India to face Bangladesh in desperate bid to register first victory in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers

India are out of the qualifiers.

India are determined to get their first win of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers when they face off against Bangladesh in their next game on Tuesday. The Blue Tigers are looking to end 2025 on a high with a defiant performance against the Bengal Tigers and move above them to occupy third place in their group.

However, with Bangladesh also seeking their first win of the group stages, this upcoming game would be a feisty and entertaining encounter with a lot of drama involved.

The Stakes

Bangladesh

The Bangladesh national team has only managed two wins in 2025 so far, out of which only one came against an international team in Bhutan. Their last win was way back in June (2025) and despite producing some gritty performances in the Asian Cup qualifiers, the Bengal Tigers have not been able to get a win yet. They are eager to change that against rivals India, whom the Bengal Tigers held to a draw in the qualifier in March.

Bangladesh will have to be similarly sturdy defensively to frustrate the visitors and stop them from playing their natural game.

However, the Bangladesh players need to be prolific in finishing their chances and clinical from set pieces to increase their goal-scoring threat. A big win for Bangladesh against India would bolster their confidence levels and encourage them for the year ahead, but a crushing loss would cause more questions to be asked about the overall quality of this unit.

India

The Blue Tigers have only won one match under Khalid Jamil so far, and they are yet to hit their stride in the Indian gaffer’s system. Even though Jamil has brought some improvements to the overall shape and resilience of the Blue Tigers, he needs to make them more decisive going forward.

With Asian Cup qualification already out of the window, the Blue Tigers can play with a sense of fearlessness against Bangladesh, with not much to lose.

Jamil needs his players to be innovative, quick and clinical going forward and especially put their chances away efficiently. A win for India against Bangladesh in away conditions would mark a sense of progression under Jamil and help them find some strength in their group.

Team News

Javier Cabrera is fortunate enough to be able to choose a strong Bangladesh squad. He’s also called up Olbia Calcio FC player Fahmedul Islam into his squad.

Khalid Jamil has opted against calling up Sunil Chhetri or any Mohun Bagan players in his squad. Ryan Williams has been included in the squad for this game, but his debut is subject to the NOC from the Australian federation and FIFA.

Head-to-Head Record

Played – 32

India wins – 16

Bangladesh wins – 3

Draws – 13

Probable Lineups

India (4-2-3-1):

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali, Akash Mishra, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh, Macarton Louis Nickson, Ryan Williams, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali

Bangladesh (4-2-3-1):

Mitul Marma (GK), Md Taj Uddin, Topu Barman, Tariq Kazi, Md Saad Uddin, Hamza Choudhury, Jamal Bhuyan, Shamit Shome, Faysal Ahmed Fahim, Rakib Hossain, Shahriar Emon

Key Players to Watch

Mohammad Sanan (India)

Mohammed Sanan has been grabbing headlines since the last Indian Super League season. The young Kerala lad made the most of the opportunities at Jamshedpur FC. He did not fail to make a name for himself in international football either. The 21-year-old was one of the emerging stars from India’s campaign in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

With established names not making much impact on the wings, the fans wanted Sanan to be introduced into the senior squad. Khalid Jamil obliged and called up Sanan to showcase his potential in the senior team. The Indian head coach has kicked off the transition for India, and Sanan can be one of the leading figures catalysing this transition going forward. The fans will be keeping an eye on him and hoping for a rollicking start to his international career.

Hamza Choudhury (Bangladesh)

Hamza Choudhury has made quite a significant impact with the Bangladesh national team since he became a part of their squad earlier in 2025. He has already scored four goals in six appearances for the Bengal Tigers and has assumed multiple responsibilities as well.

Hamza knows that he’ll have to be proactive and effective in his role against India to disrupt the opponent’s playing style and also provide extra attacking power to his side’s frontline.

He will need to drop in deep to make crucial challenges and clearances repeatedly to frustrate the visitors and keep his side on the front foot.

Choudhury will also look to be smart with his forward passes to help his side march forward on quick counter-attacks, and he’ll also need to be clinical in finishing up any possible chances on set pieces to raise Bangladesh’s goal threat.

Also Read: Key player battles in India vs Bangladesh in AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers clash

Did you know?

• India’s last win over Bangladesh on their turf was in 2009!
• The last time that Bangladesh defeated India in an international match was in 1999.
• Lallianzuala Chhangte is the top scorer of the current India squad with nine goals in 49 games.

Telecast Details

The AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier between India and Bangladesh will take place on Tuesday, 18 November 2025 at the National Stadium, Dhaka. The match will kick off at 7:30 PM IST. It will be shown live on Star Sports and live streamed on JioHotstar.

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