Which clubs have sent most players to Indian football team for Bangladesh clash in AFC Asian Cup qualifier?

The Blue Tigers have been knocked out of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers.

The Indian football team will go through a rebuilding phase and will not face any continental challenge for the next two years. The Blue Tigers will face Bangladesh in their next AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier on November 18 in Dhaka.

Khalid Jamil has kick-started the transition process by selecting young faces for this game as he aims to revamp the core of the Indian football team.

With a veteran like Sunil Chhetri opting out, Jamil will count on youngsters to carry the team. In this article, we will look at the representation of each club in the Indian team based on the number of their players who have been called up.

Bengaluru FC – 6

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sahil Poonia, Rahul Bheke, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Ryan Williams

Bengaluru FC continues to be the largest contributor with six of their players in the national team. Captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will also have his clubmate and goalkeeper, Sahil Poonia, with him. Rahul Bheke has retained his place in the team despite a poor run of form.

Lalremtluanga Fanai and Suresh Singh Wangjam are two midfield options for the Blue Tigers. Suresh failed to attract attention due to his poor performance in recent times. He will be hoping to make a strong comeback. Whereas Fanai is one for the future, and he has shown a lot of promise.

The most unexpected name among the Bengaluru FC players to join the national camp is Ryan Williams. The Australia-born forward recently renounced his Australian passport and acquired Indian citizenship, making him eligible to play for India. Khalid Jamil will have an ace attacker in his camp, bolstering India’s creative profile.

Mumbai City FC – 4

Akash Mishra, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Viram Partap Singh

There are four Islanders in the national team for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers. Akash Mishra and Hmingthanmawia Ralte will be occupying two flanks of defense. Their role will be crucial as India looks for dynamic full-backs who are defensively solid and effective.

Currently, Lallianzuala Chhangte is one of the senior players in the team, with years of experience in international and club football. He was one of the few players who performed against Singapore.

His priority will be adding more goals to his tally. Vikram Partap has looked decent on the right wing, but he will be hoping Jamil provides him with an opportunity to play up front.

East Bengal – 4

Anwar Ali, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Edmund Lalrindika, Jay Gupta

The mainstay of Indian defence, Anwar Ali, will be one of the flagbearers for East Bengal in the Indian squad. His partnership with Sandesh Jhingan has grown from strength to strength, becoming India’s first-choice centre-back pairing.

Joining him will be Mahesh Singh Naorem, who has shown glimpses of brilliance in the national colours. However, the 26-year-old will be expected to increase his creative output and final delivery. Defender Jay Gupta and forward Edmund Lalrindika were later called to the squad as well.

FC Goa – 3

Hrithik Tiwari, Sandesh Jhingan, Brison Fernandes

Sandesh Jhingan is a part of the leadership group, and with Sunil Chhetri on his way out, his leadership qualities will be up to the test. This season, Sandesh has been in fine form for both his club and country. The fans will want the gritty centre-back to stay on top of his game against Bangladesh.

The other two Gaurs in the squad are the young guns Hrithik Tiwari and Brison Fernandes. Both have been the best performers for their club in recent times. While Hrithik might have to wait for his chance, Brison Fernandes is one of the contenders to start after his heroics with FC Goa.

Also Read: Five players whom Indian football team will miss against Bangladesh in AFC Asian Cup qualifiers

Punjab FC – 2

Pramveer, Nikhil Prabhu

Punjab FC have grown in prominence over the last two seasons, with more players representing the national team. The club captain, Nikhil Prabhu, appears to have cemented his place in the team after his debut.

Among the players from Punjab, Pramveer is the most anticipated addition. The young centre-back has emerged as one of India’s future stars after his outings for the India U23 team. This will be a bigger challenge for the youngster, but he looks prepared for this.

Chennaiyin FC – 1

Rahim Ali

Rahim Ali is as close to being ousted as he is in the plans. The striker bought some time for himself with a goal against Singapore, but his place in the team is still vulnerable.

With some young names in the U23 team making waves with their goalscoring output, he will have to show numbers if he wants to stay in the team.

Kerala Blasters FC – 1

Bikash Yumnam

A leading performer in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, the India U23 captain will be desperate to prove his potential in the senior national team. Bikash Yumnam has impressed with his composure and leadership abilities, and his physicality is another trait that makes him a formidable centre back.

NorthEast United FC – 1

Macarton Louis Nickson

Macarton Louis Nickson had an underwhelming start to his international career, but that has not weakened his spot in the team. The midfielder has shown consistency in club football and at the U23 level. India will require a technically astute creative player like Macarton going ahead in this transition.

Jamshedpur FC – 1

Mohammed Sanan

The Jamshedpur FC youngster is no stranger to Khalid Jamil. Mohammed Sanan has played under Jamil at Jamshedpur and has produced moments of brilliance that have paved his way to the national team. He was also one of those players who had a role in India’s historic campaign in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers.

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