Four players who can make Indian football team debuts against Maldives

Indian football team is set to play an international friendly against Maldives.

Manolo Marquez has picked quite a few promising young players in his latest Indian football team squad for the upcoming matches in the March (2025) international break. The Blue Tigers are set to host the Maldives in a friendly match on Wednesday (19 March), before kicking off their 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh on 25 March.

The Spanish gaffer will be eager to guide the Indian football team to two dominant wins to kick off 2025 in a positive fashion. However, he is also going to try and switch things up by giving chances to some of the newer faces in the squad.

That could help add more variety to India’s style, as well as bring unpredictability to their playing style. Here are the four players who might make their debut for the Indian football team.

4. Boris Singh

Boris Singh’s involvement in the Indian football team is not surprising considering how reliable he was for FC Goa in the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) league phase. Boris started in 22 of 23 of the Gaurs’ matches, playing in three different positions under Marquez. He can play anywhere on the right flank, bringing the right balance of defensive sturdiness and that burst of energy going forward.

Boris perfectly knows exactly how Marquez’s playing style works, having the idea of when to make the forward runs to create chances or the positions to get in to ruin opposition’s attacking moves. Boris has played for India’s under-20 side in the past, but it’s time he gets his senior debut. He is highly likely to play as a right-back or right-wing role for India against the Maldives or Bangladesh, adding more drive to their side.

3. Ayush Chhetri

Ayush Chhetri had a breakout season in the ISL for FC Goa in the 2024-25 campaign, proving himself as a reliable and proactive midfield anchor man. The 21-year-old managed to adapt to Marquez’s system really well, producing some really bright performances by orchestrating things from his deeper midfield role. Chhetri managed 62 possession recoveries, 57 duels won and averaged 23 passes per game for FC Goa in 21 games in the ISL league phase.

He also contributed three goals (one goal, and two assists), showcasing plenty of creativity with his clever passes from the central areas. Chhetri is a hard-working asset for Marquez, as he is always moving around to scan and neutralize opposition moves. Chhetri should see his hard work vindicated with a senior debut for Indian Football Team as he puts his quality to the test against international opponents in the upcoming games.

2. Abhishek Singh

Punjab FC might not have the most successful seasons in the ISL, but the emergence of Abhishek Singh is a major positive from their campaign. The 20-year-old left-back was one of the standouts for the Shers, producing high-octane, reliable defensive performances time and again for them. Even though he only managed to help them to two clean sheets in 22 games, Singh was often their most industrious defender.

He made 47 interceptions, 51 clearances and won 86 duels in 22 games for them. Singh is also an adventurous figure going forward t hrough the wide areas, being able to create some nice chances with his inviting delivery. If Subhasish Bose can’t perform at an optimum level, Marquez could opt to play Singh as his left-back. Irrespective, after the kind of solid performance he put in the ISL league phase, Abhishek is poised to get his Indian football team debut – be it perhaps coming as a substitute.

1. Brison Fernandes

Brison Fernandes’ call-up for the Indian Football Team was hardly a surprise considering the amount of amazing performances he put in the 2024-25 ISL campaign. The speedy, unpredictable winger has been one of the best Indian players in the top division this season, with his sheer desire for goals making him a standout.

Brison scored seven goals and provided two assists in 22 matches in the ISL league phase, which included goals against Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC and Odisha FC! He was a nightmare for the defenders with his excellent off-the-ball movement and tendency to burst into empty space with ease.

Fernandes is almost guaranteed to get his national team debut, as Marquez would be eager to test his skills against the foreign defenders. Brison has a big chance of sealing his spot in the national team for years if able to produce some clinical performances and get goal contributions in the upcoming matches for the Blue Tigers.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.