Khalid Jamil announces 23-man India squad ahead of the Hong Kong clash in Kochi
Blue Tigers look to build momentum despite the exit from the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers race
Indian senior men’s national team head coach Khalid Jamil has named a 23-member squad for the last match of the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifiers Final Round against Hong Kong, China, to be held on March 31, 2026.
The Blue Tigers begin their camp in Kochi on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, where 20 players, along with the staff, have assembled. Defender Anwar Ali, midfielder Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, and forward Edmund Lalrindika, who played their last Indian Super League 2025-26 match against Mohammedan Sporting Club on Monday, March 23, will join the squad later on Tuesday.
Khalid Jamil looks to build for the future
With India already ruled out of qualification for the Asian Cup, the match serves as preparation for the future.
India head coach Khalid Jamil said, “This is a good opportunity for us to build for the future. We have a lot of promising players coming through, who are currently with the U20 and U23 national teams, playing in the SAFF U20 Championship in Maldives, and the U23 Tri-Nation in Arunachal Pradesh. Our assistant coach Mahesh is himself leading the U20s, which will help us familiarise them with the system we have in place here with the senior team.”
The 23-man squad reflects a deliberate attempt to strike a balance between experienced players and young prospects. As India prepares to close its campaign in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, the focus is clearly shifting towards rebuilding and renewal. Under the guidance of head coach Khalid Jamil, the team plans to signal a new chapter for Indian Football.
India 23-man squad vs Hong Kong
Goalkeepers: Albino Gomes, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Anwar Ali, Bijoy Varghese, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan.
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Danish Farooq Bhat, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad.
Forwards: Edmund Lalrindika, Farukh Choudhary, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Ryan Williams.
Head coach: Khalid Jamil
Match information:India vs Hong Kong (AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round)March 31, 2026, at 19:00 ISTVenue: Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, KochiBuy tickets on the Ticketgenie app
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Rohit Mistri is a sports journalist from Kolkata with over two years of experience in the field. He has extensively covered Indian football, including major tournaments such as the Calcutta Football League and the Indian Super League. His work spans on-ground reporting, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling, along with interviews of prominent sporting personalities. Rohit brings strong communication skills and a deep passion for sports narratives to everything he writes.