FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: When should Vikram Partap Singh start against Afghanistan?

Vikram Partap Singh is the leading Indian goal-scorer in the ISL 2023-24.

Indian men’s national football team is set to play two fixtures against Afghanistan back-to-back in their 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers (second round) campaign on 22 March and 26 March 2024, respectively. Igor Stimac aims to guide the Blue Tigers to the third round of the qualifiers and to reach there, his team must start securing points to finish in one of the top two positions in Group A.

To that end, he has picked an ambitious group of players to represent the country on the international stage. One of them is Vikram Partap Singh who has been impressive for Mumbai City FC in the ongoing 2023-24 season of the Indian Super League. The attacker has scored seven times, becoming the leading Indian goal-scorer for the time being. Furthermore, Singh’s sensational hat-trick for the Islanders in a 4-1 win over NorthEast United reserved him a spot in an exclusive club of Indian hat-trick scorers which has merely six members.

When will Vikram Partap Singh feature for India?

Now the question stands, when can Vikram Partap Singh start against Afghanistan? The concise answer is that he can start as early as 22 March 2024 when India take on Afghanistan at the Damac Stadium in Abha, Saudi Arabia. It won’t come as a surprise if Igor Stimac starts him over experienced players like Lallianzuala Chhangte or even Sunil Chhetri.

Even if Vikram Partap Singh does not get the nod in the starting line-up, he is likely to feature from the bench against Afghanistan. As the fixture is being played at a high altitude, Singh’s energy and industry will certainly come in handy for Igor Stimac. The Mumbai City FC winger can also start for India against Afghanistan when the two meet in Guwahati, Assam on 26 March 2024, in the reverse leg.

It is worth remembering that Vikram Partap Singh made his senior debut for India at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup against Australia as a substitute in the 89th minute. However, he has not yet scored for the country at that level. It will be a joyous moment for Indian football fans to witness the 22-year-old score while donning the national team colours in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. 

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