Five players who could replace Ryan Williams in India's squad for Tajikistan friendlies

Ryan Williams will miss two games against Tajikistan due to a hamstring injury in the Unity Cup 2026

The Indian national football team are ready to travel to Hisor to face the Tajikistan national football team in a couple of international friendly matches for the June 2026 calendar. However, right before the game, the Blue Tigers faced a gut-wrenching update on their star forward Ryan Williams, who also missed their recent clash against Zimbabwe in the Unity Cup.

The Bengaluru FC star has not travelled with the Blue Tigers to Tajikistan because of the hamstring injury he sustained in India’s loss to Jamaica in the Unity Cup. With the flamboyant winger poised to miss both of the Blue Tigers’ next few matches, there is a need for Khalid Jamil to find an appropriate replacement who can potentially fill the void left by Ryan Williams in the squad.

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With India desperately needing some inspiration from their attackers, the Ryan Williams replacement has to be someone capable of uplifting their goal-scoring fortunes. Jamil could take a gamble by possibly bringing young Manglenthang Kipgen to light up the squad, but that is unlikely. Here, we look at the five possible options to potentially replace Ryan Williams in the India squad for the upcoming games against Tajikistan.

5. Parthib Gogoi

Parthib Gogoi didn’t really have the most consistent of 2025-26 Indian Super League for NorthEast United, struggling to cope with the responsibilities after the exit of Alaeeddin Ajaraie. The 23-year-old forward, however, was at least able to end the campaign strongly with two goal contributions (one goal, one assist) in the Highlanders’ last three games – as he managed two goals and two assists in 13 appearances in the 2025-26 ISL.

Gogoi has grown into an unpredictable forward, who has enough pace to trouble defenders and get past them into the empty areas. He’s also proven himself as a pretty efficient finisher, scoring two goals from just four shots on target in the 2025-26 ISL. The 23-year-old can be roped in as Williams’ possible replacement in the Indian squad, with Gogoi’s proactive playing style capable of being a breath of fresh air for the Indian frontline.

4. Joseph Sunny

Joseph Sunny proved to be a breakthrough figure for the SC Delhi side in the 2025-26 ISL, with his mature performances showing that he’s getting better as a troublesome striker at the top level of Indian football. Sunny scored three goals and provided two assists in the ISL for SC Delhi, bagging a notable brace in the win over NorthEast United and even scoring against a rigid Jamshedpur FC side. The 22-year-old forward managed to outperform his 2.06 xG (expected goals) in the ISL last season, while also holding his own by winning duels against physical defenders.

The 22-year-old is versatile enough to thrive as a right-winger and as a centre-forward, having the mobility, speed and close control with the ball to really threaten opponents. He can add something different to the Indian attacking options and also be worth experimenting with as Khalid Jamil looks to overhaul his attacking structure.

3. Mohammed Aimen

Another player from SC Delhi who caught the eye of many fans with their performances in the 2025-26 ISL campaign was their winger, Mohammed Aimen. The 23-year-old was really entertaining to watch because of his dribbling ability, trickery on the ball and tendency to take on defenders. Aimen also managed four goal contributions (two goals, two assists) and worked hard to attract Khalid Jamil’s attention.

Aimen, who can play as a left-winger and potentially also as a centre-forward if required, can be a smart replacement for Ryan Williams because of his positive playing style and ability to hurt defenders with his pace and directness. The 23-year-old can breathe life into the Indian attacking line with his unpredictable style, and is also a solid option to use as a substitute against tired defenders.

Also Read: Ryan Williams to miss Indian football team’s twin friendlies against Tajikistan

2. Irfan Yadwad

Irfan Yadwad is a player who has been used quite a few times by Khalid Jamil in his Indian team set-up, with rather mixed results. The Chennaiyin FC forward had a decent 2025-26 ISL campaign for his side, scoring two goals, including against FC Goa and East Bengal. Apart from his goal-scoring work, Yadwad caught the eye with his off-the-ball work, winning 71 duels, 20 aerial duels and making 53 defensive contributions in his 12 appearances for Chennaiyin FC as well.

Yadwad is definitely versatile enough to fill in for Ryan Williams’ role in the squad, being able to play as a winger or centre-forward with relative ease. The 24-year-old’s experience levels mean that he’s a pretty good option to replace Williams, and for Jamil to give him another opportunity to prove his ability to be a regular in the Indian squad going forward.

1. Bipin Singh

Bipin Singh definitely played a significant role in helping East Bengal win their first-ever ISL title with his heroics in the 2025-26 season. The veteran winger was able to provide five goal contributions for the Torchbearers, which included two goals and three assists. In fact, Bipin provided the pivotal assist for Mohammed Rashid’s winner against Inter Kashi, which sealed the championship for East Bengal. Many fans were disappointed not to see Bipin in the squad for the Unity Cup, but perhaps Khalid Jamil can now bring him back to the set-up for the upcoming friendlies.

Singh has already made seven appearances for India, and his versatility in being able to play in either wing with relative ease can make him a valuable threat for India. Singh has the creative threat and driving nature to inspire an improvement in the Indian frontline and ensure that they can hold their own even without Ryan Williams’ presence.

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