Tajikistan vs India Preview, team news, lineups & predictions | CAFA Nations Cup 2025

India are in Group B of CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

India are ready to kick off the Khalid Jamil era when they start the group stages of the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup in a challenging clash against Tajikistan at the Hisor Central Stadium on Friday (29 August, 2025).

With the Blue Tigers aiming to get their first win under the new head coach, they’ll need to produce an especially clinical performance to stun the Tajikistan side and hold their own in the tough group.

The Stakes

Tajikistan

Tajikistan will be working hard to try and clinch the CAFA Nations Cup title and will be determined to begin the group stages in a dominant fashion. They are unbeaten in their last three international matches, having won two of their four matches in 2025. This tournament is an ideal preparation for Tajikistan’s upcoming games at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, but manager Gela Shekiladze will be determined to keep his players sharp and committed for these matches.

He’ll want his Tajikistan players to be innovative with their attacking style and keep pushing themselves at the Blue Tigers to get the better off them. A compelling win for Tajikistan can be the perfect start to the group stages and help elevate their chances of making the knockout stages, but a draw or loss can be a major setback.

India

The Indian football team are set to venture into a new journey under Khalid Jamil, who becomes the first Indian coach to take charge of the team since 2012.  Jamil has been able to assess his players in his first training camp and will now look to start asserting his playing style onto them in the CAFA Nations Cup. The Blue Tigers have won just one of their four matches in 2025, a record that the gaffer will be desperately aiming to improve.

Jamil will have to work hard to ensure his side can keep a compact, sturdy defensive shape that can frustrate the Tajikistan side. However, he’ll need them to be clinical and decisive on counter-attacks and set-pieces to make their chances count to get a positive result. A win for India in Jamil’s first game can be a huge confidence booster for the players and make them belief in the system. A bad loss, however, can cause even more pressure onto the group ahead of some tricky matches ahead.

Team News

Gela Shekiladze has been able to name a relatively strong squad for the CAFA Nations Cup, including most of his regular first-team players.

Khalid Jamil has opted to travel to Tajikistan with an interesting 23-man squad. However, a major absentee from his squad is India’s record goal scorer Sunil Chhetri. No Mohun Bagan player has been selected for this tournament either.

Head-to-Head Record

The upcoming CAFA Nations Cup game between India and Tajikistan will be their sixth meeting in the international stage. Here we look at their head-to-head record so far.

Matches Played – 5

India wins – 1

Tajikistan wins – 3

Draws – 1

Probable Lineups

Tajikistan (4-2-3-1):

Rustan Yatimov (GK), Akhtam Nazarov, Vahdat Hanonov, Manuchehr Safarov, Zoir Dzhuraboev, Amirbek Juraboev, Ehsoni Panshanbe, Alisher Dzhaliov, Parvizdhon Umarboev, Shahrom Samiev, Shervoni Mabatshoev

India (4-4-1-1):

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK), Hmangthanmawia Ralte, Anwar Ali, Sandesh Jhingan, Muhammed Uvais, Nikhil Prabhu, Suresh Singh, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Irfan Yadwad

Players to Watch

Shahrom Samiev (Tajikistan)

Shahrom Samiev is heading into the CAFA Nations Cup at the back of some good form, as he’s had a good 2025 campaign with Xorazm FC in the Tajikistan first division. He has scored four goals in 18 league games this season, including three goals in the last five clashes. Samiev has nine goals in the international scene for Tajikistan, and is versatile enough in being able to slot into a variety of different role.

He’ll be aiming to use his confusing playing style to trouble the Indian backline and look to disrupt their shape. Samiev will aim to use his speed and physical prowess to get the ball into the danger zones and help create chances with clever final passes. He will, however, be tasked to get into the empty areas in the final third and finish off chances clinically to trouble the Indian side and give his side a major edge.

Naorem Mahesh Singh (India)

Naorem Mahesh Singh is coming off a pretty good 2025 Durand Cup campaign, where he guided East Bengal to the semifinal and had multiple goal contributions. Mahesh has all the qualities to excel in Jamil’s system, as he is versatile enough to be effective in multiple areas on the pitch and can also be pretty good with his defensive contributions. Moreover, Mahesh has that unpredictable touch to his game, being able to drift into the empty pockets in the final third and make himself available in the danger areas.

He’ll need to smart with his movement and nail his final third passes to help create big chances for his teammates, be it from open play or his excellent crossing ability from set-pieces. Mahesh needs to maintain his energetic nature to be a troublesome figure in the opposition half and nail his final product to unravel their defensive shape and help India excel with their chances.

Did you know?

• This will be the first time for India to participate in the CAFA Nations Cup tournament.
• Tajikistan have scored nine goals in their last three meetings against India at the international scene.
• India’s only win over Tajikistan came at the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup.

Telecast Details

The CAFA Nations Cup clash between India and Tajikistan will take place at the Hisor Central Stadium, Tajikistan on Friday (29 August 2025). The match will be streamed live on Fancode. It will kick off at 9 PM IST.

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