and played in the left wing which is not his natural position. He had an average outing and did not do well.
Lhungdim – 5/10
Punjab FC’s Lhungdim came in the second half but failed to impress for India.
Pakistan Player Ratings (By Jeremy)
Yousuf Ijaz Butt – 6/10
Beaten three times in 32 minutes, but none of the goals was clearly stoppable. Bhat’s finishes and Kipgen’s slot left him little chance.
He was untroubled in the second half apart from a 60′ save from Adison Singh.
Mohib Ullah – 5/10
Bailed out his side with a recovering challenge to concede a corner at 7′, but the back line he anchored was repeatedly stretched by balls over the top.
His 69′ yellow for a foul on Farukh summed up a night of reacting rather than controlling.
Mohammad Hayyaan Khattak – 6/10
His driving run earned the 34′ penalty, the best chance Pakistan had of getting back into the game.
Defensively he was part of a unit that conceded three and had little protection ahead of it.
Waqar Ehtisham – 4.5/10
Taken off around the half-hour mark with Pakistan already two down.
The feed gives no reason, and his departure came as the back line was struggling most.
Uzair Mahmood – 5/10
Largely anonymous in the match record. He was part of the back line that conceded three before the break, and he gets a rating at the level of the unit.
Alamgir Ali Khan Ghazi – 7.5/10
The reward for a more positive second half. He had a blocked long-range effort at 83′, then arrived in the centre of the box to finish Abdullah’s cross at 90+4′. A quiet first half keeps the mark below 8.
Haris Ali Zeb – 6/10
Shown a yellow at 39′ for a harsh foul on Noufal, a sign of a midfield chasing the game.
He recovered to supply the delivery for Najeeb’s 83′ attempt and kept the ball moving in the second half.
Haseeb Ahmed Khan – 5/10
Played on after a 74′ injury scare. There is little in the feed to separate him from a midfield that was outplayed before the break.
Abdul Rehman – 6/10
Linked up well, including a headed pass to Dost at 48′ that led to a blocked shot.
Replaced around the hour mark through injury, so he never got the chance to build on it.
Shayak Dost – 4/10
The penalty over the bar at 35′ was the moment that effectively killed the first half.
He had a blocked effort at 48′ and a header comfortably saved at 62′ before going off injured.
Syed Ali Raza – 5.5/10
Created Pakistan’s first real threat with a counter-attacking run at 4′, only for Bijoy to dispossess him. After that, the attack was starved of service until the late rally.
Substitutes
Najeeb Ullah – 7.5/10
Scored a quality header into the top-left corner from Shah’s cross to give Pakistan their first goal.
He also got on the end of Zeb’s delivery at 83′ for a blocked right-footed shot, and gave the attack a focal point it had lacked.
McKeal Abdullah – 7/10
Replaced Ehtisham early and was an influence when it mattered, crossing for Ghazi’s goal and then forcing a save from Arsh Shaikh with a right-footed shot from outside the box at 90+5′.
Junaid Shah – 7/10
Came on for the injured Rehman and delivered the cross that Najeeb headed home.
He also put a dangerous ball in at 62′ that Dost failed to convert. His crossing was the best creative output of the night.
What was the scoreline between India and Pakistan in SAFF Championship 2026?
India defeated Pakistan 3-2 in SAFF Championship 2026.
Who were India’s goalscorers against Pakistan in SAFF Championship 2026?
Suhail Bhat and scored for India against Pakistan.
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