How can India line up for their SAFF Women's Championship 2026 opener against Maldives?

India will play their campaign opener against Maldives

The Indian women’s football team will begin their SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 campaign against Maldives on May 25, aiming for a strong start as they look to reclaim the title for the first time since 2019.

However, India head into the tournament after a difficult run of form, having lost all three matches at the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and managing just one win during the FIFA Women’s Series in Kenya. Following the departure of Amelia Valverde, Crispin Chettri has taken charge as the new head coach.

As India gear up to face Maldives in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, here’s a look at how the Blue Tigresses could line up.

GK- Panthoi Chanu

Panthoi Chanu is expected to start between the sticks for India, and for good reason. The experienced goalkeeper was one of the few bright spots during India’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign. Despite a few errors, she consistently stepped up with important saves and kept the team in difficult situations.

She missed the FIFA Women’s Series in Kenya due to an injury, but has since returned strongly, helping East Bengal win the Indian Women’s League (IWL) title while also clinching the Golden Glove award. With her experience, composure, and current form, Panthoi remains India’s clear first-choice goalkeeper heading into the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 opener against the Maldives.

LB- Astam Oraon

With experienced defender Sanju Yadav not called up, 21-year-old Astam Oraon could be handed the responsibility at left-back for India. The youngster has been around the national team setup for a while now and has gradually gained valuable experience at the international level.

Astam also featured as a starting left-back during the FIFA Women’s Series 2026, where she showed composure and defensive discipline. Her energy on the flank and ability to contribute both defensively and going forward make her a strong option for India heading into the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 opener against the Maldives.

CB- Purnima Kumari

Purnima Kumari could play a crucial role in India’s defence during the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, especially with experienced centre-back Sweety Devi not included in the squad. The 21-year-old defender has already made eight appearances for the senior national team and continues to grow in confidence at the international level.

She featured as a centre-back during the FIFA Women’s Series 2026, where she impressed with her calmness on the ball and defensive awareness. With India looking to rebuild their backline, Purnima could be one of the key figures at the heart of the defence against the Maldives.

CB- Ranjana Chanu

One of the biggest boosts for India’s backline is the return of experienced defender Ranjana Chanu. The 27-year-old did not feature in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 or the FIFA Women’s Series, but her return to the squad could prove crucial for the team.

With a relatively inexperienced defence around her, Ranjana’s presence brings much-needed leadership and composure at the back. Having earned 47 senior caps for India, she is one of the most experienced players in the squad and could play a vital role in organising the defence during the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026.

RB- Nirmala Devi

Nirmala Devi can likely start at right-back for India in their SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 opener against the Maldives. The 23-year-old defender was a regular starter during the FIFA Women’s Series and impressed with her work rate and defensive contribution on the flank.

Having already gained valuable international experience, Nirmala will be expected to continue in the role and provide stability to India’s backline. Her ability to support both defence and attack from the right side could make her an important player for the team in the tournament.

CM- Shilky Devi

Shilky Devi has arguably been one of India’s most consistent performers this year. The player played a crucial role during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and even captained the side in the FIFA Women’s Series, highlighting her growing importance within the team.

Although Shilky is capable of playing as a centre-back, Crispin Chettri is most likely to use her in a deeper midfield role as part of a double pivot.

Her defensive discipline, composure on the ball, and ability to control the tempo have made her a key presence in midfield throughout the year, and she is expected to play an important role once again against the Maldives.

CM- Aveka Singh

Aveka Singh is certainly one of the young players to watch out for in India’s squad. While experienced names like Sangita Basfore could also start in midfield, Aveka has been in impressive form and continues to show her potential at the senior level.

During the FIFA Women’s Series 2026, she was even deployed as a false nine due to the absence of several key players and even scored a goal, showcasing her versatility and attacking intelligence. Primarily a midfielder, Aveka brings energy, creativity, and composure on the ball, and she could prove to be a crucial player for India in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026.

LW- Grace Dangmei

Grace Dangmei remains the most experienced player in the Indian squad, with 94 senior appearances for the national team. While this year has not been her best individually, her experience and quality still make her one of India’s most dangerous attacking players.

After a disappointing AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign, Grace was left out of the squad for the FIFA Women’s Series. However, players of her style can always make the difference on the big stage, and she is expected to return to the starting lineup for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026 opener against the Maldives.

Her pace, direct attacking play, and ability to create moments in the final third could be crucial for India as they look to begin the tournament strongly.

CAM- Sanfida Nongrum

Sanfida Nongrum is arguably the most talked-about young name in Indian women’s football right now. The 21-year-old announced herself on the big stage by scoring on her debut during the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 and has quickly become one of India’s brightest attacking prospects.

She is expected to start in the attacking midfield role, where her movement and intelligence can give India a different dimension going forward. One of Sanfida’s biggest strengths is her versatility within the role — she can drop deeper to support the midfield during build-up play, while also pushing forward and making late runs into the box when India attack.

Her creativity, energy, and ability to influence different phases of play could make her a key player for India against the Maldives in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026.

RW- Soumya Guguloth

Soumya Guguloth is another experienced player who will be looking to make a strong comeback in the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026. The forward endured a difficult AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026 campaign and was later left out of the squad for the FIFA Women’s Series.

However, Soumya has already shown glimpses of her quality at the international level, including during moments in the AFC Women’s Asian Cup where she looked dangerous in attack. Her pace, direct running, and ability to trouble defenders can still make her a very crucial player for India.

If she finds her rhythm early in the tournament, Soumya could play an important role for India going forward against the Maldives.

ST- Pyari Xaxa

With Manisha Kalyan unavailable for the initial part of the SAFF Women’s Championship 2026, much of India’s attacking responsibility could fall on the experienced Pyari Xaxa. The forward remains one of India’s most important players in the final third and will be expected to lead the line against the Maldives.

Pyari suffered an injury during the opening match of the FIFA Women’s Series, but she has now returned and will be eager to make an impact once again for the national team. Her movement, physical presence, and eye for goal make her a constant threat inside the box.

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