Top five players to watch out for India at 2025 SAFF U19 Championship

A list of stars from the Blue Colts who can steal the show from May 9.

The SAFF U19 Championship kicks off on May 9, 2025, with all games set to be played at the Golden Jubilee Stadium in Yupia, Arunachal Pradesh. India are, of course, the host and one of the six teams participating in the competition this year.

The Blue Colts are the defending champions of the championship, after having won it back in 2023 following a 3-0 win over Pakistan in the final. The Indian under-19 side are being led by Bibiano Fernandes, who will aim to get the very best out of them to ensure that India can reign supreme in this tournament once again.

The SAFF U19 championship will also be the perfect platform for some of the prime young talents of Indian football to prove their quality against international opponents. Here we look at the five Indian players to look out for in the 2025 SAFF U-19 Championship.

5. Bharat Lairenjam

Bharat Lairenjam has become quite an experienced player at the youth football scene for India, having represented the national team across many youth levels. He has scored multiple goals across different youth levels for the Indian team, including a goal in India under-17’s 13-0 thrashing of Brunei in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup qualifiers in October (2024).

The Classic FA forward is coming off an impressive outing at the 2025 Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL). He scored a hat trick in Classic FA’s 3-0 thrashing of NorthEast United in the zonal group stage. He also scored three goals in the national group stages, helping Classic FA reach the final where they lost to Mohun Bagan.

Bharat is a proactive threat in the final third, knowing exactly when to get into the goal-scoring positions and being blessed with an efficient goal scoring quality. He’ll aim to prove his quality as a goalscorer in the SAFF U19 championship and turn more eyes towards himself.

4. Omang Dodum

Arunachal Pradesh’s own Omang Dodum has been selected for the India under-19 side and will be playing in front of his loved ones in the upcoming championship. His selection has been based on merit, more than anything else, after his heroics at the youth level for Punjab FC.

The young forward has produced some really encouraging numbers for the Shers, scoring 12 goals in 10 under-17 youth league games as well as two goals in the 2025 RFDL as well. He was part of the Punjab FC under-21 side that won the RFDL 2024 title and even scored in the final against East Bengal.

Dodum is an exciting, unpredictable winger who loves to trouble defenders with his speed and dribbling ability. He has also proven himself as a clinical finisher of chances, which he’ll aim to continue and shine in the competition in his home turf.

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3. Yohaan Benjamin

The Shillong Lajong attacking midfielder has impressed with his work in the youth scene for his side. He scored nine goals in the 2023-24 Youth League, scoring nine goals in 13 appearances for his side. Benjamin was a promising figure in the 2025 RFDL campaign for Shillong Lajong too, scoring four goals for his side.

The 17-year-old is a sharp and proactive figure in the opposition half, with his smart off-the-ball movement as well as link-up ability helping him drive his side forward. Benjamin needs to tap into his most clinical self to really win over Fernandes and get more playing time in the SAFF Championship.

He needs to be smart in terms of not just creating chances, but also getting at the end of chances to finish things off ruthlessly and amplify India’s attacking threat.

2. Ashik Adhikari

Ashik Adhikari has shown signs of promise with his development at Bengaluru FC’s youth system, featuring for them across multiple youth levels over the last few years. The 18-year-old centre-back has captained the Blues’ under-17 side and helped them keep four clean sheets in seven under-17 Youth League games in teh 2023-24 season as well.

He has played for Bengaluru FC under-21 side in the RFDL (Reliance Football Development League) and helped them produce some sturdy defensive performances too. Adhikari has also played for Bengaluru FC reserves in the I-League 2, despite his young age. Adhikari is an intelligent defender who can read opposition attacking moves really well and excels in winning key duels against opposition players too. He can move the ball along swiftly and can be a key player in helping implement the swift build-up play from the defensive end for India under-19.

Adhikari has the perfect platform to prove his commanding skills in defence and his leadership ability by helping the Blue Colts gain more clean sheets and dominate their opposition attackers in the SAFF under-19 championship.

1. Danny Meitei

The Indian Under-19 team is not only packed with promising forwards, but also a lot of explosiveness in their midfield line as well. That includes the fiery presence fo NorthEast United midfielder Danny Meitei, who even made his Indian Super League (ISL) debut in their 4-0 thrashing of East Bengal in the final match of the 2024-25 ISL league phase.

The 17-year-old midfielder is coming off a highly prolific outing for the Highlanders in the 2025 RFDL, where he scored 12 goals for them! Meitei is a highly energetic presence in the midfield and thrives under the freedom when he’s given full license to roam forward to add a bigger goal-scoring threat for his side.

The NorthEast United midfielder is a dynamic, industrious figure who works his socks off in regaining possession and can also be a menacing figure in the opposition half. He’ll look to help India dominate matches in the tournament and also keep making those vital contributions in the final third to enhance their goal threat.

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