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

The Indian football team will face Bangladesh on November 18.

The Indian football team is preparing to take on Bangladesh in their upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier on November 18. The Blue Tigers will travel to Dhaka with a revamped squad, featuring some new faces. This clash will kick-start the process of transition in Indian football.

Khalid Jamil has chosen to move forward and introduce youngsters, signalling that India will show faith in youth to bring a change in their destiny. All the buzz is around the new additions, but the unavailability of some players has also dampened the spirits.

In this article, we will look at five players the Indian football team will miss against Bangladesh.

Muhammed Suhail

In the midst of hopelessness and dismay, the Indian U23 team is the only glimmer of hope for Indian Football fans, and Muhammed Suhail has been arguably the most celebrated name from that team in the last few months. The lad Kerala burst onto the scene last season with his wizardry on the wings for Punjab FC.

He grabbed all the eyeballs with his performances in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, where he shone the brightest. Among all the young faces in the senior team, his presence was the most anticipated. But Suhail will miss the fixture against Bangladesh due to a shoulder injury.

Suhail Bhatt

With Sunil Chhetri retiring from international football, the senior national team will be missing an influential figure in the striker’s role. Jammu and Kashmir’s 20-year-old striker Suhail Bhatt is being considered as one of the names who can emerge as an alternative for this position.

Bhatt made his comeback into the Indian U23 team with aplomb, scoring a brace against Indonesia in October.

However, he will miss the game against Bangladesh as Mohun Bagan have stuck to their decision not to release their players outside FIFA International Window.

Also Read: ‘We want to play, and now,’: Footballers in India plead for resumption of ISL

Apuia

Another Mohun Bagan player who will not be a part of the India squad for the Bangladesh game. The FIFA international window began on November 10, but the national team camp began five days earlier.

The head coach, Khalid Jamil, wanted all players to be present in the camp from the first day, which led to the exclusion of Mohun Bagan players. Apuia was one of the few players in the October qualifiers who put in performances good enough to deserve another call-up.

His role in the midfield cannot be debated. Being the most technically gifted player on the team, Apuia will be central to this transition phase for the Indian national team.

Abneet Bharti

Abneet Bharti has been selected for the Indian team for the first time, but the 27-year-old will not be able to join the national team camp in Bengaluru. He plays his professional football in Bolivia for the top-tier club Academia del Balompié Boliviano. The club has refused to release him due to logistical reasons.

His call-up reflected a shift in the federation’s approach to not being limited when considering players eligible to play for India. Bharti primarily plays in central defence, but he can also play in other roles.

Also Read: Who is Abneet Bharti? Indian footballer playing in Bolivia’s top division

Abhishek Tekcham

Another player who has fallen prey to the dispute between AIFF and Mohun Bagan is Abhishek Tekcham, who will again miss an opportunity to play for the national team. The left-back will miss the camp for the same reason as other Mohun Bagan players.

He made his last international appearance in June this year against Hong Kong. Since then, he has not been able to don the Indian jersey again. His presence in the squad would have augmented India’s capabilities on the left side of defense.

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