India vs Iran: Top three player battles to watch out for in CAFA Nations Cup

India will lock horns with Iran for the first time since 2016.

The Indian national team will square off against Iran, and the Indian fans cannot wait for the encounter to unfold. The fans want India to play against such formidable opponents, but there is an air of caution as well among the Indian fans.

There is a new manager, Khalid Jamil, at the helm for the Blue Tigers. Khalid has started his tenure with a magnificent victory against Tajikistan, which is also India’s first win in 17 years against Tajikistan.

The Blue Tigers put on an impressive performance in their opening CAFA Nations Cup 2025 fixture. However, the match against Iran would demand more from India. Khalid Jamil’s boys will have to face a star-studded Iranian team. In this article, we will look into three key player battles that can have a consequential impact on the result.

Also Read: India vs Tajikistan: Khalid Jamil’s era, Gurpreet’s redemption, and other talking points

Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh vs Sandesh Jhingan

This is the most important player battle in the upcoming India vs Iran contest. Iran’s goal-scorer in the last match against India’s rock-solid defender sounds like a mouthwatering clash.

Sandesh Jhingan was at his absolute best against Tajikistan. There was a mishap in communication between him and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu that led to a goal, but barring that one incident, Sandesh was on the money throughout that match.

Amirhossein Hosseinzadeh will pose a tricky challenge for Sandesh. The 24-year-old Tractor FC forward has been scoring a lot of goals in the last 12 months. For his club, which ended up winning the Iranian top division, Hosseinzadeh scored 22 goals in 36 games. Not just that, but he provided 8 assists as well. His ability to hammer the opposition defense with clinical finishing makes him lethal for Iran.

Stopping him would take some effort from Sandesh, but the centre-back will definitely put his body on the line to prevent Hosseinzadeh from registering his name on the scoresheet. On big occasions, Sandesh’s warrior instincts are something to vouch for, and there can’t be a bigger occasion for India than a match against Iran.

Ashique Kuruniyan vs Aria Yousefi

Ashique Kuriniyan started on the left for India in the first match of the tournament. The winger had a good game as he made some clever runs, putting teasing deliveries on the box. In the first half, Ashique troubled the Tajik defenders with the way he moved on the wings.

Kuruniyan tempted defenders into challenges on him, leading to throw-ins. Ultimately, throw-ins had a crucial role in both the goals that India scored against Tajikistan.

He would come up against Aria Yousefi on September 1. The 23-year-old plays for the Iranian giants Sepahan SC and is a regular starter for them.

He is steadily making the right-back position his own in the national team with the FIFA World Cup approaching. It will be an interesting tussle between two players who are looking to establish their presence in their respective teams in crucial times.

Mehdi Hashemnejad vs Muhammed Uvais

Muhammed Uvais had a dream debut for India in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 opener against Tajikistan. The 27-year-old left back did not look flustered at any point in the game. It looked as if he had an extra second on the ball compared to other Indian players.

Uvais did a great job defensively, keeping the attacks on Tajikistan’s right wing at bay. He is a typical Khalid Jamil player. Someone who puts his all whenever he commits to a challenge.

Debut against Tajikistan has earned plaudits for Uvais, but the match against Iran would be another ball game altogether. Iran’s Mehdi Hashemnejad is expected to start on the right wing. Hashemnjead also started in Iran’s 3-1 victory against Afghanistan in their opening CAFA Nations Cup 2025 fixture.

The 23-year-old, who plays for Iran’s top division league champions, ran his show against Afghanistan, making life difficult for Afghan defenders. For the inexperienced Indian left-back, he would be a big threat.

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